In 2006 we spoke to HDD Broker about how the industry was changing for HDD contractors.
HDD Broker General Manager Ren̩e Martin talks about the last several years for contractors, which have seen some notable changes in both the HDD marketplace and the contractors that drive it.
The contractors whom we now interact with are savvy, sophisticated consumers who’ve embraced technology and innovation in an unprecedented way.
This new breed of customer has a global awareness of the marketplace, understands the complexity of the costs of ownership, and has a heightened expectation of value.
Contractors once sought machines that could simply get the job done, but nowadays they have a much longer bucket list.
With visibility to pricing across the globe, cost comparisons have become commonplace.
Contractors are deeply educated about competitive equipment and now they contact us fully informed on what’s available in the marketplace.
But pricing and cost of ownership are not the sole driving forces in purchasing decisions.
Today’s contractor expects a high level of value from his drill. Productivity is equally as important as reliability.
Our perennial top sellers are industrious drills such as the Vermeer D24x40 Series II and Ditch Witch JT2020 Mach 1.
Easy to maintain, with predictable operating costs, this caliber of drill provides value and assurance that today’s contractor demands.
While older models still have their place, we now see them sold mostly to start-ups or exported to countries that demand highly-affordable, easy-to-repair drills.
And how have manufacturers responded to today’s progressive contractors?
In our opinion, admirably.
Contractors have voiced their pain points, and as a result “÷gadgetry’ has been replaced with well thought-out technology.
Innovation will always be a key factor in the development of equipment, but it is now tempered by smart advancements.
Enormous amounts of wiring, necessary to interconnect all the various electronic components, are now dramatically reduced with CAN Bus interfaces.
Troubleshooting and servicing has been made easier as a result.
Today’s drill has evolved into a fuel efficient, compact and productive investment.
The HDD industry has matured over the last decade, and has been responsive to the demands of a new technology-driven marketplace.
Armed with tablets, smart phones and apps, today’s contractors are fully informed and ready to meet, and to initiate, the changes.