Construction World July 2024

MARKETPLACE

Laser-focused approach to CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

AFGRI Equipment, a distributor of John Deere Equipment, understands that success in the construction and mining industries hinges on having reliable, high-performance equipment. They have taken their deep retail knowledge and experience from the agricultural sector and expertly applied it to construction and forestry over the past three years. A commitment to excellence has made them a trusted partner for many farmers, and now they are extending that same dedication to local mining, construction, and forestry companies. By developing a stand-alone Construction & Forestry (C&F) business unit to better serve clients in these demanding industries. Construction World spoke with Pieter Nel, AFGRI Equipment’s Operations Manager for Construction and Forestry, about their focused approach and how they meet the unique needs of customers.

Meeting the needs of mining, construction and forestry sectors “AFGRI Equipment has always prioritised customer satisfaction. In agriculture, we provide familiar and dependable John Deere products, supported by nearby branches stocked with parts and support. In the mining and construction sectors, where efficiency and uptime are crucial, we need to ensure machine availability exceeds 90%. This high standard is achieved through robust technical support, rapid warranty decisions, and a fleet of rental and demonstrator machines. Our goal is to keep your operations running smoothly, allowing you to meet your production targets consistently. This is achieved by offering technicians on site, strategically placed parts, operator training, training of customers’ own technicians, and linking customers to the JD Link system, which is an industry-leading telematics solution.”

Tailoring our machine range for construction “Understanding market needs is key. Since AFGRI Equipment began distributing John Deere mining and construction equipment locally, the product portfolio has expanded significantly. This expansion included more dozers, wheeled loaders, TLBs, and the introduction of excavators and ADT ranges that are delivering amazing results. This gives local customers, who have been familiar with John Deere equipment since 2002, more choice and a better fit for their business.” Dedicated focus on mining and construction “We were initially cautioned about the perception of being an agricultural equipment distributor wanting to play in the yellow metal field. From day one, we’ve maintained a separate, dedicated focus on C&F, bringing in salespeople, technical personnel, and administrative

10 CONSTRUCTION WORLD JULY 2024