The partnership saw the launch of a state-of-the-art customer centre, which began operations on 01 February 2025. Designed specifically for resellers, the facility focuses on serving the top 300 ICT suppliers (small businesses) and 100 retail independent companies, offering a range of products including home appliances, televisions, and monitors. The customer centre acts as a key resource for B2B clients, driving increased access to Samsung’s offerings and fostering deeper, more impactful relationships with its reseller network.

“We’re excited to partner with Concentrix on this new venture, which will give B2B clients in South Africa the opportunity to directly engage with our products and services in a focused, tailored environment,” said Mike van Lier, Vice President of Consumer Electronics at Samsung South Africa. “This partnership not only allows us to expand our reach within the reseller community but also reinforces our commitment to providing top-notch, innovative solutions to businesses across the region.”

Concentrix, renowned for delivering technology-driven, intelligence-fuelled business solutions, will play a critical role in managing operations at the centre. With a proven track record in driving success for global brands, Concentrix is well-positioned to ensure a seamless experience for Samsung’s B2B resellers.

“We are thrilled to work with Samsung on this dynamic initiative. By providing resellers with greater access to Samsung’s products and solutions, we’re helping to create a more streamlined and efficient process for the B2B sector. This partnership will not only enhance the reseller experience but also foster long-lasting relationships that will benefit all stakeholders involved,” said Brandon Aitken at Concentrix.

The customer centre’s focus on resellers ensures that Samsung can offer specialised support and identify potential issues early in the process, guaranteeing a smooth and responsive experience. This strategic partnership is expected to significantly enhance Samsung’s ability to provide consistent, ongoing support to its B2B clients and further expand its footprint in the market.

The opening of the B2B customer centre marks another milestone in Samsung’s long-standing commitment to innovation, client-centric solutions, and strengthening partnerships across various business sectors. For more information, contact adminsam@concentrix.com.

For more information on Samsung products, visit https://www.samsung.com/za/business/ 

The new store will feature a comprehensive range of Samsung products, including the newest smartphones, tablets, wearables, home appliances, aircons, TVs and monitors. With a modern and engaging design, the store aims to provide customers with an interactive and hands-on experience with Samsung’s advanced technology.

The new store is set to bring the full customer journey with the extensive range of Samsung product offerings. From audio-visual, cooking, and cleaning to other home appliances, customers will be able to get their hands on all the new technology the company has to offer. The recently launched Bespoke AI home appliances including fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens will be available to help customers do less and live more as they elevate the way they stay entertained and do ordinary household chores, among other

Home entertainment will transform to bring consumers the ultimate viewing experience thanks to an array of ground-breaking AI televisions such as the Neo QLED 8K, OLED, The Serif, and The Frame, as well as gaming monitors like the highly impressive Odyssey.

Customers looking to upgrade their mobile experience will have to look no further as the store will bring the latest smartphones from the accessible Galaxy A series to the AI-powered flagships, the Galaxy S24 series and Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 foldables. As the best that Galaxy has to offer, these devices take productivity, creativity, and entertainment to a whole new level with their most advanced AI features.

With Spring ushering in the warm and hot temperatures, customers need not worry as they can visit the store to get their hands on the new WindFree^TM air-conditioner range to make their homes cool and comfortable.

The store’s operating hours are 09h00 – 19h00 Monday to Saturday, and 09h00 – 17h00 on Sundays and public holidays. With its friendly and highly-trained staff always ready and willing to assist customers with their insights on the latest Samsung innovations and great deals, the new Samsung store at Cresta Mall is expected to be a hive of activity.

Samsung South Africa is proud to announce the grand opening of the Samsung Store in Cavendish Shopping Centre a new retail destination that redefines the shopping experience through innovation, design, and customer engagement. Nestled in the Southern Suburbs, Samsung Store in Cavendish officially opens on 30 August 2024 and offers an unparalleled opportunity for consumers to explore and interact with the latest in Samsung technology.

The Samsung Store in Cavendish is more than just a retail space; it is a carefully curated environment designed to offer the newest and latest product range. It is where consumers can easily access Samsung’s wide array of products, solutions, services, and experiences — all under one roof. With its proximity, simplicity, and convenience, the store fulfils the immediate needs of its customers, while also deepening their relationship with the Samsung brand.

Oscar Makola, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung South Africa, elaborated on the store’s significance, stating, “The Samsung Store in Cavendish features a more pronounced signature look and feel through its cutting-edge design and the easily recognisable Samsung DNA that inspires confidence and projects the company’s innovative spirit and commitment to technological advancement. This store is not just about selling products; it’s about creating a space where customers can truly engage with the Samsung brand. We are providing a convenient destination where shoppers have easy access to Samsung products, solutions, services, and experiences that enhance their everyday lives. With this new look, the store will not only offer loyal customers the most unique and immersive shopping experiences yet, but it will also help new Cape Town consumers discover the beauty of Samsung’s technologically advanced innovations.”

The store’s environment is meticulously crafted to deliver customer engagement and entertainment, strengthening Samsung’s position as an innovative, lifestyle brand. It serves as a hub where clear and effective communication builds customer discovery and understanding of Samsung’s products and features. From software upgrades and data transfers to hardware repairs, the store’s efficient and effective customer services extend and deepen customer relationships.

At the Samsung Store in Cavendish, every aspect of the customer journey has been considered. Visitors can get hands-on with multiple Samsung products, including the new era of Samsung AI TVs, such as the Neo QLED 8K, OLED, and Frame TV technologies. The store also features the newly launched Music Frame smart speaker, which combines multi-dimensional surround sound with an innovative photo frame design, allowing customers to showcase their favourite memories.

The store’s product selection is equally impressive, featuring the eye-catching Bespoke AI range of home appliances, including fridges, washing machines, dishwashers, and microwave ovens. These AI-driven and connected solutions offer consumers more free time and greater energy savings. The Bespoke AI range introduces a new era of customizable home appliances, enabling customers to tailor their kitchen configurations by material, colour, and module to match their lifestyles and interior design concepts.

For smartphone enthusiasts, the Samsung Store in Cavendish offers the latest Galaxy S24 Series, including the ground-breaking Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6. These devices, powered by Galaxy AI, are designed to serve users by enhancing creativity, productivity, and security, unlocking a world of new possibilities.

Gamers will be particularly drawn to the store’s selection of Odyssey gaming monitors, which provide an unparalleled gaming experience with stunning detail and performance. Samsung’s wide range of monitors caters to gamers, multimedia enthusiasts, and professionals alike.

Additionally, the store offers a selection of high-quality air conditioners, including the WindFree Cooling range, which features quiet operation and Allergy Care, ensuring the perfect temperature no matter the weather.

The friendly and highly trained staff at the Samsung Store in Cavendish are always ready to assist customers, providing insights into the latest Samsung innovations and demonstrating how to make the most of value-adding services such as the Samsung Trade-in Programme. This programme is designed to make Samsung’s latest devices more accessible, ensuring that every customer walks away with the best possible experience.

These business trade and investment agendas are discussed under various themes that include industrial development and investment promotion, trade expansion and job creation, the strengthening of food and mineral security as well as responses to climate change and decarbonisation – all of which are of mutual interest to both Korea and the African continent. This strategic, trade business platform provides Samsung with an opportunity to showcase its 30-year stay and investment in Africa.

The trade expansion and job creation theme in particular, which seeks to promote economic co-operation by expanding trade between Korea and Africa; as well as by creating new jobs and business opportunities – aligns perfectly with the positive strides made by Samsung in Africa in the last three decades. Samsung has put significant focus on harnessing the power of technology and innovation to effect great positive change in Africa. Specifically, this year, Samsung proudly ushered in the new era of mobile AI on the African continent – the Galaxy S24 series.

Samsung’s plans to enhance its presence in the continent included the launch of the New Smartphone Assembly Plant in Egypt. The 6,000-square-meter plant that was scheduled to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2023 was established mainly to manufacture phones for both local consumption and export.

The company already operates a factory in Beni Suef which was established in 2014 with the current facility manufacturing smartphones, TVs and tablets. Last year, Samsung introduced Egypt-made smartphones to the market. With an annual production capacity of 6-million units, approximately 85% of the output is exported to the Middle East and Africa.

As a result of close collaboration between Samsung and the South African authorities, the company has in the last decade expanded its manufacturing presence in the country by opening a multi-million rand manufacturing plant, located at the Dube TradePort, approximately 30-kilometres north of the coastal city of Durban. Initially, the plant focused on manufacturing domestic appliances such as refrigerators and stoves with plans to expand production to include televisions and other electronic devices.

The electronics giant also revealed its plans to build another multi- million rand TV factory at the same Dube TradePort in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. Due to the factory’s success in creating jobs and giving back to the local economy and community, Samsung is expanding its operations to export products into the rest of the SADC region.

In addition, Samsung South Africa’s landmark R280-million Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) which was launched in May 2019 in partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (Dtic), is now celebrating five years of sustained success.

Five years in and Samsung’s EEIP programme has managed to rise to the challenge of achieving its ambitious goals.

Measurable outcomes include an accumulative investment of R138-million to date in SME development and capacity building in the ICT sector. With environmental sustainability being one of the major focus areas for Samsung, one black-woman-owned E-waste business was supported.

Through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, Samsung has also continued to put great emphasis on the need to empower the youth by ensuring that young people contribute greatly to Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) agenda and objectives. To this effect, since 1994 when Samsung entered the African continent – through the establishment of the South African office, there’s been a push for a transformation agenda by investing in a number of empowerment programmes for the future, which have now led to positive social changes within the broader African continent.

Over the years, Samsung has also been running a number of education-focused initiatives, driven through technology across the African continent. One of Samsung’s flagship programmes is the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC)   which seeks to upskill youth aged 18-25 years in future technologies and enhance their employability. This SIC programme offers specially designed curriculum focused on technology development and is tailored to bridge the gap between conventional academic content and the dynamic demands of the tech industry. The skills acquired by students include AI, IoT, Big Data, Coding and Programming – driven through strategic partnerships with institutions of higher educations in Africa.

In both South Africa and Lesotho, Samsung has entered into SIC programme partnerships with a number of higher education institutions. And furthermore, the company has been growing the SIC programme by rolling it out into the rest of Africa, into territories including Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and Nigeria. Samsung launched engineering academies across the continent including South Africa and Nigeria.

One hundred were trained and 53 recently graduated in two states: Ekiti and Lagos State in Nigeria. All these graduates are now expected to deepen the pool of well-trained technicians in the African continent. Youth in Africa are now in a positive position to seize the opportunities ahead.

Hundreds of graduates from countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and more completed the programme successfully, emerging as changemakers to lead innovation for years to come. Samsung’s commitment and continued investment in the sustainable transformation of the continent re-affirms its position as a passionate supporter and enabler of African dreams.

The company remains resolute in its quest to use its innovative technology, now driven by AI to make a measurable difference in the development of the African continent and that includes its strong partnerships with entities in the public and private sector; as well as the empowerment of young, black Africans and their respective communities.

Samsung is a proud supporter of the Korea-Africa Summit in South Korea, 3 – 5 June 2024.

For more information, visit https://news.samsung.com/za

One of the biggest events of the year is about to bring Cape Town to a standstill once again. Brought to life through Samsung’s partnership with Kfm 94.5, Galaxy KDay is one of the most highly anticipated events on the entertainment calendar. If last year’s event was anything to go by, the picturesque Meerendal Wine Estate will be the only place for Cape Town music and fun lovers to be on Saturday, 2 March 2024.

The partnership between Samsung and Kfm 94.5 is a testament to the intersection of technology and lifestyle. By joining forces, these two entities aim to provide a unique musical experience that goes beyond the ordinary. Samsung’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life through innovative technology aligns effortlessly with Kfm 94.5’s dedication to delivering exceptional entertainment to its listeners.

“After the incredible response to last year’s event, we felt we had to do it again this year for our music-loving Cape Town customers. Fortunately, our partner, Kfm 94.5 shared the sentiment and the vision. As a brand that believes in creating memorable human experiences through our products, events such as this fall squarely within our approach to business. Galaxy KDay is a great opportunity for people to have fun and unwind with their loved ones,” says Kgomotso Mosiane, Head of Marketing for Mobile eXperiences at Samsung.

More than just a music festival, Galaxy KDay is a celebration of lifestyle and culture. Samsung will infuse the event with a dynamic and immersive vibe, where attendees will have the chance to experience the latest Samsung devices, particularly the AI-powered Galaxy S24 Series, thus creating a seamless blend of music, technology, and lifestyle. The Galaxy S24 makes for one of the best concert companions thanks to its cutting-edge camera system that gives users the power to capture every memorable moment, and fresh new ways to create with AI Zoom. Its Nightography feature means users can continue to take excellent photos and videos even towards the tail end of the concert when lighting conditions get dimmer.

At the heart of Galaxy KDay lies its stellar line-up, featuring some of South Africa’s most loved artists. From the multi-talented Zakes Bantwini, the iconic Mango Groove to the soulful Shekhinah, the energetic Early B, the versatile Emo Adams, the chart-topping Mi Casa, the Hip Hop lyrical genius Youngsta CPT, the acoustic sensation Jeremy Loops, and the Afro-house maestro Sun-El Musician – the stage is set for an extraordinary musical experience.

“At Kfm, we unite a diverse community every day through the power of media. Partnering with Samsung to bring this connection to life in a single location is truly extraordinary. Galaxy KDay transcends mere music; it embodies a cultural experience, bringing to life the aspirations of our audience to see their favourite artists perform live, artists they’ve come to know and love through our station,” says Kfm Station Manager Hennie Myburgh.

The countdown to the ultimate festival experience has begun! With the highly anticipated Galaxy KDay just a few days away, attendees are in for an unforgettable event that extends far beyond the sensational lineup.

Galaxy KDay, Presented by Galaxy AI on the S24 and Kfm 94.5, will take place at Meerendal Estate on Saturday, 2 March.

Top musicians like Zakes Bantwini, Lloyiso and Mango Groove will grace the festival stage alongside other renowned artists including Mi Casa, Youngsta CPT, Emo Adams, Kurt Darren, Early B, Jeremy Loops, and Shekhinah.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 11 February 2022 – Samsung has announced a new update to the Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic, continuing its commitment to helping users reach their health and wellness goals and express their personal style. Users can expect new improvements like advanced interval training designed for any cyclist or runner, a new sleep coaching program, and new body composition^[1] insights. Galaxy Watch4 users will now have even more ways to customise their look with upgraded watch faces, and a new line of stylish straps, sold separately.

“We understand the growing needs of smartwatch users, and are committed to guiding our Galaxy Watch4 series community on their unique wellness journeys with our latest update,” said Janghyun Yoon, Executive Vice President and Head of Software Platform at Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “We are excited to continue this effort as part of our wider initiative to redefine holistic wellness through expanded experiences and new innovations.”

Motivation To Move

The latest body composition update gives users even more insight into their health progress. Samsung Health will also be providing body composition insights to help users transform their health, fitness and mind-set.

Whether you’re just looking to get active or training for an upcoming race, Samsung’s new interval target feature for runners and cyclists lets them pre-set the duration, distance, and number of sets for their workout. From there, Galaxy Watch4 guides them through a custom intensity training session with a series of high-intensity workouts interspersed with low-intensity workouts, making for an impactful and targeted workout every time.

Work Towards a Better Night’s Sleep

Building on Galaxy Watch4’s robust sleep tracking capabilities, the new sleep coaching program helps users develop better sleep habits². By tracking sleep patterns over seven days and completing two related sleep surveys, the program assigns one of eight sleep symbol animals representing the user’s sleep type. Then, it will guide users through a four to five week coaching program that includes missions, checklists, sleep-related articles, meditation guidance, and regular reports to support users as they work towards improving their sleep quality.

When it comes to waking up refreshed, a peaceful and quiet environment is key to achieving a healthy rest as well. Galaxy Watch4 recognises when users fall asleep and automatically turns off Samsung SmartThings enabled lights to help create better sleeping conditions³

Deeper Insights for a Healthier Heart

Combined with the advanced BioActive Sensor technology and Samsung Health Monitor app⁴ Galaxy Watch4 measures both blood pressure⁵ and electrocardiogram⁶ (ECG), allowing users to monitor their heart health anytime and from anywhere. Since the first introduction in 2020, Samsung Health Monitor app is currently available in 43 markets globally, expanding to 11 more in March, including Canada, Vietnam and South Africa.

Greater Selection of Matching Straps and Watch Faces

The new Galaxy Watch4 update makes the wearable experience even better, from the inside out. Users can further customise their watch face with additional colours and digital clock fonts that make the watch truly their own. Also, new strap colours⁷ such as burgundy and cream, and the new fabric band and link bracelet will be available for a more personalised look.

Committed to Expanding Compatibility within the Android Ecosystem

In 2021, Samsung and Google introduced co-developed Wear OS Powered by Samsung, bringing smoother connections across Android devices and seamless access to more apps via Google Play including Google Maps, Google Pay, and YouTube Music. Coming soon through an additional update, users will be able to stream music over Wi-Fi or LTE from the YouTube Music app on their Galaxy Watch4. This means that users can leave their phone behind and still enjoy their favourite artists as they work out on-the-go.

Additionally, Google Assistant will be available on Galaxy Watch4 series in the coming months. With access to both Bixby and Google Assistant, consumers will be equipped with advanced voice assistant functionality to meet their various needs. Users can also now install their favourite smartphone apps⁸ on their Galaxy Watch4 during initial setup with one tap, creating a seamless experience across devices right out of the box.

Availability^{9, 10}

This software update will be available via the Galaxy Wearable app for Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic starting the day of the Unpacked – February 9. Users can purchase the new watch straps beginning late February.

To learn more about Galaxy Watch4 and Galaxy Watch4 Classic¹¹, please visit:

Galaxy Watch4: www.samsung.com/galaxy-watch4

Galaxy Watch4 Classic: www.samsung.com/galaxy-watch4-classic

¹1 Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis, or treatment of any medical condition or disease. The measurements are for the user’s personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice. Do not measure your body composition if you have an implanted pacemaker or other implanted medical devices. Do not measure your body composition if you are pregnant. Measurement results may not be accurate if you are under 20 years old. Availability of this feature may vary by market.

¹2 Intended for general wellness purposes only. Not intended for use in detection, diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition or disease. The measurements are for the users’ personal reference only. Please consult a medical professional for advice

¹3 Requires the latest versions of Samsung Clock mobile app (v. 12.1.10.5), Samsung SmartThings mobile app (v. 1.7.59.23) and SmartThings Framework mobile app (v1.4.1). Available on smart devices that are registered to SmartThings.

¹4 >Requires Samsung Galaxy Smartphone with Android 7 or later and Samsung Health Monitor app which is available only at the Samsung Galaxy app store. Due to country restrictions in acquiring approval/registration as a medical device, Samsung Health Monitor app only works on watches and smartphones purchased in the countries where service is currently available.

¹5 The Blood Pressure feature is only available in select markets, not available in the US. To ensure accuracy, users should calibrate their device every four weeks with a traditional blood pressure cuff. The BP app cannot diagnose hypertension, other conditions, or check for signs of a heart attack. It is not meant to replace traditional methods of diagnosis or treatment by a qualified healthcare professional.

¹6 The ECG feature is only available in select markets. The ECG app is not intended to replace traditional methods of diagnosis or treatment. The ECG app is not intended for users with known arrhythmias other than atrial fibrillation or users under 22 years old. Users should not interpret or take clinical action based on the device output without consultation of a qualified healthcare professional.

¹7 Sold separately. Availability may vary by market.

¹8Limited to watch-compatible apps downloaded via Google Play Store. Requires the latest version of Google Play Store on your connected device.

¹9Availability may vary by market or carrier. The update will initially be available on Bluetooth versions, and will roll out to LTE versions later.

¹10 App update requires smartphone running Android 8.0 or higher with more than 1.5GB of RAM and the latest version of Samsung Health mobile app (v.6.21)

¹11 All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice

While Samsung Newsroom previously spotlighted several of the company’s award-winning innovations when the winners were first announced, in the spirit of Samsung’s CES 2021 vision to provide a ‘Better Normal for All’, we are here showcasing those award-winning innovations that have been recognised for the innovation and value they bring to users’ daily lives and routines in this ‘new normal’ lifestyle.

Read on to learn more about some of Samsung’s CES 2021 Innovation Awards award-winning technologies across the visual display, home appliance, smart home and software & mobile app categories.

Among the recipients of the CES 2021 Innovation Awards were several of Samsung’s latest innovations in the display category, including the brand-new 110-inch MICRO LED, a breakthrough product that garnered a Best of Innovation award for its leading features that offer users total control over their space as well as their experiences.

• 110-inch MICRO LED – Providing the ultimate in visual experiences, the Best of Innovation Award-winning 110-inch MICRO LED features 24 million individually-controlled LEDs and a powerful MicroLed processor for breath-taking image quality. With over 99.99% screen-to-body ratio and Samsung’s Ambient Mode featuring three exclusive pieces by new media artist Refik Anadol, the TV seamlessly blends into its surroundings whether the display is on or off.
• 85-inch QN900A Neo QLED – Samsung’s QN900A Neo QLED enhances the viewing experience thanks to its upgraded AI-powered upscaling Quantum Processor and all-new light source technology, wherein each LED backlight chip emits light on its own to allow content to be enjoyed just as it is meant to be seen.
• Smart TV Accessibility – Samsung’s 2021 QLED and Neo QLED models all feature the latest advances in AI and technology to help more users to comfortably enjoy their TV experiences with new features such as Caption Moving, Sign Language Zoom and Multi-Output Audio.

Samsung’s CES 2021 Innovation Award winners also included some of the company’s latest home appliance and smart home products packed with the latest innovations designed to be bespoke to any lifestyle, including the brand-new Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex refrigerator.

• Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex – The latest addition to Samsung’s Bespoke refrigerator line-up and the first to launch in the U.S. market, the Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex allows users to choose from a wide range of colours and finishes while offering powerful and flexible storage features including an all-new Beverage Centre.
• Family Hub for 2021 – Carrying on the Family Hub legacy of being much more than just a place to store food, the Family Hub for 2021 provides families with flexible food management features, an intuitive and totally customisable 21.5-inch LED touchscreen and seamless inter-device connectivity for convenient cooking, entertainment, messaging and more.
• WF8800A Front Load Washer – Featuring a Smart Dial user experience that learns a user’s preferences and recommends optimal cycles for each wash, the WF8800A provides a redesigned laundry experience that is smarter, more intuitive and less stressful than ever before.

• JetBot 90 AI+ – With LiDAR and 3D sensors as well as cutting-edge object recognition technology powered by Intel® to precisely manoeuvre around objects, the JetBot 90 AI+ is a sleek robot vacuum cleaner that features a self-emptying Clean Station and front camera for efficient and intelligent home cleaning.

• Jet 95 Cordless Stick Vacuum – Featuring an automatic dust emptying system integrated with its battery charging station, the Jet 95 is a revolutionary cleaning assistant.

• Slim Over-the-Range (OTR) Microwave – Designed for any kitchen with an under-cabinet hood, the Slim OTR Microwave saves countertop space while delivering optimum performance as an industry-best 1100W output microwave, and includes a power ventilation system with a 550 cu.ft./min. suction capacity.
• Front Control Slide-in Flex Duo Induction Range – A modern upgrade to any kitchen, the Front Control Slide-in Flex Duo Induction Range includes Wi-Fi connectivity, simpler range control with Smart Dial and a built-in Air Fry mode for convenient cooking. Furthermore, by using induction, the range reduces energy consumption and features dual doors that turn one oven into two so that users are not restricted to just one oven temperature or timer.

• Samsung Water Purifier (Family Faucet/Chef Faucet) – Wi-Fi and voice-enabled, Samsung’s water purifier offers improved filtration with two faucets for various uses, customisable horizontal or vertical installation, and remote, smart control.

• SmartThings Cooking – A one-stop culinary experience powered by Whisk’s Food AI, SmartThings Cooking recommends recipes fit to the user’s tastes and dietary requirements, builds meal plans and grocery lists and sends recipe data straight to appliances for integrated, intelligent cooking experiences.

Many of the products and services mentioned here are being spotlighted at this year’s virtual CES event, along with a range of other CES 2021 Innovation Award-winners from across the Samsung ecosystem including various products from the mobile category and a range of Samsung’s leading memory solutions.

*The above images are not the actual ID but a design draft.

Through C-Lab, Samsung provides opportunities for select projects and start-ups, with the final list of selected companies being announced at international events such as CES 2021. Through not only C-Lab Inside¹ and C-Lab Outside,² but also the C-Lab Outside companies that are selected in affiliation with the Daegu & Gyeongbuk Centers for Creative Economy & Innovation (CCEI), Samsung secures chances for companies to join the international stage. These efforts allow the stepping stones of growth to be broadened for an increasing number of start-ups.

So exactly which start-ups were chosen to take the stage at the CES 2021 digital exhibition? Samsung Newsroom met with two start-ups and one in-house venture from C-Lab to find out more about them as they prepare for the upcoming CES exhibition.

Tell us about Food & Sommelier.

We are one of the teams selected as an in-house venture within C-Lab Inside. We provide a service that recommends the best food and wine combinations according to users’ preferences. While collaborating on R&D with the Korea International Sommelier Association (KISA), we selected elements that affect the suitability of food-wine combinations. The elements concerning food consisted of 28 ingredients, 12 cooking methods, and 47 sauces. For wine, the important factors included body, acidity, aroma, and sweetness. After converting these elements into numerical figures, we developed the capability to recommend the food and wine combinations that would prove most attractive to our users. For example, the classifications of foods include beef, chicken, pork, oily fish, and mushrooms, while some examples of the cooking methods are blanching, steaming, boiling, and grilling. With proven recommendations from Korea’s major sommeliers, Food & Sommelier is striving to create a service that is reliable for customers.

What compelled the company to provide food and wine combination recommendations?

We have often witnessed situations where waiters and waitresses were confused about what wine they should recommend when helping customers. As we learned more about wine, we realised that the field of wine is somewhat influenced by IT. The global wine market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. As wine becomes more and more popular, there will be more demand for our service. Once our service is combined with IT, anyone will be able to enjoy dishes with the appropriate wine to match.

How do I use the service?

First, start your app on your smartphone and take a picture of the food. Once the program recognises the dish, the matching algorithm will recommend some wines with high match rates.

How will Food & Sommelier change our day-to-day lives in the future?

In the past, customers had to rely on the recommendations of store clerks or price ranges to pick a wine. In the future, however, Food & Sommelier will help them conveniently select a wine or dish based on their preferences by providing information via kiosks, a smartphone app, and tablet PCs. Wherever there is an establishment that serves wine, Food & Sommelier will provide a gourmet restaurant experience with sommelier-quality recommendations.

What are your goals?

South Korea is on the fringes when it comes to the wine market. By incorporating the market with the world’s best IT, however, we are sure that the Korean market can come to be a leader in the ‘food tech’ market. Food & Sommelier would also like to go beyond the wine market, and hopes to widen its scope of pairing solutions to include a range of other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Tell us about Counter Culture Company.

We are one of the start-ups selected from C-Lab Outside. We operate a global K-pop online home training service called ED Online K-pop Training Agency. Instructors who have experience nurturing famous K-pop stars provide comprehensive lectures on not only dancing, but also vocal training, fitness, makeup, and styling. This service provides international fans with the actual training that K-pop singers receive.

What motivated you to provide this service?

As K-pop gains international popularity, people are increasingly interested in finding out how Korea’s K-pop singers are fostered. Chinese and European singers-to-be are already spending tens of thousands of dollars per year to receive K-pop training in Korea.

We have paid close attention to providing world-class online lectures, and other services that deliver the know-how of international millionaires, at reasonable prices without any time or space restrictions for use. Accordingly, we wondered if we could incorporate this into online services that teach dance or deliver vocal training. Once the future K-pop trainees learn basic moves and receive vocal training online before starting their official training in Korea, the entertainment management companies that deliver the in-person training may be able to reduce their costs as well.

How do users utilise the service?

With our service, users can basically take online K-pop classes. By syncing their smartphone cameras, users can use ‘mirror studio’ to compare their moves with those of the instructor and ‘live class’ to experience real-time interactive training. To truly improve, trainees require monitoring and professional feedback. Thus, ED provides assignments for practice every week and professional feedback regarding the submitted performances. Moreover, users can check their progress by going through monthly evaluations along with Korean K-pop trainees.

How will Counter Culture Company change our day-to-day lives in the future?

Our service will allow any K-pop trainee to take high-quality lessons regardless of space and time, even if they live far away from Korea. ED is also planning to launch an online audition service in collaboration with some entertainment management companies. In the past, those companies had to travel overseas to find talent, which required a lot of effort and expense. If ED can develop online audition capabilities for those qualified trainees, however, those management companies will be able to find more talent, regardless of recruiting restrictions.

What are your goals?

It has been about seven months since the official launch of the service. So far, we have been enjoying meaningful encounters while providing better user experiences and having our business grow at the same time. K-pop is a music genre that anyone can enjoy. We hope that our service will help global fans of K-pop communicate with one another and see their dreams come true by going beyond time, space, and language barriers.

Tell us about Salin.

Salin is a start-up that is supported by C-Lab Outside through the Daegu Center for Creative Economy & Innovation. With Salin, users can create avatars that resemble themselves to share content and communicate in virtual or augmented reality (VR or AR). There are many cooperative platforms in the market, although the purpose of those platforms is generally limited to meetings and training. Salin’s platform can be utilised for various purposes such as virtual concert halls for sharing performance videos, online training venues and virtual meeting rooms. In addition, anyone can easily utilise our technology through their laptops and smartphones, which are easier to access than smart glasses and VR headsets.

What made the company want to provide this service?

Up to now, most companies have been focused on applying VR and AR technologies to game services. However, we decided that these technologies were more suitable for services in the areas of media, education and collaboration.

How do users utilise the service?

First, users activate the Salin app with a laptop, smartphone or VR/AR headset. Once they have uploaded a selfie, they can create avatars that look like themselves and act in response to their movement. After that, all they have to do is use functions such as 3D writing and multi-video sharing to invite others into 3D spaces and enjoy talking with them.

How will Salin change our day-to-day lives in the future?

Imagine 50 avatars talking to each other on Salin’s platform – that would constitute a remarkable experience. This is a whole other level compared to 50 people exchanging messages online. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, college students have started using more virtual meeting services for not only studying but also social gatherings. By utilising Salin, users will not only do better work but also enjoy a variety of daily activities in VR and AR environments.

What are your goals?

Last year, Salin’s platform was used to view sports events and performances, for remote collaboration work and for docent services. This year, we plan to launch more services to support large-scale exhibitions and conferences with hundreds of remote users. At Salin, we hope to provide unique services in such a way that more users and companies can combine their businesses with our platform.

¹ ‘C-Lab Inside’ is Samsung’s in-house idea incubation program that has been looking to instil a creative corporate culture throughout the company and nurture its employees’ ideas into meaningful offerings since December 2012.

² ‘C-Lab Outside’ is a start-up acceleration program for entrepreneurs outside of Samsung that has been seeking to invigorate the start-up ecosystem since 2018.