SK Planet seeks expansion with machine learning tech

By Lee Min-hyung

SK Planet, the nation’s leading mobile platform provider, says machine-learning technology will boost the expansion of its online-to-offline (O2O) commerce platform.

“As machine-learning tech, which helps computers recognize real-life experiences, becomes more important, the online-offline boundary is blurring,” SK Planet chief technology officer Jeon Yun-ho said during the company’s tech conference at Lotte Hotel World in Jamsil, Seoul, Wednesday.

The technology chief of SK Group’s e-commerce affiliate said the company plans to incorporate deep-learning techniques into Syrup Pay, its mobile payment platform. Users will be able to save their credit card information in their mobile devices by taking a photo of the cards, he said.

Deep learning, part of machine-learning technology, helps computers think like people. The data-based computing process has been gaining traction as people increase their reliance on computers.

“Computers can process more and more things in our real life, changing the way we live,” Jeon said. “SK Planet is also pushing to expand the O2O commerce businesses. For the past few years, we have launched services such as Syrup Wallet and Syrup Order, helping people interconnect online-offline.”

Syrup Wallet, the company’s mobile wallet application, allows customers to buy products using smartphones. The service also helps them issue and manage membership cards or user coupons.

“We have more than 14 million Syrup Wallet users, and have partnered with more than 60,000 retail stores of some 400 brands,” he said. “We are seeking to adopt more various approaches to put together offline commerce and online service.”

The company has held the tech conference for software developers for four consecutive years. This year’s event had the theme of “technology that can change the world.”

In a keynote speech, PayPal’s mobile business head, Amol Patel, spoke about how the Internet of Things (IoT) is changing retail ecosystems.

“More retailers are starting to embrace IoT devices and sensors,” he said.

The mobile division chief of the U.S.-based online payment service provider said customers and retailers can get benefits from the IoT-based payment system.

“In your digital wallet, you can buy any grocery items, which will create personalized, engaging experiences,” he said.