Spending this week in Omaha, Neb., for our Dealerships Minds Summit event focused on remarketing used equipment, I thought about some of the challenges and opportunities dealers are seeing in this area on the precision side.
A proactive approach to troubleshooting technology problems even before they occur can minimize the time spent on a customer’s farm during the busiest times of year. Selling and supporting a variety of precision service packages allows John Cooper, precision farming manager with Swiderski Equipment to increase efficiency and profitability when in the field.
Strip-till and precision farming technology intersect on many strip-tillers’ operations to improve efficiency and productivity. While auto-steer and GPS guidance are almost considered standard on many farms, there is increasing investment in RTK-level GPS correction systems.
Planning for the unexpected comes with the territory for precision specialist. For John Cooper, precision farming manager with Swiderski Equipment, being able to draw on 8 years as a farm equipment mechanic is an asset to overcoming mechanical obstacles encountered during a precision installation.
When troubleshooting technology, one of the keys to getting paid for service time is accurate documentation. For John Cooper, precision farming manager with Swiderski Equipment, he uses a mobile app to clock in and out of time spent on a customer’s farm and to create an invoice for the service visit.
As a precision farming business grows, equipment dealerships may decide to make this area an independent revenue stream. This is the approach Swiderski Equipment and precision farming manager John Cooper took with its precision business, seeing revenue triple to close to $1.5 million during the last 5 years.
Precision specialists tend to be busy year-round, but when it comes to training new employees, planting season is often an excellent test of stamina, problem-solving skills and technological aptitude. As the precision farming manager for Swiderski Equipment, John Cooper understands the seasonal rigors of long-hours, increased responsibility and the need for constant communication with new hires.
When Scott Meldrum became Van Wall Equipment’s Integrated Solutions manager, he had a goal — to make the precision farming department cash positive. At the top of his list was transitioning to a billable service model for precision farming services.
It’s been a challenging few years for many precision farming dealers navigating the instability of the commodities market and cautious purchasing habits of customers. But the results of this year’s recently published fifth annual Precision Farming Dealer benchmark study signal an optimistic shift in retailers’ revenue expectations and business objectives compared to recent years.
Dealerships tend to be adept at selling — whether it’s machinery, parts or service. But talking with precision farming managers, one area that is often an afterthought in their department is the need to sell themselves.
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DigiFarm VBN is a proven leader in providing RTK Correction Services across the Midwest and beyond, via cellular based RTK network. We have been in business since 2011 working with farmers, Ag retailers, and precision Ag dealers
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