Ivan Popelsky, Head of SVEN-ELECTRO Russia Commodity Direction answers the questions of PC Magazine/RE.
PC Magazine/RE: What do you see “ideal UPS-2014”?
Ivan Popelsky: By segments: small, for office, rack-mountable. Small UPS-2014 will be more powerful and, accordingly, more expensive than in the previous year. The volume of sales will decrease as compared with the current period and buyers are most likely to be companies and other organizational structures. Because of the same reason the specific gravity of mobile/rack-mountable UPS and their power (>10 kW) will increase.
PC Magazine/RE: There is an opinion that UPS is a low intellectual device. Well, a battery with a USB port. How do you agree with such stereotypes?
Ivan Popelsky: This opinion is no longer topical, with the development of PC market, high-speed communication networks and other gadgets, modern uninterruptible power supplies are permanently developed and improved, which must correspond to set-up parameters at the most. A modern UPS is a device with many additional functions, which transfer it into the category of high-speed intellectual equipment.
Even an UPS of base level has such functions as microprocessor control, system self-testing, which enables to estimate the equipment state under start-up conditions and during operation process, to trace the charge level of batteries, to respond to all deviations from set-up parameters as quick as possible. An important role is also played by an ability of communication with the help of different ports with the unified control center, formation of different reports and other functions enabling to increase the reliability level of a system operation, as well the improved monitoring of all functions.PC Magazine/RE: Which, from your point of view, today is the alignment of forces at the market of UPS? Who is strong in such positions, where are vacant niches?
Ivan Popelsky: competition at the market is quite high – substantial vacant niches are not available. However, there are small segments, where it is possible to generate additional demand. Not all of them are in the computer area, there no prospects for the mass-market there at all. For the time being potentialities for the development remain in the other sphere. For example, UPS of different powers with a long reservation time can be claimed for the power supply maintenance of security systems, filters, aerators for aquariums, heating boilers in private houses, self-contained telecommunication equipment, etc. We do not observe the substantial change of placing of forces: leaders are represented in every segment; moreover, the break-away of the first top three from other market participants is quite great. However, the fact that at the declining market they will have to strain themselves to save their portion including by means of adaptation of the current product range to the requirements of current day, seem obvious.
PC Magazine/RE: What are the most popular models of UPS/automatic voltage regulators in SVEN line and what did them such popular?
Ivan Popelsky: As of today the most popular models of UPS of TM SVEN are models of PRO + 650 (LCD, USB), PRO + 1000 (LCD, USB) series. Models AVR-500, AVR-2000 LCD, Neo R 600, SOHO-1000 and a new product, namely AVR PRO LCD 5000 wall-mounted automatic voltage regulator, are the most popular in the line of automatic voltage regulators.
These models are an optimum alternative from the standpoint of the quality-to-price ratio. They have all the required functions enabling to provide stable and safe operation of the add-on equipment and at that, they remain affordable for an average user.PC Magazine/RE: Do you have statistics regarding the fault level associated with the power supply problems? And what does it indicate?
Ivan Popelsky: It indicates the evident thing: there are problems with the state of power supply networks in most regions in Russia. The situation is better in big cities than in small settlements. Not every user addresses to a service center because of the damage or loss of his equipment as a result of power supply failures – the problem is quite serious, but the considerable quantity of aggrieved persons are not simply included into the statistical mass regarding addresses to service centers. Many users are not ready to expend their time in going to the service center and waiting their equipment after repair – they simply buy a new item. The purchase of an UPS and automatic voltage regulator enables to save your time and money expended for the equipment.
PC Magazine/RE: How is the service support of SVEN products organized?
Ivan Popelsky: More than 130 authorized service centers function on the territory of Russia to provide qualitative and timely service support of commodities of SVEN trademark, which make it possible to solve efficiently every possible problem arising during operation process.