Press Release October 03th, 2023

"In the Age of Electric Vehicles, Sales Networks Remain Analog"… Meet the Problem-Solver​

[Seoul = Newsis] Reporter Bae Minwook = Many industries are increasingly adopting digital technologies. Equipping themselves with digital tools enhances consumer convenience and significantly improves operational efficiency. For companies, introducing AI-powered digital transformation (DX) services has become essential.​ ​

​ ​ However, some industries have either not yet undergone digital transformation or have been exceptionally slow in doing so. Now, a number of startups are emerging as key enablers to help modernize these analog sectors, playing a pivotal role in shifting them toward digital solutions.​ ​

​ ​ According to the industry on the 3rd, approximately 10% of all cars sold globally are electric vehicles (EVs). EVs are often referred to as "computers on wheels." The entire automotive industry is transitioning toward a digital ecosystem. However, the automotive distribution sector still clings to the traditional structure of automakers, dealerships, and showrooms.​​

​ ​ Epikar is a startup aiming to disrupt this outdated market. By applying AI-based digital solutions to the earliest and latest stages of the sales process—test drives and after-sales service (AS)—Epikar has significantly improved operational efficiency. Since July of last year, the company has digitized the test drive process through BMW Korea’s BTS (BMW Test-Drive Solution) management system.​​

​ ​ Additionally, Epikar has provided BMW Korea service centers with its intelligent workshop system (IWS), which manages the entire vehicle servicing process from check-in to checkout digitally, significantly reducing service time. Having recently secured Series A funding, the company is now expanding into the U.S., Europe, and Southeast Asia.​ ​

​ ​ Meanwhile, the foodservice sector faces its own analog challenges. South Korea has about 800,000 restaurants and more than 33,000 wholesale and retail suppliers of food ingredients. Each year, approximately 55 trillion KRW worth of ingredients change hands—much of it through manual, paper-based transactions. Credit-based sales are common, and payment defaults frequently occur. Many restaurant owners only deal with familiar distributors, making it hard to discover better or cheaper products.​ ​

​ ​ Marketboro, a food-tech startup, is addressing this problem by digitizing the entire food ingredient supply chain. Its services include "Marketbom," a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) platform for wholesalers, and "Sikbom," an open marketplace for restaurant owners. The system analyzes fragmented data such as product information, supplier details, buyer regions and business types, and payment terms, enabling small restaurant owners to optimize online transactions.​ ​

​ ​ The fashion industry may appear digitally advanced, especially in B2C (business-to-consumer) retail. However, outside of direct consumer sales, much of the planning, production, logistics, and wholesale distribution still operates through traditional methods.​ ​

​ ​ Sizee is a startup offering a comprehensive solution for digitizing this entire process. Its "Monolith" platform leverages AI to boost productivity and automate workflows from ordering to development and sales for stakeholders including buyers (brand clients) and intermediaries (vendors).​ ​​

​ A vibration sensor placed next to sewing machines detects stitch activity and estimates job completion time. Production status is displayed in real time via mobile dashboards accessible to both vendors and clients. This significantly enhances workflow efficiency across the supply chain.​