Q&A with Samsung’s Mike van Lier
BusinessTech sat down with Samsung South Africa’s business leader for IT, Mike van Lier, to gauge his views on life at Samsung SA; how tech is faring in South Africa – and where it’s all going in 2013.
What is your main role at Samsung South Africa?
I am the business leader for the IT solutions division at Samsung SA. In this role, I am responsible for the daily operational running of the IT solutions business, ensuring that sales targets are met and driven, that our customers always receive the very best service delivery and, of course, ensuring that the overall divisional operations are well run and managed to ensure optimal market penetration and growth.
What drew you to the tech industry?
What attracted me to this sector is the inherent innovation that drives the industry, and if we consider the changes experienced over the last 20 years, we can always be certain that the “constant” is, in fact, change – but also how this change that drives innovation is managed. This is what keeps me motivated and inspired to continually push myself to the next level.
What projects are you currently involved with?
Currently, our biggest project is the launch and successful implementation of our Windows 8 platforms and education of Windows 8 into the market. We are working very closely with Microsoft to educate consumers around this offering and take this new exciting operating system to market.
What makes Samsung a great business?
From a broader market perspective, Samsung has grown phenomenally over the past few years – driven by our innovative product and service solutions. It is this, coupled with our commitment to generating strong market awareness, which I believe will see the brand become even more loved by even more South Africans.
From an IT Solutions perspective specifically, I believe that our value proposition is centred around the fact that we are an end-to-end solutions provider.
By this I mean that we are able to service the market with any product that is required within the IT space – not just boxes, but solutions that meet the expectations of the consumer.
Today the market demands innovative products that are accessible and create a sense of convenience for the consumer and business person alike and I believe that Samsung certainly delivers a superior experience in this regard.
How does Samsung remain competitive in the South African market?
The consumer electronics market is highly complex and offers a range of competing products and services – all aiming for ultimate market share positioning. Of course there is also the reality that many new products are launched constantly across these brands – creating a flooded market.
For us it really is a simple solution – innovation.
As an end-to-end consumer electronics brand, we are able to provide the consumer and business markets with products to suit every aspect of their lifestyles for a better end user experience.
However, key to our value proposition is the eco-system we have created across of product lines. Our philosophy is underpinned by what we phrase – “The Smarter Life” – an offering that enables convenience, ease of use and interconnectedness.
Our strategy of course is not only to provide products, but also solutions that enable this “Smarter Life” – solutions that are optimised to meet the demands of everyday life for consumers and businesses.
Aside from Samsung, what other tech company do you respect or draw inspiration from?
I would say Asus probably has some strong products available and they are one of the companies to watch in the future. However, without a doubt, Samsung still is by far the most innovative tech company I have ever worked for…
Looking at the IT sector, specifically, what are the biggest trends in the tech space in South Africa?
A key trend we are witnessing locally is that of technological aspiration. No longer do consumers and businesses want the cheapest products – rather they are moving towards the use of brands and products that mean something to them and that have a strong reputation associated to them.
Those brands that provide aspirational value and offer the consumer more than what they expect will certainly be far better placed within the market than those that don’t – as such, innovation is at the core of brand success and uptake.
Samsung Electronics South Africa is well positioned in this space, offering many products and solutions that already drive these trends to become mainstream realities for consumers.
And globally? Where is all heading, and how does South Africa fit into the picture?
One of the biggest trends – which is not a new one – is the move towards mobility. The need to be constantly mobile and connected is still driving business change – as today connected means not only having Internet and social media access but of course, being able to connect to one’s own content/server.
This move is creating the need for devices that enable this mobility and make it easier and more convenient. Take the ATIV Smart PC Pro, for example, that we recently launched to market.
This device is a combination between a notebook PC and the convenience of a tablet PC, coming with a detachable keyboard-docking system that allows users to easily switch between the two. It is also a mere 9.9mm thick – enabling ultra portability.
What are the biggest positives to the South African market?
South Africa still has a very positive outlook specifically in the government, corporate and education sectors. And as such, Samsung specifically has opportunity to grow in these sectors on the back of the brand. And with our success in the consumer market – where our products have been highly successful, this will help our drive into other sectors.
What are the biggest problems the tech industry faces?
The biggest challenge currently facing this industry is the lowering of pricing around notebooks, which in turn results in much tighter and sometimes even, unprofitable margins. This challenge is mainly impacting the retail space.
What gadgets are you currently using (smartphone, tablet, PC etc) – and which is your favourite?
I am currently using an S3 SmartPhone, Ativ Smart PC Pro and a series 5 Ultrabook and my favourite would be the Ativ Smart PC Pro.
Related articles
Samsung dominates in global mobile phone sales
Samsung SA shows off holiday wares
Loading ...