Samsung's Gear Fit smartwatch had several issues according to the document. The three main lessons were: 1) The Gear Fit was not compatible with as many Samsung devices as advertised and forced some users to upgrade. 2) The Gear Fit did not work properly with Samsung's recently released S5 mini phone. 3) The Gear Fit's default health app and few available apps did not offer compelling new fitness features to switch from other trackers. The document outlined several other lessons around app discovery, customer support, testing, and timing of release.

1. 7 Product Strategy
Lessons from Samsung’s
wearables
Observations after my experience with Gear Fit and S5 mini
Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz

2. Context
Still early days for wearable devices and some teething
problems are natural. Customers are likely to see some
average devices that will be soon forgotten.
Samsung has done extremely well and has the edge on Apple
and regularly delivers products before anyone else.
Gear Fit is one of the recently released devices and client
expectations are high. Gear Fit looks like a great product, offers
fitness and health features and simple interaction with a smart
phone, such as notifications, reject calls, reply to messages.
Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz

3. Lesson 1: Set the right client
expectations
Samsung marketed the Gear Fit incorrectly.
Their claim that it was compatible with a
number of mobile phones was later removed
from their site.
Gear Fit only works with a handful of
Samsung devices and users are forced to
upgrade.

4. Lesson 2: Product has to be compatible
with their latest devices
Encountered several errors during the set up
and was unable to connect Samsung Gear Fit
with my the recently released Samsung S5
mini running the most recent Android
software.
Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz

5. Lesson 3: Offer killer features
and apps
User expectations are high
because there are some well
establish fitness tracking devices
(e.g. Garmin), features really need
to bring something new for users
to switch.
The default health app “S Health”
is underwhelming.
Pedometer is nice but what’s the
point?
Only two apps available in S
Health (i.e. Workout Trainer, Lark
Activity Tracker)
Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz

6. Lesson 4: Unified app market is a must
to make the customer onboarding easy
for the first time users
Once your phone is set up, finding compatible apps is incredibly difficult.
Users are really expected to need to know all parameters of their system
in order to find compatible app store. It doesn’t help that Samsung
offers two similar apps“Gear Manager” and “Gear Fit Manager”. Some
research is required to get up to speed with the set up.
Some apps aren’t available in Google Play or Samsung Apps store. I
installed Aptoide, which seems to have everything you need to find
Samsung apps, unfortunately Aptoide isn’t supported by Samsung.

7. Lesson 5: Customer support
needs to be available globally
Samsung’s customer support teams were clearly
surprised and confused that I already have S5 mini and
Gear Fit.
UK support was unable to help with Gear Fit and
Samsung S5 mini because the device I purchased is
European (German) edition and it hasn’t been released
yet in the UK.
Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz

8. Lesson 6: Test, test, test…and release
products when they are ready
Gear Fit was launched prematurely. The insane speed of
product launch schedules, pressure to generate positive PR
stories drives Samsung to release unfinished products
without proper testing. Gear Fit was simply launched before
it was ready. It leads to subpar customer experience,
shocking ratings and is likely the end of Gear Fit.
Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz

9. Lesson 7: The timing is great
Customers are clearly interested in the recent product releases, there are plenty of early
adopters willing to test and review products, and there is no market leader.

10. Summary
Lesson 1: Set the right client expectations and over deliver.
Lesson 2: Product has to be compatible with the latest devices
Lesson 3: Offer killer features and apps
Lesson 4: Unified app market is a must to make the on boarding easy for the
first time users
Lesson 5: Customer support needs to be available globally
Lesson 6: Test, test, test…and release products when they are ready
Lesson 7: The timing is great
Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz

11. Sources
My painful experiences with Gear Fit and S5 mini
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/samsung-galaxy-s5-mini-pictured-gear-2-gear-fit-1447473
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Fitness-Tracker-Smartwatch-Warranty/dp/B00JBJ3JBI
Google Trends
Luke Szkudlarek - @LukeSz