At IFA 2024 in Berlin, Samsung showcased advancements in the connectivity and seamless execution of its products throughout the home. There was a key focus on the various ways that different households interact with their products, demonstrating how Samsung is adapting and evolving its offering to give consumers the confidence to engage the way they want to.

“We know consumers are looking for value and value does not necessarily just come from the initial price of the product,” Samsung vice president of consumer electronics, Jeremy Senior told Appliance Retailer during an interview on the Samsung booth at IFA.

“Value comes from the course of ownership and what else is possible. Our research shows that almost all Australians are looking at ways to save money on energy. Samsung’s SmartThings gives households the ability to connect their devices, monitor their energy and then use AI and smart technology to bring efficiency to the forefront.

“The new Samsung SmartThings 3D map functionality enables you to map your home layout, use icons to apply your appliances and then link your local energy provider and plan to see that translated into a price. What you do with that information can vary based on the number of products and the type of set-up, whether it’s solar or battery. We will continue to add new features and benefits to this platform.

“We recognise that we need to bring this to life and our retail partners are focused on how we can amplify this, while not diminishing their need to deliver a commercial return per square metre. It will deliver benefits for the retailer if the feature and service encourage the consumer to purchase products, potentially at a higher price.”

The SmartThings service exists across the Samsung ecosystem and can be used on a smartphone, TV and selected smart appliances such as the Samsung Family Hub refrigerator or the Bespoke AI heat pump combo.

“We also know that security is incredibly critical to consumers. How can we bring this story to life? We are effectively talking about products across categories that sit in different positions within the retail store. There will be solutions where we show a connected experience zone and demonstrate to the consumer that by adding a smart refrigerator, they are simplifying their experience,” Senior said.

“The data shows that the more connected devices you have, the better the experience is. That’s why at Samsung, it’s important that we allow an open-source approach, as members of Matter and the Home Connectivity Alliance, with many partner products coming into our ecosystem through SmartThings.”

At IFA 2024, Samsung also announced Smart Forward, over-the-network updates for home appliances, which will roll out to select devices throughout the second half of this year. The updates are designed to provide new functionality to existing appliances, future-proofing them and delivering enhanced safety and energy savings.

“We will continue to evolve the technology and update the ecosystem that drives the platform. We are also adding different features like being able to pair Bluetooth headphones or take calls via the Family Hub refrigerator,” Senior said.

Samsung also unveiled new features and updates for its AI-powered food and recipe platform, Smart Food, to support meal planning and cooking at home.

“Everyone is talking about connected appliances, but Samsung has been investing in AI for over a decade now and we are not undertaking our first iteration of this – the ability for our products to talk to each other is not a fanciful future position – this exists today, and these outcomes can be achieved now,” Senior said.

Another big topic in the appliance industry is sustainability and implementing initiatives around the use of recycled plastics and reducing environmental impact during manufacturing and production.

“In addition to this, we are focused on what can be done once a consumer owns the product, such as reducing energy consumption. Our Bespoke AI heat pump combo can wash using up to 60% less energy than non-AI cycles because the AI detects the soiling and laundry load and then adjusts the wash cycle accordingly. Our AI refrigerators can reduce compressor activity by monitoring and measuring the compressor speed to deliver enhanced energy efficiency.”