ATLANTA, Dec. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — The world is changing at an unprecedented rate. Shifts and developments in technology, demographics, healthcare, energy, politics and the economy are serving as a catalyst for massive transformation across industries, especially manufacturing.

To help manufacturers of long-lasting durable goods navigate this ever-changing world, Syncron^TM, the leading provider of cloud-based after-sales service solutions focused on empowering the world’s manufacturers to maximize product uptime and deliver exceptional customer experiences, today published “2018 After-sales Service Predictions: Strategies for Empowering Manufacturers to Deliver Game-Changing Value.” These predictions collected from industry thought leaders identify major trends manufacturers will see in 2018 and beyond, and how to implement new business strategies and technologies to win.  

“Customers’ rising after-sales service expectations and increased competition for new product sales are driving manufacturers to move beyond the status quo and embark on journeys to transform their after-sales service functions to maximize product uptime,” said Gary Brooks, CMO at Syncron. “Leading companies are accelerating these service transformations, as parts and service contributes upwards of 15 percent of total revenue (McKinsey & Company) and averages a gross margin of 39 percent (Bain and Co.). To help manufacturers win in 2018 and beyond, we interviewed multiple key industry influencers to gain their perspective on how manufacturers can transform their service businesses to improve the overall financial performance of their companies.”

Key predictions for 2018 include:  

1. After-sales service will serve as a significant revenue and profit lever. After-sales service is becoming an increasingly important and strategic focus area for manufacturers around the world. There is more interest in the space than ever, as senior executives understand the value that exceptional service experiences can bring to a company’s financial performance.
2. Service is shifting from a transactional, break-fix model to a subscription-based model focused on maximizing product uptime. More customers than ever are requiring service level agreements (SLAs), which often guarantee product uptime – or proactively repairing equipment before it fails. It’s becoming more important than ever to ensure downtime is minimized (or preferably eliminated) to maximize the lifetime value of a customer – leading to improved financial performance.
3. Successfully implementing emerging technologies and sophisticated data management are necessary for success. With a focus on product uptime as the key to manufacturers’ financial success, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, IoT, predictive analytics and other emerging technologies are playing an increasingly larger role in after-sales service and the broader supply chain. Proactive maintenance is the new profit lever for manufacturers and requires the integration of smart technologies.
4. The workforce and organizational structure for manufacturers is evolving. With the shift to a data-driven business model, the key to success in 2018 is to remember the human aspect of applying new technologies and business practices. The workforce and talent side of business is an attainable way for organizations to improve the strategic goals for 2018, bringing improved customer experiences and operational advancements. 
5. Amazon and other disruptors are forcing change.  Major ecommerce players, specifically Amazon, are becoming very aggressive in the service parts space, and are doing so at a rapid pace. The online retail giant researched aftermarket parts in 2016, and by the close of 2017 is already nearing 25 million part listings. Manufacturers should get ahead of this trend as much as they can, and ensure they have sufficient service parts planning, execution and pricing capabilities in place to remain competitive.

Syncron collected insight from key industry thought leaders, including: Dr. Andreas Baader, Managing Partner, Barkawi; Friedrich Baumann, Executive Advisor to Global Companies; Gary Brooks, CMO, Syncron; Sumair Dutta, Chief Customer Officer, The Service Council; Anders Grudén, CEO, Syncron; Carsten Knudsen, Global Head of Supply Chain Business Improvement, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy; Erik Lindholm, Head of Product Strategy, Syncron; Gene Metheny, Partner, Carlisle & Co. and Johan Stakeberg, Head of Global Sales, Syncron.

To read “2018 After-sales Service Predictions: Strategies for Empowering Manufacturers to Deliver Game-Changing Value” in its entirety, click here. For additional information about Syncron and its solutions, visit syncron.com.  

About Syncron
Syncron empowers the world’s leading manufacturers to maximize product uptime and deliver exceptional after-sales service experiences, while driving significant revenue and profit improvements. From industry leading investments in research and development, to providing the fastest time-to-value, Syncron’s award-winning, cloud-based service parts inventory, price, order and uptime management solutions are designed to continually exceed customer expectations. Top brands from around the world trust Syncron to transform their after-sales service operations into competitive differentiators. For more information, visit syncron.com.

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SOURCE Syncron