Hanwha Group announced Monday that its technology and lifestyle divisions are integrating collaborative technologies to bolster competitiveness under a newly formed holding company.
This initiative follows the board’s January approval of establishing Hanwha Machinery & Services Holdings to oversee key affiliates, including Hanwha Vision, Hanwha Galleria, Hanwha Momentum, and Hanwha Robotics.
The restructured entity, designed to maximize corporate value through cross-divisional synergies, will be spearheaded by Kim Dong-seon, the youngest son of Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn, subject to shareholder approval in June.
This synergistic approach will primarily leverage the tech division’s AI-powered cameras and robots to improve operational efficiency and enhance customer experiences across the group’s retail and hospitality sectors.
Specifically, Hanwha Galleria and Hanwha Hotel & Resort will use Hanwha Vision’s AI cameras to analyze real-time foot traffic and customer behavior in their department stores and hotels. This data will enable managers to optimize staffing, detect unusual incidents, and promptly alert personnel.
In food and beverage locations, Hanwha Robotics will deploy robots, including the Vinobot wine dispenser and cooking robots, in customer-facing roles.
“By deepening collaboration with the tech division, we anticipate significant improvements in customer service,” stated an official from Hanwha Galleria. “Analyzing patterns through accumulated data will also allow us to provide more personalized services.”
The deployment extends to Ourhome, a food catering service provider, which is piloting Hanwha Vision’s AI technology in select facilities.
Kitchen cameras will verify cooks’ hygiene compliance upon entry and monitor for unusual sounds or sudden heat spikes to identify potential accidents. In the supply chain, real-time inventory data will be integrated into an AI platform that automatically places replenishment orders, while dining preference data collected via cameras will contribute to refining menus.
“Real-time monitoring of worker conditions and kitchen environments will greatly simplify hygiene and safety management,” commented an Ourhome official, adding that food quality is also expected to improve as kitchen staff can focus more on cooking.
Upon completion of the spinoff, the group intends to establish a dedicated team to pursue further cross-divisional opportunities, testing new technologies internally before commercializing them for external clients as a new revenue stream.
“These synergies are central to the blueprint being developed by Hanwha Machinery & Services Holdings,” explained a group official, emphasizing that sustained investment and collaboration are ultimately aimed at enriching people’s daily lives.
