Keith Li, the Country Manager for UAE at Huawei Consumer Business Group, speaks about how technology and consumer electronics buying experience has changed in recent months

How has the technology/consumer electronics buying experience changed in recent months? Do you see more people buying online or offline from tech retail stores?
We have seen a shift in consumer shopping preferences over the last 18 months with people now preferring online experiences. In response to this changing demand, Huawei has worked hard to deliver exciting online shopping events that offer innovative special offers, discounts, bundles, and deals. During 2020 we held a number of online sales which attracted huge interest among consumers in the UAE.

For example, last November we ran a two-day HUAWEI MEGA LIVE SALE event which resulted in AED 1,050,000 woth of orders in just 30 minutes on its first day. Then in December, we had our HUAWEI DSF LIVE SALE during which viewers took advantage of big savings across our range of devices. During this event, we had received orders for AED 1,100,000 in the first 30 minutes of the event. We will continue to push for even more innovative online shopping experiences during 2021.

At Huawei, we have a firm commitment to providing consumers with the most advanced technology that makes a real difference to people in their daily lives and across a range of attractive price points. Our new Super Devices line-up is no exception as it removes siloed barriers between devices enabling a seamless and truly intelligent experience across multiple devices and scenarios.

Powered by HarmonyOS, the Super Devices include the HUAWEI WATCH 3|3 Pro, the new 12.6-inch HUAWEI MatePad Pro, the new HUAWEI FreeBuds 4, and two high-end monitors, the HUAWEI MateView and the HUAWEI MateView GT. Users can easily connect and collaborate with these devices so they become more productive and efficient at their tasks.

Do brand stores still add value to the overall shopping experience?
In-store experiences remain a popular option for many consumers in the UAE. It allows people to get true hands-on experiences with devices, ask questions and clarify points with trained staff. Consumers in the UAE find this approach attractive during launches of new products and that is especially true of our new Super Device devices. An in-person experience is the best way for consumers to see what these devices can do and in particular how devices can work together in our “Smart Office” concept.

By visiting one of our brand stores in the UAE shoppers can be guided on how to make the most of this experience. The ‘Smart Office’ devices include the new HUAWEI MatePad 11, HUAWEI MateBook D15, and HUAWEI MateView, and each combines to work seamlessly together. This productivity hub breaks down siloed boundaries to maximise productivity and efficiency. It allows users to share files and collaborate across devices and the true potential of this capability is best seen in person at our brand stores.

If you were to list out the top five factors that people look for while shopping for tech products/consumer electronics/home appliances, what would those be?
Consumers in the UAE today value immersive experiences that enable them to live, work and enjoy entertainment on their terms. Increasingly this means they demand interconnected experiences where they can use different devices seamlessly, so they are more productive, efficient, and creative no matter where they are. Brand, innovation, design, manufacturing quality, and cost are all important, but they must now fit into a wider ecosystem of services and devices.

Huawei understands this and that is why we have developed our 1+8+N strategy which creates an ecosystem of linked devices and services that allow users to do more with their Huawei smartphone at its core. In the strategy “1” represents mobile phone users; “8” represents tablets, PCs, VR devices, wearables, smart screens, smart audio, smart speakers, and head units; and “N” represents ubiquitous IoT devices.

This strategy is driven by our “Super Device” experience and Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) ecosystem. It enables different types of devices to seamlessly share their capabilities and information. It aims to provide consumers with an intelligent experience across five key scenarios: smart office, fitness & health, smart home, easy travel, and entertainment. Huawei will continue to introduce more products and experiences to consumers in the UAE based on this strategy.

How high do people rate after-sales service these days?
Huawei places the customer at the center of its experience. That means not only are our devices developed and designed to meet the needs of users across a wide range of scenarios, but we also work hard to ensure our after-sales service caters to the needs of customers. We are committed to delivering on the needs of our customers and that dedication enabled Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) to be awarded the Department of Economic Development (DED) Consumer-Friendly Standards Certificate in 2020.

We are proud to have been recognised by the DED for the high-quality service we provide to consumers in the UAE. Over the years Huawei has built a trusted reputation with consumers not only for the quality of our products but also the level of service we provide. We are determined to provide the highest levels of support and care to consumers to ensure they get the most out of their experience with Huawei’s devices and services. As part of this philosophy, we are launching Huawei Service Week.

The event runs from July 1st to July 8th and aims to increase consumer awareness of Huawei’s range of care products. It includes a one-year accidental screen protection cover and 12-month extended warranties on smartphones and pads among many other exciting offers. Customers who buy our service products during Huawei Service Week will also be awarded a Huawei Care Card that enables them to take advantage of special offers and deals.