Acer’s Michele Montecchio: Braving New Frontiers

As one of the world’s top Information and Communications Technology (ICT) companies, Acer has established its reputation on the back of its computer hardware and electronics business. Today, the Taiwan-based company has transitioned into an ICT-powered lifestyle brand, developing new product lines to diversify from its core business.

“Technology has become the cornerstone of our lives, so it makes sense that this remains at the core of our lifestyle products,” says Michele Montecchio, general manager at Acer Middle East. “Whether that is the artificial intelligence (AI) featured in our ebii bike or Acer’s new Swift AI Copilot+ PCs – it’s about using the right technology to enhance our customers’ lives.”

Montecchio adds that as the company transitions to a lifestyle brand powered by technology and AI, it has introduced bikes, AI computers, gaming hardware, air purifiers, Wi-Fi routers, the pocket-sized 3D camera SpatialLabs Eyes, and accessories like keyboards, mice, carry cases, and backpacks.

Acer Swift 14 AI PC.

“Acer is constantly evolving, innovating, and developing new products based on the changing requirements of our customers and partners,” he says. “Our new product lineup reflects this, as we’ve seen an increased demand for mobility and lifestyle products, in addition to accessories to support existing Acer products.”
 

These products, he tells us, are being birthed at the company’s multiple research and development (R&D) centers, including Acer Value Lab and A-Corner, where hundreds of engineers and scientists research, develop, and design technologies to create value through innovative new business lines.

One of those lines is Acer’s range of sustainable e-mobility products, including e-scooters and its eKinekt bike desk, which converts the energy generated from pedaling to charge laptops and other devices.

“Acer has a wide range of business units including electric vehicles (EV) charging and hydrogen stations, solutions for smart cities, home appliances, AI-assisted medical solutions, cyber security, cloud solutions, and industrial PCs, among other things,” Montecchio adds. “As the MENA region’s digital economy continues to grow, so does the demand for products to support the changing landscape. The variety of our product ranges and the products themselves have been developed with the requirements of this region in mind.”

Michele Montecchio, general manager at Acer Middle East.

An Eye On Sustainability

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and sustainability have long been at the core of Acer’s products, platforms, and business, Montecchio tells Inc. Arabia. In 2023, Acer launched its “Conscious Technology” vision, which aims to address climate change and advance circularity in its products.

“’Conscious Technology’ is Acer’s vision for technology that is crafted with consideration for the future, and we’re accelerating our efforts towards a more sustainable future,” Montecchio explains. “We are industry leaders in sustainability and circularity, having been the first company to launch a range of eco-conscious devices with our Vero lineup, which utilizes recycled plastic and recyclable packaging. In most of our products, including our Acer Pure purifiers, Vero range, and mobility products, we are already incorporating up to 70 percent recycled plastics, and we aim to use 20-30 percent Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) plastics in all our computers and displays by 2025.”

In 2021, Acer launched Earthion, a program that introduces eco-friendly initiatives into the company’s supply chain ecosystem. The program focuses on promoting efficiency and circularity in energy, product design, packaging, production, logistics, and recycling throughout its supply chain.

“Earthion unites the strengths of our employees and supply chain partners to expand the impact of our sustainability efforts,” Montecchio shares. “To truly work towards carbon neutrality, we must also involve our supply chain, so we have partnered with our logistics providers to reduce emissions from aviation and standard sea container emissions with biofuel.”

A New Era For Technology

With AI becoming integral to hardware and software, Acer has launched a line of AI PCs and other AI-powered smart devices to power solutions at home and at work.

“The future of technology now lies in AI, and we are witnessing the beginning of this new era of technology,” Montecchio says. “It is crucial to understand the power of AI technology and use it to our benefit, as we create smarter products and solutions to improve our daily lives and work.”

Montecchio believes that as the technology evolves, it will allow Acer to build more personalized solutions into its products.

“Next-gen AI PCs with generative AI capabilities will offer personalized services and functions locally to facilitate and answer to the needs of the user,” he says. “This will allow users to gain trust in AI through greater confidentiality, privacy, and security. Keeping this in mind, we predict that, within the next five years, AI PCs will replace old technology and dominate the market.”

Besides AI solutions, Acer is investing in medical technologies to create more inclusive technologies for the next generation of health through Acer Medical Inc., by pairing its human.intelligence platform with AI to develop smart medical software and hardware solutions.

“Human.intelligence embodies Acer’s dedication to enhancing human capabilities through technology, but never to replace it,” Montecchio says. “For example, we are now using ‘human. intelligence’ in conjunction with AI in the medical field. Acer Medical Inc. specializes in developing integrated smart medical software and hardware solutions, leveraging AI-driven medical imaging diagnostic technologies. By collaborating across the medical and healthcare sectors, Acer Medical Inc. aims to promote better health, disease prevention, and improved medical care by enhancing the capabilities of doctors through AI.”

Gaming On-The-Go

Acer has also developed new product lines for the fast-growing gaming sector. At this year’s edition of the consumer electronics show, Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA) in Berlin, Germany, Acer launched the Acer Nitro Blaze 7 – a high-performing handheld gaming device.

The Nitro Blaze 7, which is powered by Windows 11, comes with a customized Acer Game Space App, which integrates with mainstream gaming platforms. And while the Nitro Blaze 7 is Acer’s first handheld gaming device, it also has other products for both core and casual gamers, including gaming desktops and PCs and gaming accessories like the rugged Predator luggage with compartments for gaming hardware.

“Acer is heavily invested in gaming and is focused on creating a comprehensive gaming lifestyle ecosystem, offering a broad range of innovative gaming products that meet the diverse needs of hardcore and mainstream gamers,” Montecchio says. “Our gaming desktops and PCs include a wide range of solutions to create an effortless and high-impact gaming experience.”

At IFA, Acer also launched the Predator Project DualPlay, a gaming laptop featuring a detachable gaming controller that allows for dual-mode gaming.

It has also launched graphic cards that users can use to enhance their PCs and laptops and integrated powerful processors and high-refresh-rate displays – in addition to advanced thermal technology – to optimize the gaming experience.

“Acer is committed to the gaming sector, and we listen, learn, and understand the high demands of gamers when it comes to performance, design, and technological innovation,” Montecchio says. “For example, when it comes to ensuring gamers have the best performance for an extended time, we’ve put a strong focus on thermal solutions, and we own hundreds of patents as we continue to innovate. Our latest patented thermal solution is showcased in our Predator CycloneX 360 system fan built into our newly-launched Predator Orion 7000 desktop.”

From gaming to medical and lifestyle solutions, Acer is quickly becoming a lifestyle brand backed by powerful and thoughtful technology that promises to put consumers – and the environment – first.

This article first appeared in the October issue of Inc. Arabia magazine. To read the full issue online, click here.