New Holland gets closer to customers
'Getting closer to our customers' is combine manufacturer New Holland's watchword and get closer to them is just what the company did during a specially arranged operator training visit to its award winning facility in Basildon during early June 2006.
The visit, described as 'Operator Training with a Difference', was attended by a select group of 22 Irish customers, all of whom were recent purchasers of new combines. It was also attended by key dealers. The session was spread over two days to give attendees plenty of time to carry out their training but also to benefit from a range of additional activities, which made the visit more memorable.
Ian Roberts, New Holland's country manager for Ireland, explains: 'Ours is still a very personal business and spending time with our customers helps us make a better job of looking after them and understanding better their needs.
'The two day programme gave our customers enough time to undertake some intenstive training on the new combines and we were also able to showcase our facilities by giving them a tour of our tractor production plant in Basildon and a presentation on our product strategy. We also spent time in relaxed, informal surroundings, enjoying a pleasant dinner, which was also attended by Michel Goethals, Business Director UK/ROI.
'The feedback we've had from both customers and dealers has been very positive and events such as this are set to become part of our regular communications and training programme.'
Customer Paul Kelly, a farmer from County Meath, confirmed the high value of the training days, adding that 'the visit was a great experience and very useful. We were looked after very well.'
New Holland dealer Alex Hutchinson of Armstrong Machinery in the Naul commented: 'It was a very worthwhile visit and our customers responded very positively. These new combines require increasingly specialist training and New Holland's commitment to providing strong support and training came through very clearly. This, complemented by the plant tour and congenial hospitality, ensured that our customers left with a very favourable impression of New Holland. They're already looking forward to their next visit.'
