CNHi has introduces a lot of product concepts which are loaded with advanced technology

What, according to you, are the factors driving demand for construction machinery in our country?

The construction industry was severely impacted by the pandemic and has recently started on the road to recovery. The govt. is taking multiple steps to revive the industry and to increase activities in the sector. The number of highway and road projects has been increased. MoRTH has set a target to build 12,000 km of highways for this current financial year and has ensured that it will reduce the build-up of arbitration cases. Around 322 projects with a length of 12,413 Km have been awarded under the Bharatmala Pariyojana till August 2020 by Road ministry. The highways ministry has also extended relief measures for road contractors and concessionaires and extended the project timelines and payments on the basis of work done till December.

According to Off-Highway Research, assuming Covid-19 pandemic comes under control by the year end, robust recovery is expected in 2021. Sales should increase 25 per cent to 76,375 units in 2021 and a further 16 per cent to 88,700 units in 2022. The market is forecast to touch 100,300 units in 2023 with a growth of 13 per cent. These are the initiatives that are currently driving the demand of construction machinery and we’re hopeful these will have a positive impact on the industry.

With the rise in technological development, what will be the future of construction equipment in India, in your opinion?

Technological upgrades are a perennial part of CE industry and now even more so. Currently, digitalization is bringing the fourth industrial revolution aka Industry 4.0 in the country which aims to simplify the day to day work. According to a report by Mckinsey, by harnessing industry 4.0 tools like IoT, AI and automation, processes will see 30 to 50% reduction in machine downtime; 15 – 30% improvement in labor productivity; 10 to 30% increase in throughput; and 10 to 20% decrease in the cost of quality. Industry 4.0 will enable us to decrease dependency on labor and create smart and intuitive products for the future with higher efficiency and productivity and low downtime.

CASE has always been a technology first brand. Globally, we have introduced a lot of product concepts which are loaded with advanced technological features like Project TETRA and our Autonomous tractor concept which is completely driverless, remotely controlled equipment which can increase a working day to a full 24 hours thereby increasing productivity. At CASE India, our  products come equipped with our renowned Eagle-Eye- Telematics system with a geo fencing feature, it gives the user inputs on machine usage, service intervals, location of the machine etc. thus, enabling better decision making and servicing and  reducing downtime. Additionally, CASE has recently launched a Site Watch technology platform with an all-new innovative dashboard, more intuitive navigation and new overview sections that spotlights critical information without requiring the user to search extensively for the data. At CASE, we believe in technology that enables and will continue to do so.

How do you view the challenges ahead of this industry? What are your ways to look beyond these challenges and move past it?

The pandemic, along with uncertainty, brought a number of challenges for the industry. On-time project completion, dependency on labor, transport constraints, changing cost of material, retaining clients etc. are some of its effects that businesses are still coping with. The only way to survive these hurdles is by being agile and adapting to the situation at hand.

At CASE we’ve changed the way we work. We have started engaging with our customers and dealers online via multiple digital platforms and are creating new avenues to further the interaction. Through our financial arm, CNHi Capital, we’re offering various lucrative schemes that can help potential customers in buying equipment. We have also introduced a 48 hours loan approval policy to facilitate easy loan service. In terms of spare parts and product support, we have a good amount of stock supplies and even in these challenging times we are delivering parts and scheduling services keeping all the safety precautions in mind. Our offices, warehouses and plants are sanitized and following all safety protocols to ensure productivity, efficiency and safety. At CASE, we believe in moving forward with agility and perseverance, while taking on real challenges.

India is attracting more and more investments in the field of real estate and overall infrastructure. What do you think are the new opportunities for players in the field of construction machinery in today’s time?

The government has been persistently working on making India a manufacturing hub for construction equipment and has announced several projects for the infrastructure sector. NHAI has identified 1,500 km of road projects to boost coastal connectivity. This will boost the sector with immense opportunities. Additionally, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has hinted towards incoming of more projects in the Rs 111 lakh crore National Infrastructure Pipeline. The total of 7,000 projects have been identified under the National Infrastructure Pipeline projecting investment of Rs 111 lakh crore during 2020-25.

These steps will bring in more investment and more opportunities for the industry and will have a positive impact on businesses. The announcements are still ongoing, and at CASE, we’re ready to make the most of it.