Plan for the mouse: Logitech is thinking about a long-lasting "Forever Mouse"

A computer mouse on a plan? A statement like this from Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber is bound to provoke an outcry from customers. But it was precisely this idea that Faber floated during an interview. Before you throw a tantrum, read on to find out the thinking behind the concept.

Ambitious goals require new ways of thinking

Faber spoke to Nilay Patel in the Verge podcast, which you can read here about Logitech's medium-term business goals and how the company intends to achieve them. Logitech has made good sales of mice, keyboards and webcams for a long time. Sales figures skyrocketed during the Covid pandemic in particular, as many people set up workstations at home. Sales then fell again.

Now Faber, who has been at the helm of Logitech for seven months, has the difficult task of getting the company back on track. After taking office, she and the management team set new goals for the future. Logitech will celebrate its fiftieth birthday in 2031. By then, the company wants to double its business and halve its carbon footprint - Faber confirmed this in an interview.

An ambitious goal that also seems paradoxical: Logitech became big through its end customer business. Products sold generate turnover, but mice that are replaced every few years and thus generate turnover are not sustainable. To become more sustainable, products would have to become more durable. Longer-lasting devices in turn reduce the need to buy new devices.

A mouse like a watch: the "Forever Mouse"

This is where Faber brings the "Forever Mouse" into play. She explains the concept like this: If a mouse is high quality and durable, if you enjoy working with it and it also fulfils all the demands placed on it, then replacing it is unnecessary. Software updates could provide the mouse with new functions and security patches. A possible device has already been presented to her in a development centre: This mouse is slightly heavier, has "good software" and looks "beautiful", as Faber says.

This "Forever Mouse" mouse would be somewhat more expensive and Faber admits that a subscription fee would also be conceivable. The plan would cover the cost of the updates provided and reduce Logitech's dependence on sales revenue. This would allow Logitech to focus more on producing high-quality and sustainable devices.

Faber compares the mouse to wristwatches: You don't buy a watch as a disposable product, but to enjoy it for a long time. The interviewer Patel then points out that people don't associate mice with pleasure. But that doesn't have to be the case, replies Faber: "Just imagine a diamond-studded mouse for fun. Just a mouse that you like to own and that also offers added value in daily use.

Subscription models, especially when it comes to hardware, are usually met with dislike by many users. Especially when devices that cost money at the time of purchase cannot be used or can only be used to a limited extent without a plan. The company is also aware of this. Faber says that the concept of the "Forever Mouse" and the way in which a subscription model could look are not yet concrete. It would also be interesting to know how Logitech intends to prevent wear and tear or mechanical damage.

The "Forever Mouse" is not the only idea

A long-lasting mouse, with or without diamonds, is not the main concept for achieving Logitech's goals. Faber also sees great potential in the business segment, in which the company is not yet strongly represented. She emphasises video conferencing systems, for example. Further AI-based innovations in headphones and cameras for the workplace will also play a greater role in the future. In the area of gaming, Faber points out that gamers are getting older and older and the number of people interested in gaming is therefore increasing. Innovations are also possible here.

Does the idea of a long-lasting mouse and possibly a mouse subscription make sense to you? Let me know in the comments!