[Edaily Reporter Lee So-Hyun ] Naver (NAVER(035420)) is expanding its support for the artificial intelligence transformation (AX) of offline local businesses. Moving beyond its previous focus on training for individual solutions, the company will provide customized AX packages and growth support programs tailored to specific commercial districts, industries, and business characteristics, and will also pursue partnerships with local financial institutions.

Naver announced on the 19th that it has rebranded its regional business growth support campaign as “Local Growth” and will roll out related programs in Gwangju following its launch in Mokpo.

Naver has been conducting its local business support campaign since last year, starting in Gyeongju and continuing in Busan during the first half of this year. In the second half of the year, it will expand the program to Mokpo and Gwangju.

Providing Customized AX Packages by Industry

The core of this reorganization is tailored support based on business characteristics. Naver has segmented industries and operational characteristics—such as restaurants, cafes, and general offline businesses—and provides a combination of necessary solutions, including SmartPlace, the integrated offline terminal “Npay Connect,” and Naver Ads.

It also offers AX consulting tailored to each type of business—such as restaurants, where managing waitlists and peak-time reservations is crucial; cafes, which require on-site order and review data management; and offline businesses, for which attracting new customers is key.

Naver is also exploring collaborations with local financial institutions to ensure follow-up support continues even after the campaign ends.

Following the Busan campaign last June, Naver signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Busan Credit Guarantee Foundation and is currently discussing support measures—such as loan guarantee fees and advertising consulting—for Busan-based businesses using the Naver platform.

Coupon usage in Mokpo surged 27-fold… Npay Connect installations also increased

The first “Local Growth” campaign was held from the 16th to the 18th in conjunction with the Mokpo Harbor Festival. Approximately 50 local businesses, including cafes, restaurants, and bookstores, participated, and over 5,800 people took part in the three-day promotion designed to drive foot traffic.

The number of Place coupons provided by Naver increased 27-fold compared to the same period before the campaign.

The percentage of participating businesses that installed “Npay Connect” also rose 1.7 times compared to before the campaign. Naver explained that this has expanded the foundation for integrating payments, loyalty marketing, review acquisition, and data management.

In collaboration

with the Gwangju Coffee Festival… Over 50 shops participating

The second LocalGrow event will take place in Gwangju. Naver will hold a meetup for local businesses in Gwangju on the 30th, and from the 31st through the 1st of next month, it will run a campaign in the Dongmyeong-dong area in conjunction with the Gwangju Coffee Culture Festival, “Dongmyeong Coffee Stroll.”

Approximately 50 stores in the Gwangju area are expected to participate. Naver plans to leverage the local festival to attract a natural flow of visitors, raise awareness of the local commercial district and businesses, and create a structure that leads to actual sales growth.

On the 16th, Naver held a “Local Growth Meetup” at Mokpo Haegwan 1897, where it shared its experience supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accumulated online over the past decade, along with case studies of regional brands.

Hwang Soon-bae, Head of Naver’s Impact Synergy Group, said, “We’re seeing a trend where users first discover local businesses online and then visit offline locations recommended by AI based on their preferences,” adding, “Local Growth is a campaign designed to help great stores reach more customers.”

He continued, “The more we enter the AI era, the more valuable the uniqueness of local businesses becomes,” adding, “We will support the growth of both online and offline business owners—from business preparation through growth and expansion.”