Farming success often hinges on the ability to pivot quickly and decisively. Whether it’s responding to equipment issues or shifting weather patterns, farmers need tools that help them adapt in real time. That’s where RDO Equipment Co. service technicians work hand in hand with local product specialists, a remote support team and certain tractor data points.

“Remote support is especially helpful for Spanish-speaking operators,” said Jay Garcia, RDO’s technical communications specialist. “It helps them share clear, first-hand information with their trusted technician.” 

Every hour counts when you’re growing the food that feeds our communities. With machines connected to the John Deere Operations Center, farmers get real-time performance data to spot issues early and schedule planned maintenance before problems arise.

“We help customers connect their machines to the John Deere Operations Center,” Garcia said. “That way, they can use machine data to plan maintenance and catch problems before they happen.”

Data Plus Remote Support Equals Pivot 

When farmers call RDO Connected Support, they get a partner who helps them pivot — whether it’s adjusting settings, planning maintenance or solving problems on the spot. More than a decade ago, the RDO Connected Support team began partnering with customers to identify issues and keep operators working. 

“We walk you through troubleshooting by phone or remote connection,” Garcia said. “Most issues, like sensor alerts or calibration errors, can be fixed without a service call.”

By connecting machines to the Operations Center, farmers gain access to performance metrics that help them pivot quickly when problems arise. Examples include:

• Engine Load & Idle Time: Helps optimize fuel use and reduce wear.
• Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): Pinpoints issues fast.
• Expert Alerts: Predictive warnings that prevent breakdowns.
• Utilization Reports: Breaks down machine activity to assess efficiency and equipment sizing.

With this machine data, along with info shared from the operator, Garcia and his fellow technical support specialists can determine if the tractor needs a hands-on repair from a technician or if a simple parts replacement will do the trick. By having access to this info, farmers can: 

• Reduce increased wear and tear on machines by watching engine performance metrics 
• Understand idle vs. Active time to potentially reduce fuel usage 
• Catch a small issue before a larger one happens through John Deere’s Expert Alerts

“Using advanced telematics and John Deere Operations Center, our team can access machine health data in real time,” Garcia said. 

At times, the remote support team can solve the problem even without a service technician if its recalibration or software update. When a field service technician is needed, then they’ll have the parts the tractor needs before leaving the lot. That cuts down on driving time, getting the tractor up and running faster. 

Make a ‘Hard Pivot’ with a Trusted Partner

We’ve all had to make tough decisions at times, whether that’s taking time to repair a machine to prevent an engine from failing or choosing to rent a tractor. That’s why farmers should consider partnering with a remote support partner to help make these decisions. 

“Support teams work with field technicians and store team members so farmers can consider diagnostic licensing options and other planned maintenance programs,” Garcia said. “It’s important to us to provide service or parts that reduce the risks of increased downtime.” 

Recently, John Deere has developed it’s PRO Service tool, which allows users to access a separate, web-based diagnostic dashboard that provides additional repair capabilities.

“When farmers have access to this additional tool and a trusted expert to call, they can understand if they need field service, or if they need to contact their trusted equipment dealer to discuss option,” Garcia said.