Interview: Rod Bassi, Acer

How has Australia coped with COVID-induced changes to operations and workplaces? Will things go back to a ‘new normal’ in 2022?

We have never seen a time where so many people are required to work from their home offices or a hybrid work environment. All of which is made possible by the technology available to us today. There is a general discussion around whether there will be a ‘new normal’ where employees no longer commute to an office and collaborate with their colleagues virtually instead.

We will most likely see a more refined hybrid work environment where employees enjoy the flexibility of working from home, with offices adapting to meet a new set of requirements.

Which new technologies will reach critical mass and become dominant in 2022?

Business leaders around the country are now taking a deep breath whilst preparing for the journey ahead. With a hybrid work environment becoming a new norm in 2022, we have seen an escalation of the adoption of digital technologies to facilitate a flexible and agile workplace.

In Australia, organisations are embracing the hybrid approach to remote work by providing the flexibility and the technology infrastructure to empower their employees digitally.

This means that business notebooks equipped with the right technologies to deliver high-performing portable devices will dominate in 2022. This will come in the form of powerful multi-core processors packed into thin ultralight laptops with all-day battery life to enhance employees’ work-from-anywhere experience, driving the emergence of a new era of work.

What is the major potential tech pain point that will face all organisations large and small in 2022?

The movement towards hybrid and remote working was as sudden as it was unprecedented. However, the shift towards virtual collaboration between teams and employees was not without its fair share of challenges that left staff in organisations with outdated technology.

This meant employees weren’t equipped to handle the nature of hybrid work — resulting in situations where work devices would be out of battery after multiple video meetings or issues with poor home internet connection.

Acer has launched a new line of business laptops in the Acer TravelMate Series to support a productive hybrid work environment and address pain points. With features to enhance security, virtual collaboration and out-of-office productivity, the TravelMate business laptops offer a seamless working experience, whether in the office or from home. In addition, the lightweight and slim designs ensure that they are easy to carry and can be easily paired with an external monitor at a workstation.

How can I.T. become more environmentally friendly, socially responsible and privacy-conscious in 2022?

In 2022, we believe that there will be a continuing trend of environmentally friendly sustainable technology. Recently, we joined the RE100, a global initiative that brings together 300 of the world’s most influential companies committed to 100% renewable electricity.

Our efforts towards a balance in finding integrated and innovative solutions while respecting the planet gives life to a unique platform of its kind. Earthion is a blend of the words “Earth + Mission” and combines the strengths of our company, our supply chain partners, consumers (channels) and our employees.

Our first step towards pioneering a fully green PC begins with the Acer Vero, a suite of eco-friendly products covering the Aspire, TravelMate and Veriton range. We have designed Acer Vero products to align with the core values of eco-minded consumers whilst meeting the significant list of environmental and socially responsible criteria from production to recycling.

With Acer’s Earthion initiative and Acer Vero product range, we believe this will be a big step towards a cleaner and greener tomorrow for future generations.

Rod Bassi has been a senior executive with Acer for over 15 years, and as Oceanic Sales Director he oversees overall sales strategy across all market segments. He previously held the key strategic portfolio roles, General Manager of Commercial Sales, General Manager of Consumer Retail Sales and Country Manager of Acer New Zealand.