Customer loyalty through configuration

For a long time, efficiency, robustness and reliability were regarded as the decisive factors influencing purchasing decisions in the agricultural machinery sector. But in recent years, another aspect has gained in importance: Configuration. Farmers are increasingly attaching importance to using machines that are precisely tailored to their needs and requirements. Why is this the case and how can agricultural machinery dealers benefit from this trend?

The increasing demand for customized solutions

If you look at the agricultural machinery sector, you quickly notice that the demand for specialized machines has increased over time. This is due in particular to the increasing specialization of farms - agriculture is much more diverse than it was 50 years ago: Different farm sizes and forms of cultivation, distribution concepts and crop sequences mean that farms are much more drastically different from one another today than they were back then. In addition, there are many technical and scientific achievements. A standard machine, as it used to be, may be able to do a bit of everything, but it can't do anything really well. In times when productivity and efficiency play a decisive role on the farm, customers know this: The more precisely a machine is tailored to their individual requirements, the more economically they can work.

This is where configuration options come into play. Manufacturers and retailers who offer customized solutions gain the trust and loyalty of their customers. This is because they signal: “We understand your challenges and offer you exactly what you need.” In addition, customers in the agricultural machinery sector are more willing to spend extra money on a machine that optimally meets their needs than to buy a cheaper machine where they have to make compromises. Configurations are therefore becoming an increasingly important sales argument in the agricultural machinery sector

Configuration: Implementation tips for retailers

Configuration is becoming increasingly important for agricultural machinery. This makes it all the more important for companies to offer and market configuration options for their customers. But how can agricultural machinery dealers actively exploit this trend? Here are some practical approaches:

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1. Individual consultation: The most classic, but easiest way to offer customers the various configuration options. During a personal consultation, the salesperson has the opportunity to respond to the customer's individual wishes and guide them through the various configuration options.
2. Digital solutions: Online configurators are a great way to offer customers the option of trying out their personal preferences and getting to grips with the machine in advance. Solutions such as the online configurator from MachineMaster not only help customers, but also make sales staff's work easier.
3. Social media: What options are there for different machines? Social media is a wonderful way to show the configuration possibilities of agricultural machinery: Whether video or photo - show the range of options.
4. Service & training: Configuration options are not only important for new machines - even older models can still be adapted to customers' needs with additional technology (e.g. steering or GPS systems). Regular information or training on these options strengthens customer loyalty.

A look into the future

The importance of configuration in agricultural technology will continue to grow and play an even more important role in the sale of agricultural machinery in the future. Advances in technology, such as artificial intelligence or IoT (Internet of Things), will make it possible to tailor machines even more precisely to the needs of individual farms, which will further increase the demand for configuration options. Retailers who invest in these developments at an early stage and accompany their customers on this path will secure a competitive advantage in the long term and stand out from the crowd.