As we move towards a smart tech era with hi-tech gadgets, robots and smart wearables, among others, it seems like technology has come a long way from being a ‘luxury’ to being used on a daily basis. From tracking our physical health to tracking our live location, smart watches are something that have grabbed everyone’s eyeball. Big brands such as Boat, Amazon and Titan among others are already in the ‘smart-time’ race.
However, KaHa Pte Ltd. claims to bring something unique in this existing market by focusing on their aim of ‘bringing value to customers’ by providing ‘smart wearables’ that can make your lives a lot easier. In an interview with Pawan Gandhi, Founder & CEO – KaHa Pte Ltd, we dive into the journey of how they aim to bring tech as a ‘necessity’ in your lives.
From ‘luxury’ to ‘necessity’ , how has the smart-wearables market changed? How is Kaha contributing to that?
Globally, the smart wearables segment is becoming essential, moving beyond luxury and lifestyle to utility, thanks to big data and AI. In the USA, smartwatches are primarily health and wellness devices, integrated with insurance companies and healthcare providers to improve cardio health, manage mental health, and enable contactless payments with NFC. China, the largest market for smartwatches, has similarly evolved, catering to kids, women, senior citizens, and sports. India, the second-largest market by volume, is still developing, with most brands focusing on low-cost options. However, the market is expected to mature like the US and China.
KaHa is unique in the Indian market for creating and owning every aspect of technology for smart wearables. This includes studying global trends, driving new innovations, designing electronics, writing firmware with edge computing, developing Android and iOS applications, and utilising cloud computing with AI and ML algorithms.
Recently, we introduced two new watches in India, the Storm Call 3 and Wave Sigma 3, featuring turn-by-turn navigation, a first in their price segment. Partnering with MapmyIndia, these are truly Made in India products. For example, our Storm Call 3 with turn-by-turn navigation sold over 10,000 units within hours of its launch on an e-commerce platform, showing that customers value real innovation. Brands must start focusing on true innovation and effective feature marketing.
From covering health to adjusting lifestyle, how smart wearables are poised to be the ‘next-gen’ smart tracker?
One of the key promises of smart wearables is to help people achieve a healthier lifestyle while also serving as a fashion statement. In the US and UK, insurance companies are offering premium discounts to consumers who regularly wear smartwatches. In Singapore, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) provides grocery discounts for meeting fitness goals. In China, telecom operators are offering subscription packages that include health insurance. Globally, the trend is towards promoting healthier lifestyles, and smartwatches are developing capabilities to support this goal.
What are your best selling products and why? How do you provide ‘value to consumers’ with your products?
The journey of smart wearables has seen several milestones and successes. In the early days, smart bands were popular as style statements, symbolising fitness and tech leadership. Then came the hybrid watches, where we partnered with renowned watchmakers like Titan and Seiko. Together, we created one of the slimmest smartwatches using the Seiko Hybrid watch movement.
The true growth of the market has occurred in the past three years. Our recent successes with the Storm Call 3 and Wave Sigma 3 have further expanded our platform’s reach and driven continued innovation.
How do you think the use of AI, IoT in smart wearables, can change the way we look at ‘smart watches’?
AI is capturing everyone’s imagination, with much discussion around Generative AI, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and machine learning tools. These technologies are set to transform health, wellness, and lifestyle. Smart wearables will become essential for various user groups.
For instance, athletes and physical trainers already use smartwatches and bands to monitor their performance. Soon, we will announce a solution tailored to the needs of senior citizens in India, developed in partnership with a leading private bank.
How do you see ‘collaboration with brands’, when it comes to educating people about the benefits of smart wearables?
We develop complete smartwatch solutions and license our products and technology to leading brands. As a platform, we strive to bring innovation to all our partner brands and leverage the ecosystem’s strengths to grow the segment, similar to its evolution in the US and China. Our ongoing efforts focus on demonstrating success through features and innovation.
What are your upcoming products? Can you shed some light on them?
In addition to Storm Call 3 and Wave Sigma 3, we will soon launch several breakthrough products featuring QR trays, smart notifications and alerts, new gamification tools, and AI-based personalised fitness challenges. We will also expand our Wellness Crew feature, with a special focus on senior citizens. It’s going to be a busy and exciting year ahead.
