By Kim Yoo-chul
Samsung Electronics seeks to develop robots as one of its next revenue sources, officials and sources said Monday.
It has allocated part of the workforce within its telecommunications business division to develop robots for use in education and industry, they said.
"The increased investment in the machine business such as robots and drones shows that Samsung's strategy is to cut its reliance on volatile business-to-consumer (B2C) business toward less-volatile business-to-business (B2B) business," said a source.
He said Samsung is still in the process of developing Smart Things technology, which the Korean technology giant recently acquired to introduce an open Internet of Things (IoT) platform.
He added that Samsung identified robots and drones as the "top two" items to highlight its efforts for IoT.
Samsung's new mobile chief Ko Dong-jin, who replaced long-time company mobile chief Shin Jong-kyun from last year's management reshuffle of the top brass, is regularly being briefed over the developments of its robot projects.
The source, however, declined to comment on what types of robots they will be or if Samsung has plans to team up with other companies to boost its robot business.
But an executive at Samsung's top-tier local parts supplier said robots and drones have huge potential for the company.
"It's too early to say whether Samsung was in talks with its technology partners to take get its robot projects going," said the official.
Samsung spokesman declined to comment.
As the global consumer electronics market is reshaped focusing on price rather than fancy hardware features, Samsung's conventionally-strong businesses ― from mobile phones, memory chips, televisions to displays ― are being challenged by the rapid rise of Chinese competitors.
Under the new market landscape, selling products aren't a winning formula, pushing Samsung Electronics to shift its eyes to corporate businesses for sustainability.
Its CEO Kwon Oh-hyun recently told its shareholders that Samsung plans to improve profits by focusing on B2B and content service businesses which haven't been heavily touched before to fill in the possible voids in profits that will be left by the loss of its component and set businesses.
"The use of robots will be expanded as they will be used for education, industry, health treatment and working with children. Using Samsung's secured global channels, the firm is ideally-positioned to lift its robot business. This makes good sense and will help local Samsung partners see the rise of their stock prices," said the executive at the Samsung local partner.
Samsung Electronics seeks to develop robots as one of its next revenue sources, officials and sources said Monday.
It has allocated part of the workforce within its telecommunications business division to develop robots for use in education and industry, they said.
"The increased investment in the machine business such as robots and drones shows that Samsung's strategy is to cut its reliance on volatile business-to-consumer (B2C) business toward less-volatile business-to-business (B2B) business," said a source.
He said Samsung is still in the process of developing Smart Things technology, which the Korean technology giant recently acquired to introduce an open Internet of Things (IoT) platform.
He added that Samsung identified robots and drones as the "top two" items to highlight its efforts for IoT.
Samsung's new mobile chief Ko Dong-jin, who replaced long-time company mobile chief Shin Jong-kyun from last year's management reshuffle of the top brass, is regularly being briefed over the developments of its robot projects.
The source, however, declined to comment on what types of robots they will be or if Samsung has plans to team up with other companies to boost its robot business.
But an executive at Samsung's top-tier local parts supplier said robots and drones have huge potential for the company.
"It's too early to say whether Samsung was in talks with its technology partners to take get its robot projects going," said the official.
Samsung spokesman declined to comment.
As the global consumer electronics market is reshaped focusing on price rather than fancy hardware features, Samsung's conventionally-strong businesses ― from mobile phones, memory chips, televisions to displays ― are being challenged by the rapid rise of Chinese competitors.
Under the new market landscape, selling products aren't a winning formula, pushing Samsung Electronics to shift its eyes to corporate businesses for sustainability.
Its CEO Kwon Oh-hyun recently told its shareholders that Samsung plans to improve profits by focusing on B2B and content service businesses which haven't been heavily touched before to fill in the possible voids in profits that will be left by the loss of its component and set businesses.
"The use of robots will be expanded as they will be used for education, industry, health treatment and working with children. Using Samsung's secured global channels, the firm is ideally-positioned to lift its robot business. This makes good sense and will help local Samsung partners see the rise of their stock prices," said the executive at the Samsung local partner.
![[INTERVIEW] Retired FSC chief finds inspiration exploring Koreans' ancestral roots](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/6642af4d9fed4cae8a8a951eedbbaa6f.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] 'The Flag': Kwon Jin-ah's love letter to people chasing their dreams](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/286500d853334c96ab51e56d74fe38f2.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
