Global Sources Electronics autumn fair expected to attract tens of thousands of buyers worldwide

With the latest VR (virtual reality) and smart-driving products, eye-catching selfie drones and wireless charging devices, Global Sources Electronics - the world's largest electronics sourcing show presented by Global Sources - will start this year's autumn fair at AsiaWorld-Expo, catering to the growing demands of cutting-edge electronics, both from purchasing decision-makers and suppliers from around the world.

Starting from Oct 11, the eight-day fair will feature 6,500 booths, expecting tens of thousands of buyers from 150 countries and territories. The electronics show in this spring has lured more than 63,000 buyers to attend.

This year's fair comprises two phases - Consumer Electronics (Oct 11-14) and Mobile Electronics (Oct 18-21). Consumer Electronics focuses on home, outdoor and auto electronics, and features computer and peripherals, gaming, VR components, and smart living products in 3,700 booths.

The second phase - Mobile Electronics - showcases smartphones, tablets, AR/VR, wearables and mobile accessories in 2,800 booths.

According to data provider Statista's projection, revenue in the Consumer Electronics segment in Asia amounts to $130.4 billion in 2017.

Trending technologies

Voice-activated speakers, versatile home robots working as smart home controllers and nannies, and compact selfie drones catering to the younger generation's "obsession" with social media will be the highlights of the show, along with wireless charging and VR/AR gadgets.

A new Launch Zone showcasing state-of-the-art electronics products from selective exhibitors will be set up during the Consumer Electronics phase complemented by a Product Gallery and an Experience Zone where attendees can get hands-on experience with new technologies.

A lower delay rate and higher display definition are believed to drive the emerging VR/AR devices. To catch up with the AR/VR frenzy, an expanded Gaming & VR Pavilion with an experience zone will be featured. Attendees can try out exciting gaming devices, including AR guns, VR race cars and mixed reality devices at the place.

Voice recognition is believed to be the next big thing. Thus speakers integrated with popular voice assistants are increasingly in supply. Chinese companies, including many Global Sources exhibitors, have released their own Alexa- and Siri-enabled versions that retrieve information, order things online and follow smart home instructions. Some are coming up with their own voice artificial intelligence technologies, following Xiaomi's Mi AI speaker unveiled last August.

Miniaturization will remain a strong trend in electronic components manufacturing and critical to the realization of products with greater complexity in circuitry and functions.

Following those latest industrial trends, there are new product zones highlighting smart-driving equipment, eBikes, voice-activated speakers, devices and batteries.

As the younger generation becomes more obsessed with selfies and social media, companies like DJI are releasing more models that take good photos and are more convenient to carry around with deep-learning capability.

The show will thus present Asia's largest Outdoor Electronics Pavilion showcasing electric personal transporters, drones, robots and action cameras. There will be more bionic designs in water photography drones and in robots. They will also be easier to control, smarter and more interactive, and have lower power consumption.

Robots and home controllers see a combination as robots that work as smart home controllers and nannies are on the rise. They can follow voice instructions for activating home appliances or devices and are great companions for children and the elderly.

Smart home gateways now also come in new forms, including mini cubes and button clickers, light switches and tablet-like displays.

The Smart Living Pavilion will exhibit smart security, lighting, entertainment, appliances and gadgets. It also features Hong Kong's largest collection of security products for home, commercial and public use.

For personal mobiles, people's attention is laid on wireless charging and pressure-sensitive AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) full-screen displays. The former is seen to become a big market not only in mobile devices but to spill over to other consumer electronics, healthcare products, automotive industry and industrial fields in coming years.

Wearable devices are still on the rise. Advantages in terms of low power dissipation and stable performance despite their small size make inertial sensors and MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) microphones the standard components in them.

Next-Gen Components Zone will give buyers a closer look into what's going to be inside new tech products for automobiles, drones, robotics, smart home security systems and wearables.

Hong Kong's largest computer products and auto electronics pavilions will also make a stage pose during the show.

Launchpad for startups

The show, committed to nurture innovation and facilitate technological advancement for the electronics industry, will also hold varied tech startup events.

Startup Launchpad - Asia's largest consumer electronics startup event - spans both phases of the Global Sources Electronics show with 240 booths featuring new products in categories including smart home, sports tech, drones, steam products and other IoT (internet of things) devices. Buyers will be among the first to see some of the world's most revolutionary ideas in the electronics industry.

It also includes conference programs covering investment and fundraising, product design and development, manufacturing and distribution.

A new Startup Investors Forum will be held on Oct 12 at which industry experts will share insights and lead thought-provoking discussions on startup investing trends, strategies and case studies. The forum is an excellent networking opportunity for angel investors, venture capitalists, legal and accounting professionals, and business owners looking for startup investments.

Global buyers

As the world's largest electronics trade fair, the annual event is expected to attract purchasing decision-makers from big-name global buyers, including ADI Systems, Brookstone, Carrefour, Darty Asia, Eurogroup, Fossil, Groupe Batteur, and Hammacher Schlemmer.

Buyers will be among the first to see some of the world's latest developments for electronic devices.

A wide range of services will help sellers on Amazon and other online platforms source more effectively. This includes products from 900 exhibitors that accept small orders and seminars featuring online retail experts.

The GlobalSources.com app enables buyers to shortlist, find booths, take pictures and then follow exhibitors after the show. The At The Show newsletter provides daily reports and live videos on the hottest products.

Opening hours for the Consumer Electronics show are from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm during Oct 11-13 and from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on Oct 14.

Registration will be closed half an hour before the show ends.

Contact the writers atheshusi@chindailyhk.com

A booth staff exchanges information with customers at Global Sources Electronics. Provided to China Daily

(HK Edition 10/06/2017 page13)