[Good Job SME]⑨ Customer-Customized IT Specialist Company "Trust Is the Most Important"

Interview with Jeon Seong-woo, CEO of Shinseong CNS
Introducing Customer-Customized Service 'Shinseong Care Pack'
Fostering a Culture of 'Gratitude' Among Employees

Editor's NoteSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the national economy. Numerically, 99% of companies in our country are SMEs. SMEs are the workplaces of the people. 81% of workers are employed by SMEs. When SMEs falter, our economy shakes and people's jobs are threatened. However, negative perceptions of SMEs persist. Low compensation, unguaranteed 'work-life balance', and uncertain future growth prospects. Despite the tough job market, young people avoid SMEs. Yet, there are those who fight these prejudices and create good jobs and SMEs. They develop technologies that can compete with large corporations. They also strive to build sound financial structures and corporate cultures to provide stable living foundations for employees. On the ground, SME owners are struggling to fulfill corporate social responsibility while nurturing companies where employees can take pride. Asia Economy visited the field to hear their voices directly.

Where did they purchase office personal computers (PCs), laptops, printers, and other equipment? How did they set up the rapidly increasing smart offices and video conference rooms due to COVID-19? Is it possible to centrally control PCs purchased by subsidiaries or various departments?

The company that can answer these questions all at once is B2B (business-to-business) IT company Shinseong C&S. In the conference room and CEO office of Shinseong C&S headquarters located in G-Valley, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, there is a framed phrase that reads, "As IT experts, we continuously provide the best solutions to implement the right work environment for companies." CEO Jeon Seong-woo said, "This is the vision we established with our employees in 2015."

Jeon Seong-woo, CEO of Shinseong C&S, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the headquarters in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul.

Founded in 2009, Shinseong C&S started as a distributor of office computers and related devices. Unlike other companies that sold only one brand, they increased competitiveness by simultaneously handling dealerships for multiple domestic and international brands such as Samsung and HP. CEO Jeon explained, "As general companies increase frequent hiring, the required devices vary each time, and one brand alone cannot satisfy these needs. Contracting with us eliminates the hassle of contacting multiple places, making it efficient." They directly connect manufacturers and companies, reducing intermediary distribution costs. The headquarters has created 10 rooms where from one to 45 people can conduct actual video conferences, allowing managers to verify and purchase equipment firsthand.

To enhance customer satisfaction consulting, they developed the PC recovery and integrated management solution 'Trust A.R'. It not only resolves software issues caused by errors and viruses but also manages PC asset information within the company and enables remote PC management. From the company's perspective, this reduces costs and time spent on PC management.

To provide differentiated customer-tailored services, they introduced the 'Shinseong Care Pack'. Through this, they configure hardware according to corporate requirements and offer customized setup services including necessary software installation. Additionally, the Care Pack includes a dedicated engineer call center, provision of previous implementation cases, and asset history management. CEO Jeon said, "When companies do business with us, they believe we will always take responsibility for the products they purchased. That belief and trust is what we consider important. We created this product after thinking about how to demonstrate that trust." The Care Pack is provided to companies that have conducted at least one transaction with Shinseong C&S.

What CEO Jeon values most is 'trust'. The company name itself combines the characters for 'trust (信)' and 'achievement (成)'. Sales, which were 790 million KRW in 2009, grew to 3.246 billion KRW in 2010, 10.332 billion KRW in 2015, 32.238 billion KRW in 2020, and 49.9 billion KRW last year. In February last year, cumulative sales surpassed 200 billion KRW, and they secured 7,500 corporate clients.

Throughout the headquarters of Shinseong C&S, located in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, the company vision created in 2015 by the employees and CEO Jeon Seong-woo is displayed.

CEO Jeon also focuses on establishing a harmonious corporate culture. They hold a 'Knowledge Festival' once or twice a year to support employee learning. He explained, "To level up from the current capabilities, strategy and study are necessary. When this process improves, the company naturally grows."

He also fostered a culture where employees value 'gratitude'. They developed an in-house application that allows employees to express thanks to each other. For example, if employee A posts a message saying "Thank you, Manager B" mentioning help received during work, the message is displayed on the office electronic bulletin board for all employees to see. One month before Parents' Day, employees write thank-you postcards to their parents, and gifts and postcards are delivered to their parents' homes on May 8. CEO Jeon emphasized, "It is important to clearly understand why I do this work to enjoy the job and life, and the best ingredient to feel that is gratitude. I believe that to do well at work, gratitude must always accompany it, and ultimately, I must be grateful myself."