By now, even the public must be feeling the fatigue of having to hear about Samsung's troubles for 2016.
But as the year draws to a close and CES 2017 looms near, Samsung is now in a better position to charter a new course. It was able to effectively address the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco and it is already poised to introduce a slew of tech products in the largest annual gadgets show on Earth.
What CES Means For Samsung
When Samsung finally takes its spot at the CES stage next year, it will be the South Korean company's first public appearance since the nightmarish days spent answering questions and apologizing for the exploding Note 7 handsets. During the CES on Jan. 4 to 8, it will likely introduce its latest and greatest smartphone to date, the Galaxy S8, and possibly drop hints about the Note 8 as well.
The exploding batteries will most probably still occupy the public's mind, but if Samsung has really pulled out all the stops for these devices as indicated by past rumors and leaks, that particular image could immediately get wiped out right then and there.
Public Perception After The Note 7 Crisis
It is easy to say that Samsung's reputation has been left in tatters and that consumers are feeling wary about its trustworthiness, but there are factors that point to the way the company has maintained and earned the loyalty and even respect of its customers.
For example, despite the combined efforts of Samsung, U.S. federal agencies, and telecommunication companies to pull the device out of consumers' hands, the Galaxy Note 7 remained a popular high-end device, trouncing the likes of the LG V20 and the OnePlus 3T in terms of usage in the last quarter of this year.
There are also surveys that reveal how consumers have been largely satisfied about Samsung's response to the Note 7 issue, with some showing how previous users express a willingness to buy its products in the future.
If Samsung is aware of these points then it will likely work to reinforce them further. One of the ways to do that is by simply introducing truly excellent products, and CES provides the best opportunity to do just that.
Failing to do so could spell serious repercussion especially when a recent survey revealed a particularly troubling insight about consumer outlook.
In a research conducted by MAi Research and Luminoso, it was found that the number of consumers planning to purchase a Samsung device has declined "at a statistically significant level for every Samsung product line with the exception of its fitness bands." The existing consumer ambivalence is certainly understandable at this point.
