Technology is an equal-opportunity differentiator for producers of all sizes.
INNOVATIVE CONCRETE PRODUCERS, regardless of their size, recognize the value of technology. Those who find ways to become more efficient and make more profits will gain an advantage. But large companies beware: Local producers have the most to gain in terms of market share from technology adoption and it wil be at your expense.
Traditionally, customers have paid a premium to work with smaller suppliers. While a local operation offers a more personal touch, basic processes, like billing, can take longer. Small producers can’t pay top dollar for engineering services to support submittals for large, complex jobs. They often outsource verification and QC to labs and contract technicians. These realities can add extra time and cost.
But smaller producers who take advantage of cloud computing’s economics are suddenly on more even footing with their larger counterparts. Without adding staff or expense, a small company can offer customers seamless billing, mobile QC services, and a wider area of coverage with remote access plant controls. These benefits can grow the pool of fiercely loyal customers found in small communities.
Smaller producers have distinct advantages when it comes to adopting technology. They can quickly decide to try something new and react immediately if it doesn’t work as expected. Although no one can recoup lost time and expense when a new device or software system isn’t a good fit, it’s still relatively easy for a smaller operation to pull the plug and change direction.
Doug Smith, president of Smith Ready Mix in Valparaiso, Ind., is often asked to test new technology. For more than a decade, the family-owned company with 100 employees and eight plants has tested and implemented new batching hardware and software, production technology, dispatch systems, and truck tracking hardware. “It’s hard work testing new technology with a lean staff,” says Smith, “but the potential benefits outweigh the risk of lost time.”
Craig Yeack is co-founder of BCMI Corp.
Email: craig.yeack@gmail.com
Article originally appeared as a Tech Trends column in The Concrete Producer (Spring 2017).
