Wired
In the early morning of December 29, a reporter from “International Finance News” learned exclusively from Hi Repair that Hi Repair has officially become Apple’s first independent repair provider in China (hereinafter referred to as “IRP”). It is understood that Hi Repair can provide Apple original parts in the service, and can also provide Hi repair certified third-party accessories according to user needs. The use of Apple original parts provided by Hi Repair does not affect the official warranty of the product. After the repair is completed, Users can also check the current maintenance records on Apple’s official website.
According to previous reports from foreign media, Apple earlier announced the expansion of its independent repair supplier program. In addition to adding more repair points in the United States, it will also expand to 32 countries including Europe and Canada.
It is reported that the independent repair supplier program can enable enterprises of all sizes to use genuine Apple parts to repair iPhones to ensure safety and quality. At that time, there were voices in the industry that the plan might be extended to China soon.
As we all know, Apple’s iOS system is closed and has basically built its own ecology. An industry insider who did not want to be named confessed to reporters that Apple’s independent repair provider program seems to give consumers a wide range of options for repairs. In fact, it may be a “breakthrough” test of their own ecosystem, especially The Chinese market is included.
Of course, it is not easy to enter Apple’s ecological chain. So, how did Hi Repair become the first independent repair service provider in Apple China?
According to official information, Hi Repair is a service platform for on-site repair and recycling of mobile phones. It was officially launched on March 6, 2015. At present, there are more than 600 qualified engineers on the platform. After five years of development, Hi Maintenance has now opened door-to-door maintenance and recycling services in more than 30 large and medium-sized cities across the country, all in a vertical control mode.
But Apple’s access requirements for third-party service platforms are very high. According to Hi Maintenance, since Hi Maintenance communicated with Apple last year, Apple has been investigating the platform for a long time until it finally believes that the platform’s standardization and serviceability in this field meet Apple’s requirements. After becoming the first independent maintenance service provider in Apple China, all maintenance engineers will continue to receive professional training on AppleCare and become Apple Apple Care certified engineers.
Wang Chunxia, founder of Laika Think Tank, said that Apple’s introduction of the independent maintenance supplier program implemented overseas to China this time expresses Apple’s urgency in the Chinese market. “In the fierce competition of Chinese smartphones, retaining consumers through after-sales is a good option and will also put pressure on competitors.”
“In fact, Apple’s overseas independent maintenance services are a measure to deal with antitrust. By introducing independent maintenance providers, Apple has changed from closed to open.” Another senior industry insider pointed out that the ecosystem provided by Apple in China is similar. The effect is that through the introduction of Hi maintenance, Apple has become an open system in China. This is especially important in the context of anti-monopoly that has just emerged in China and should also attract other companies’ attention.
In the eyes of the above-mentioned people, Hi Repair is not only Apple’s first independent repair service provider in China, but can even be regarded as Apple’s first independent repair service provider in Asia. “The door-to-door service method is a model that Apple has never had before. It can be said that it is Apple’s first to adapt to the Chinese market. From the perspective of the entire Asia, this time is a very bold pilot for Apple in China. To the rest of Asia.”