Dell has long built a diverse laptop portfolio that caters to every kind of user. There are gamers who rely on Alienware for top-tier performance, creators who prefer the sleek design of XPS, students using Inspiron for everyday tasks, and professionals depending on Latitude for work. Now, as more SMEs adopt hybrid work and AI-driven workflows, Dell is strengthening its focus on business computing.
SurveyAlso read: Dell Pro 14 Essential and Dell Pro 15 Essential laptops launch in India, price starts from Rs 31,999
‘SBs (small businesses) and MBs (medium businesses) are the engines that drive the economy,’ said Indrajit Belgundi, Senior Director & General Manager, Client Solutions Group, Dell Technologies India. Having been a part of the company for over two decades, Belgundi took immense pride in talking about Dell’s latest offerings: the Dell Pro 14 Essential and Dell Pro 15 Essential laptops. Available with Intel or AMD processors and starting at Rs 31,999, the series combines portability with full-size functionality, while integrating business-focused features.
Indrajit Belgundi, in an exclusive conversation with Digit, spoke about the newly launched laptops, the SME landscape in India, the growing interest in AI-powered devices, and more. Here are excerpts from the conversation.
Dell has introduced the Pro 14 and Pro 15 Essential series aimed squarely at MSMEs. What was the core idea behind creating these devices, and how do they stand apart from Dell’s regular consumer or business laptops?
Indrajit Belgundi: From Dell Technologies’ standpoint, we are very excited and proud to launch the Dell Pro Essential 14-inch and 15-inch in India. These products are designed for small and medium-sized business customers. Many of these clients, including startups, want the right device with the right features. And by ‘right features’, I mean ensuring the device is secure, reliable, and easy to manage, without compromising on the essentials. This is where Dell takes pride, as we continuously engage with customers and incorporate their feedback. The Dell Pro Essential series is available with both Intel and AMD processors, includes hardware TPM for security, is MIL-STD tested for reliability, and comes with Dell Management Suite and additional Windows features like Autopilot.
When designing these laptops, what were some of the biggest takeaways from Indian SMEs/MSMEs? Were there any particular needs or challenges that directly shaped the features you’re offering?
Indrajit Belgundi: SB and MB customers want the right features at the right price point. They don’t want to compromise on pricing or features, but they need a device that meets their requirements now and in the foreseeable future.
For example, many customers have mentioned that although standard warranty usually covers one year, they would prefer devices with five-year warranties as standard. It may seem small, but it’s very important. Typically, consumers go with one or three-year warranties, but enterprise customers prefer five years. For SMBs, we want to ensure the total cost of ownership is optimised and features like extended warranty are available.
Beyond hardware, how is Dell helping MSMEs manage their devices and data better, whether through software, security, or after-sales?
Indrajit Belgundi: It’s not only about warranty. We offer different service options, including standard warranty, Pro Support, and Pro Support Plus. These come with technical account management and services like ‘keep your hard drive’. So, if a hard drive needs replacement, the customer retains the original drive containing any critical or sensitive data.
Some devices come with 16:10 displays, TPM 2.0 security, Dell manageability features, and we also partner with software security providers like CrowdStrike and McAfee to bundle their offerings with the device.
There’s a lot of excitement around AI PCs. How is Dell getting ready for this shift, and what impact do you think AI PCs will have on productivity for Indian businesses and MSMEs?
Indrajit Belgundi: When we speak about AI PCs, we need to consider the entire AI ecosystem. Many processors are AI-ready. Microsoft has also come up with Copilot Plus, which enhances system performance. Many applications are now AI-ready, including CrowdStrike, Microsoft Teams, and others, fine-tuning their software for AI.
We believe that by 2028, around 98% of devices will be AI-enabled. This will improve productivity in multiple ways. Typically, an AI PC has three components: CPU, GPU, and NPU. In an AI PC, the key component is the NPU, which fine-tunes applications and offloads work from the CPU. This also helps improve battery life and system performance.
With AI becoming part of day-to-day workflows, how does it change Dell’s approach to data security, privacy, and overall device management?
Indrajit Belgundi: We launched our simplified brand unification a few months ago. Dell Pro and Dell Pro Max are our three key product lines today, including the newly launched Pro Essential. From an AI standpoint, our perspective is to ensure the right product is available for the right use case. If a user is working on graphics or processor-intensive applications, we recommend and offer different devices. That’s where our product portfolio comes in.
Work models have evolved, and hybrid and remote setups are now common. How is Dell designing devices for a flexible, mobile workforce?
Indrajit Belgundi: One size doesn’t fit all. Hybrid environments have become standard; it’s work from anywhere, not just from home or the office. We build many software and security features into devices, in addition to hardware.
For example, the devices automatically connect users to the router with the best signal strength. They also have intruder alerts; if someone tries to look at the screen, the display blanks out. Automatic noise cancellation (ANC) removes background noise during meetings, whether it’s pets, traffic, or other distractions. These small features are very important for productivity.
Dell has a strong gaming identity through Alienware and G Series. What’s your view on India’s gaming ecosystem? Do you see crossovers where productivity laptops handle gaming or creative tasks?
Indrajit Belgundi: Each user segment is different. The important factor is having the right graphics or GPU with the processor. That’s why we have the G Series and Alienware offerings. I don’t believe there will be any crossover. Gaming devices are designed for specific users. Crossover would be fun, but gaming GPUs and motherboards have different features compared to office or creative devices.
India is a highly price-sensitive market. How is Dell balancing affordability and reliability while expanding into tier-2 and tier-3 towns and preparing for an AI-driven decade?
Indrajit Belgundi: Price sensitivity is relevant, but customers want products without compromise. The Dell Pro 14 Essential starts at Rs 31,999 and comes with Dell’s key tenets: reliability, manageability, and security. We keep multiple routes to market open: direct interaction with Dell, partner ecosystems, and stock-and-sell options for immediate delivery. From an AI standpoint, we expect around 98% of users to have AI-enabled devices within three years, and we will continue developing unique offerings for customers in India.
Also read: Alienware 18 Area-51 review: Big, bold, and built to dominate
As Dell shifts more attention towards SMBs, its new Pro Essential series feels like a move that aligns with how work is changing: more flexible, more digital, and increasingly driven by AI. How these devices fit into the evolving needs of India’s growing SME base will be something to watch in the months ahead.
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Divyanshi Sharma
Divyanshi Sharma is a media and communications professional with over 8 years of experience in the industry. With a strong background in tech journalism, she has covered everything from the latest gadgets to gaming trends and brings a sharp editorial lens to every story. She holds a master’s diploma in mass communication and a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Her love for writing and gaming began early—often skipping classes to try out the latest titles—which naturally evolved into a career at the intersection of technology and storytelling. When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her exploring virtual worlds on her console or PC, or testing out a new laptop she managed to get her hands on. View Full Profile
