Consumer-facing, brand-empowering business

Today, when a person hears the name Samsung Electronics, a device will usually come to mind. Odds are the device will be a smartphone, but it will likely be envisioned in the consumer, not a business context. In truth, smartphones and other Internet-enabled mobility helped consumer electronics giant Samsung embrace a broader, business-to-business (B2B) focus.

"Samsung develops B2B mobile solutions that seamlessly integrate technologies to create new solutions that drive business transformation and help companies succeed through differentiating business models," the company said in a public statement about its B2B division. In this spirit, Samsung provides digital strategies to a wide range of industries, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, retail, transportation, public safety and government.

According to Ian Hutchinson, head of business development, retail vertical, at Samsung Electronics America, businesses can benefit by leveraging Samsung's innovative mobility tools, such as smartphones, tablets and wearable devices. "These B2B solutions enable businesses to improve customer experiences, streamline workflows and increase productivity through an approach tailored to a company's industry," he said.

Thriving partner ecosystem

Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, N.J., Samsung's business division is part of Samsung Electronics America Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company Ltd. In describing itself, the company stated, "A recognized innovative leader in consumer electronics, mobile devices and enterprise solutions, pushing beyond the limits of today's technology, and providing consumers and organizations with a portfolio of groundbreaking products."

Hutchinson said that as part of the B2B division, Samsung's retail vertical solutions team "leverages the division's deep expertise, innovative products, and partner ecosystem to serve today's increasingly connected consumer." Samsung has centralized its entire Galaxy mobile device portfolio and retail technology solutions under one roof to help both large and small business enterprises re-imagine and reconnect retail, Hutchinson noted. "A key differentiator for retail that Samsung brings to the table is the introduction of mobile solutions that enhance customer engagement within a store," he said.

Digitally enhanced shopping

Hutchinson cited several Samsung products that enable retail partners to connect with customers on a deeper level during the shopping experience. For example, stores can interact with customers using Samsung's smartphones and tablets through Samsung's desktop experience platform, Samsung DeX, enables a retail worker to deliver a more immersive experience to shoppers. Samsung also recently launched its assistive selling solution called Connected Associate to help retailers increase employee expertise. "This turns associates into knowledge workers, improving employee performance and elevating customer satisfaction," Hutchinson said.

By offering rewards through Samsung Pay, the company's proprietary mobile wallet and payment service ‒ which is nearing its fourth anniversary and is available in more than 24 markets on six continents ‒ retailers are also able to drive business through what Samsung describes as a "simple, safe payment service available almost anywhere you can swipe or tap your card."

Partner empowerment

Alluding to Samsung Pay's partner-rich capabilities, DJ Koh, president and CEO of Samsung's IT & mobile communications division, recently stated, "We're not limiting ourselves to a mobile wallet – by integrating with our other mobile services, consumers will be able to earn Samsung Rewards points, use Bixby for a more seamless payment experience, and more."

Hutchinson added that Samsung's retail division also partners with technology innovators to help retailers secure state-of-the-art scanning solutions and POS capabilities. Other Samsung retail business products include dynamic digital signage, and the Samsung NexShop, which gives stores an efficient, secure method for collecting in-store data for effective analysis. According to Hutchinson, this enables the business to improve store layouts, manage inventory and ultimately enhance the customer experience.

Hutchinson emphasized that Samsung's business division is focused on empowering businesses to connect with customers. "By utilizing Samsung's mobile solutions and technology to engage and inspire the customer, retailers can deliver the meaningful experiences today's generation has come to expect," he said.

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