YOUR OPINION SNAPSHOT2014 OPINION POLLS

FROM MACHINES TO SMARTPHONES TO ONLINE RECRUITING—TECHNOLOGY IS DEFINITELY TRENDING UP.

OPERATORS CREATE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

While many of the polls had close results, the May poll had a very clear winner—skilled operators (31.2%). In September, the poll indicated that companies are engaging in the search for good employees online. Company website, company Facebook/Twitter and LinkedIn made up over 50% of the responses to this question. If you want to compete for the best, you’ll need your digital ducks in a row!

We appreciate your willingness to share your opinions throughout the year. In many cases we used them to shape content you would be interested in. We thought it would be an interesting exercise to review them and see if any trends emerged. See if you agree.

NO SMARTPHONE APP-TITUDE ON THE JOB.

The October poll indicated that the most effective use of smartphones on the job was texting to other operators or workers (37.9%). Taking photos or videos of the jobsite came in a strong #2 (29%). The other four options, which asked about using smartphones for more interactive application-based tasks, received much lower responses.

Highly positive views of machine technology in April:

In May:

• Technology tied for #2 biggest competitive advantage (18%)

In July:

• Smartphones ranked #1 for what you wanted to see in future newsletters (19.4%)

In September:

• Company websites are the most effective recruiting tool (23.3%)

WORTH EVERYPENNY I INVEST

26.4%

THE FUTURE OF MY BUSINESS

31.3%

MONTHLY POLL RESULTS

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I WOULD DESCRIBE MY VIEW OF MACHINE TECHNOLOGY THIS WAY:

12.2%: If I knew where to start, I might try it

26.4%: Worth every penny I invest

31.3%: It’s the future of my business

7.5%: Too complicated for my taste

9.4%: No value for the smaller operation

13.2%: I just learned how to use my smartphone

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR BIGGEST COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE?

10.6%: Machine data

18%: Technology

18%: Dealer experts

31.2%: Skilled operators

12.7%: Flexible financing

9.5%: Rent/lease options

WHICH TYPE OF WORK TOOL ATTACHMENT DO YOU FIND MOST VERSATILE?

9.3%: Hammers

18.7%: Blades

21.8%: Buckets

11.7%: Forks

7%: Grapples

31.5%: Multi-processors

LISTED BELOW ARE SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES OUR INDUSTRY IS FACING. CAST YOUR VOTE FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN FUTURE NEWSLETTERS.

14.9%: How to find the best operators

19.4%: How to use smartphones to add efficiency to your jobs

18.6%: How to raise your fuel efficiency

11.8%: Most effective cost-reduction strategies

16.1%: Tips for buying used equipment

9.9%: How to make your jobs “greener”

9.3%: Matching equipment to application

WHEN IT COMES TO ATTRACTING QUALIFIED JOB CANDIDATES, WHICH RECRUITING TOOL HAS BEEN MOST EFFECTIVE FOR YOUR COMPANY?

11.5%: Newspaper or trade pub help wanted ads

23.3%: Company website

11.5%: Company Facebook or Twitter page

17.3%: LinkedIn

21.1%: Online job boards or help wanted ads

15.3%: Networking/personal contacts

WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF YOUR SMARTPHONE ON THE JOB?

5.3%: Receiving machine condition alerts or service-due information

37.9%: Texting updates or instructions to operators or other employees

29%: Taking photos or videos to document jobsite activities

11.8%: Accessing equipment data or service information

2.1%: Tracking time or expenses

13.9%: Checking weather conditions or forecasts

Rippers, Shears & Thumbs received 0 votes.