Acer
Company Overview
Acer Inc. is a Taiwanese multinational corporation specializing in hardware and electronics. Established on August 1, 1976, by Stan Shih, Carolyn Yeh, and a group of partners, the company has grown into a significant player in the global information and communication technology (ICT) industry. Acer’s headquarters are located in Xizhi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Historical Background
Originally founded as Multitech in 1976, Acer began as a distributor of electronic parts and a consultant in the use of microprocessor technologies. By 1987, the company rebranded to Acer and started manufacturing personal computers under its own brand name. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Acer expanded its global presence through strategic acquisitions, including Gateway and Packard Bell, enhancing its footprint in the American and European markets.
Product Portfolio
Acer offers a diverse range of products catering to various consumer and business needs:
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Personal Computers (PCs):
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Laptops and Notebooks: Series include Aspire (consumer-focused), TravelMate (business-oriented), Swift (ultra-portable), and Spin (convertible 2-in-1s).
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Desktops: Offerings under the Veriton (business) and Aspire (consumer) lines.
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Chromebooks: Acer is a leading provider of Chromebooks, catering to both educational and consumer markets.
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Gaming Products:
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Predator Series: High-performance gaming laptops, desktops, monitors, and accessories designed for serious gamers.
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Nitro Series: Gaming devices aimed at casual gamers seeking performance at a more accessible price point.
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Monitors and Projectors:
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A wide range of displays, including 4K monitors, gaming monitors with high refresh rates, and professional-grade color-accurate monitors.
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Projectors suitable for business presentations, educational purposes, and home entertainment.
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Smart Devices and IoT:
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Acerpure line of air purifiers and other smart home appliances.
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Wearable devices and accessories integrating Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities.
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Enterprise Solutions:
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Servers and storage solutions tailored for businesses of varying sizes.
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Cloud solutions and software services to support enterprise operations.
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Financial Performance
In 2024, Acer demonstrated robust financial health:
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Annual Revenue: Reported at NT$264.71 billion, marking a 9.7% year-on-year (YoY) increase.
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Q4 2024 Revenue: Achieved NT$66.12 billion, reflecting a 4.7% YoY growth and marking six consecutive quarters of YoY growth.
Notably, Acer’s diversification strategy has been effective, with businesses outside of PCs and displays contributing 28.3% of total revenues in 2024, representing a 15.5% YoY growth in these sectors.
Market Position
As of 2024, Acer holds a 6.9% share in the global personal computer market, positioning it as the sixth-largest PC vendor worldwide. This places Acer alongside competitors like Apple and ASUS, following industry leaders Lenovo, HP, and Dell.
In the United States, Acer has shown significant growth, capturing a 6.9% market share in Q2 2024, up from 5.9% in the same quarter of the previous year, reflecting a 19.8% YoY growth.
Sustainability Initiatives
Acer is deeply committed to environmental sustainability through its Earthion initiative, launched in 2021. This mission encompasses several key areas:
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Product Design: Developing eco-friendly products, such as the Vero line, which incorporates post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics. The Aspire Vero laptop, for instance, features 30% PCR plastic in its chassis and 50% in its keycaps.
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Packaging Design: Utilizing recyclable materials and minimizing packaging waste.
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Production and Logistics: Implementing responsible manufacturing processes and optimizing logistics to reduce waste and carbon emissions. Notably, Acer eliminated excess security tape in its monitor shipments, saving approximately 5,500 km of tape in 2023.
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Energy Consumption: Aiming to source 100% renewable electricity by 2035 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. In 2023, the Acer Group sourced 48% renewable electricity worldwide.
These efforts have garnered Acer recognition on various sustainability indices
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Dow Jones Sustainability World Index: Debuted in 2024, representing the top 10% of the largest 2,500 companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index based on long-term economic, environmental, and social criteria.
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TIME’s World’s Most Sustainable Companies: Listed among the top sustainable companies globally.