Epidemic increases the need for health protection

After the Lunar New Year, when the South enters the end of the dry season, the market for air conditioners (one-way air conditioners) begins to be active. In the North, around May and June, the demand for air conditioners will increase when the heat starts. At present, many economic activities have returned to normal, and the air conditioner brands expect the market to flourish. According to statistics of Dien May Xanh, this distributor’s air-conditioner business has increased significantly. “Currently, sales have increased by 74% cumulatively compared to 2021,” said a representative of Dien May Xanh.

Notes from retailers such as Dien May Xanh, Cho Lon, Media Mart… Vietnamese people still prefer Japanese brands. In particular, Japanese brand air conditioners usually account for 40-60% of sales, depending on different regions.

Ms. Anh Thu, an employee of an electronics center in Thu Duc City said: “The basic need of customers is always fast cooling, saving electricity, and being durable. Most air conditioners under 8 million are used for air conditioning. focus on these basic functions. Brands that have been around for a long time, have good warranties and after-sales services will be preferred.”

In the higher-end segment, brands often equipped with Inverter technology to help save more electricity. When this technology becomes too popular, in order to differentiate and maintain a competitive position in the market, manufacturers add many new features to the product such as automatic control, user recognition sensor, flow rate, etc. comfortable wind, moisture balance, smooth operation, enhanced durability for outdoor unit…

When Covid-19 appeared, the element of health protection and air purification was highly appreciated by most consumers when choosing to buy high-end air conditioners. Mr. Xuan Tung, owner of an electronics store in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City said: “This is partly due to the epidemic, consumers are more concerned about health issues”. A survey with more than 300 participants conducted by VnExpress conducted in the middle of last year, at the time when Covid-19 was breaking out for the fourth time, also showed a significant increase in the demand for health protection air conditioners.

According to preliminary statistics of a number of retailers such as Dien May Xanh, Cho Lon, Media Mart, Nguyen Kim… the line of air conditioners in the 8-13 million dong segment currently attracts the most consumers. “These are generally products with acceptable prices, using power-saving inverter technology, integrated with many health protection features, bringing comfort to users. At the price With this, manufacturers also easily apply new technologies,” said Mr. Xuan Tung.

Due to the impact of the epidemic, the price of input materials as well as the cost of production and transportation increased, the price of air conditioners in general increased in the whole market. To stimulate shopping demand, the distribution units deploy many preferential policies for consumers. Well-known retail centers continue to offer services such as fast delivery, 0% interest installment sale, free installation, free copper pipes, gift vouchers, or direct discounts on products if the customer does not use the included free services.

On the manufacturer’s side, many air conditioner brands such as Daikin, Toshiba, LG, Funiki… have a strategy of launching new products with more features and promotions to stimulate demand. For example, Daikin, last year launched the flagship FTKZ product line with the CSPF energy efficiency index (indicating its ability to save electricity) of 7.24, one of the highest in the market. The machine integrates many health protection technologies, creating comfort and convenience for users such as Coanda airflow that does not blow wind directly on people, Hybrid Cooling technology to balance moisture, air filtration with exclusive Streamer technology, built-in Built-in wifi transmitter to control the device through the phone.

This year, Daikin launched 2 new product lines. The high-end FTKY line has all of its outstanding technologies to help purify the air and save electricity like the FTKZ series, but it does not have to integrate the wifi transmitter in the machine, thereby reducing costs for consumers. The FTKB standard series focuses on more practical needs of users such as energy saving, durability, basic air filtration with mechanical filters, and more affordable prices.

Daikin Vietnam’s representative said: “Daikin products always aim to satisfy the three practical needs of users: air filtration, energy saving and durability. Depending on different income levels of users, Daikin will diversify products to add corresponding advanced features. We also constantly listen to users’ needs, improve products and ensure good after-sales service.”

According to this position, that is the reason for the air conditioner company from Japan to maintain its brand position ranked first in the global air-conditioning industry, according to BestAC’s 2020 data, and won many other major domestic awards, such as the Tech Awards – “Excellent Air Conditioning Brand” for 3 consecutive years from 20219-2021; Award “The highest energy efficiency air conditioner brand” in 2020-2021 awarded by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

With a population of nearly 100 million people, located in the tropics, but the rate of population using air conditioners is still low, Vietnam is considered by experts as a potential market for the air conditioning industry. Even many air conditioner companies consider this as a key market. Thanks to the increasing competition among brands, Vietnamese consumers will benefit, being able to choose from a wide range of product lines to suit their needs.

Hoang Anh