LG Electronics has received over 16,000 ideas from customers in South Korea and the United States for its innovative “UP Appliances” program. (Image courtesy of LG Electronics)
SEOUL, Jul. 24 (Korea Bizwire) – LG Electronics announced on July 23 that it has received over 16,000 ideas from customers in South Korea and the United States for its innovative “UP Appliances” program, highlighting a growing trend in consumer-driven product development.
Launched in 2022, LG’s UP Appliances are designed to evolve with customers’ needs, allowing for continuous upgrades and additional features even after purchase.
To date, LG has released 24 different upgradeable appliance models, including washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and air conditioners, and has distributed 426 upgrade content packages.
The company has been actively incorporating customer-suggested ideas into its upgrade content development, aiming to address pain points and provide differentiated customer experiences.
In South Korea, LG uses the “UP Appliances Idea Proposal” section in its ThinQ app, while in the U.S., customers can submit their ideas through the “Share Your Ideas” feature.
As of June, the number of UP Appliance ideas proposed through these communication channels surpassed 16,000. LG thoroughly examines each suggestion, considering technical feasibility and potential customer value before development.
Some of the successfully implemented features based on customer ideas include a “current time display” for various appliances, a “smart care” function for stylers that automatically adjusts operation based on fine dust and humidity levels, and a “plastic course” for dishwashers that safely cleans plastic containers without deformation.
Other popular additions include a “post-cycle care” feature for washers and dryers that periodically rotates the drum after the cycle ends to reduce wrinkles, and a “pet care course” for washing machines that effectively removes everyday stains caused by pets.
Park Tae-in, head of LG Electronics’ H&A Smart Control Research Center, said, “We will continue to listen to our customers, from small inconveniences they experience to new ideas they propose, to deliver the value of differentiated AI appliances that upgrade based on customer experiences.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
