2020 IFA International - Day 1 Edition

I EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW I
Major new offerings
from Haier Group
Built-in, premium, intuitive… and increasingly
digital – a whole lot to discover at IFA
The Haier Group is present at this year’s IFA with a number
of big product announcements. We asked European CEO
Yannick Fierling what’s at the heart of their offering.
IFA is a unique opportunity for
Haier to present the best of our
cutting-edge technologies and
innovation. This is even truer given
the unprecedented times we’ve all
been living in. We’ve never stopped
designing and creating to delight
our consumers with our products
and brands, with absolute previews
being showcased here in Berlin.
The launch of an entirely new builtin
offer for Haier with a series of
new features for the refrigeration
and wine coolers range, is aimed
to bring the brand’s premiumness,
high quality and sophisticated
design to the kitchen, with artificial
intelligence at the core of this
proposition.
Yannick Fierling
European CEO,
Haier Group
Candy follows its path to smartness
with a new and intuitive washing
WE’RE GLAD
TO BE HERE
AND SUPPORT
THIS YEAR’S
EDITION OF IFA
WHICH WILL
DEFINITELY BE
MEMORABLE
machine, NOVA, fully developed
thanks to consumers’ habits and
delivered to simplify everyday life
with smart functions and a typical
Italian style.
As per Hoover, we are pleased
to introduce here at IFA the first
“3in1” well-being ecosystem,
interconnected into Hoover ranges
and designed for a healthier home
living.
What about the integration of Haier
and Candy?
After 18 months, the process is
almost complete and it is already
bringing important results, as we’re
the fastest growing company in
Europe. Undoubtedly, the integration
has been a great success with the
deployment of the multi-brand
strategy, the setup of a cross-selling
process and the focus on IOT and
connectivity to empower user
experience. In this regard, we’re
happy to launch here hOn, a single
and centralised digital platform able
to control and manage appliances
of all our brands. Several challenges
and opportunities are still ahead
of us and we’re confident we have
the right people and culture to
address them: the entrepreneurial
spirit which is at the core of the
company’s culture allows us to
be close to the markets, business
partners and consumers, pursuing
Haier’s goal of “Zero Distance with
the Consumer” and our vision to
become first consumer choice in
smart home in Europe and among
the top 3 leaders by 2023.
How is the “Haier Smart Home”
project evolving?
We are proceeding at a fast pace
in the implementation of this
project, that represents one of the
fundamental pillars of our strategy.
HAIER OPENS
“AI-POWERED”
FACTORY IN
QINGDAO
Last year, jointly with China
Mobile and Huawei, Haier
inaugurated the first AI+5G
interconnection factory
in Qingdao, to seize the
opportunity for creating a
world-class Internet ecological
brand.
The company also opened
in Russia the first real-time
manufacturing facility aiming
to produce tailor-made laundry
appliances connecting the
customer with the factory
throughout the whole
manufacturing process.
The model leverages IoT and
AI applications, generating
efficiency, manufacturing
savings and granting a
sustainable competitive
advantage.
The same approach is being
adopted to our upcoming
new factories in Turkey
and Romania, which will be
manufacturing respectively
dryers and refrigerators
“Haier Smart Home” reflects not
only our company and brand
positioning but, most importantly,
our philosophy: it’s about a change
in paradigm, from a product, a
concept to a seamless scenario
experience. We’ve transformed
from a traditional manufacturing
company into a co-creation and
win-win IoT community ecosystem.
What are your thoughts about
IFA’s decision to create a “real”
show this year, despite all the
difficulties involved?
We appreciate the efforts by the
organisation to pull together all
relevant stakeholders despite
the unprecedented times and
unfavourable conditions. This really
gives a sense of optimism and
forward-looking spirit, which is at the
core of our industry and business.
We’re glad to be here and support
this year’s edition of IFA which will
definitely be memorable!
IFA GLOBAL PRESS
CONFERENCE
Haier Press Conference
TODAY 15:00 - 15:45
Conference Room 4 2
12 IFA INTERNATIONAL • THURSDAY 3 RD SEPTEMBER 2020
www.ifa-international.org