W ith one of the larger Asphalt Industry Expos recently coming to a close in Charlotte , NC last month , there were a lot of new products on display . Make no mistake , there were pieces of equipment that were on display that have been largely unchanged through the years as well . As my team , friends , Peers and I walked around the show floor and spoke to vendors … we made some observations , ones I think are important to notice . Firstly , software and Advanced technology are coming upon our industry rapidly . The amount of CRM / Mapping / Estimating software products that are , and are becoming , available to us , is growing fast . Some of the ones we have seen for a few years are even adapting AI technology to improve on the efficiency of these types of software . If you haven ’ t taken a look at or adopted a bidding / CRM software because it is “ too advanced ” or “ too intimidating ”, holding out longer may not be the right move … as they are getting more complex with each passing quarter . However , to those who do keep up with this technology and adapt to it , it may create a large amount of efficiency separation between your company and your competitors . As an example of this , I look to the Striping industry . If the creation and adoption of the Laser Technology over a decade ago wasn ’ t enough to cause a large efficiency gap between the early adaptors and those who didn ’ t … the “ Auto-Layout ” and its impact was . The two innovations have created some iconic “ Line Stripers ” as people within the industry , but also made their companies flourish as they blew past the competition by creating an incredible amount of efficiency . We believe the software advancements with AI , as mentioned in the previous paragraph can possibly do the same thing . Now , as the striping Industry starts to adopt Electric Line Drivers and Stripers , as was on display in Charlotte again , that segment of our industry looks to lead the pack again in another tangent . Shout out to those paint geeks that are leading the tech push in our industry overall . It was also no secret that the Blacktop Banter Edition KM International Sealcoat Unit was on display at this show . We were fortunate to work with an iconic brand to design the unit in the was that we as Asphalt Maintenance Contractors at Wis- Coat , our asphalt company , would want it .
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The trailered Sealcoat unit is obviously not a new concept in this industry and we can move the components and parts around , change the color scheme , add “ bigger this ” and “ shinier that ” but it isn ’ t going to move the needle in the sealcoat section of our industry enormously … even though the Brand might . However , and of course this is the “ Social Media Content is King ” side of me speaking , the end product that the customer ultimately is buying when they purchase a collaborative product like this DOES change the game . For all the steel , rubber and wiring that comprises a machine like this … it also comes with what you don ’ t see . Through the BB and KM collaboration , this product also comes with Access to the Blacktop Banter Contractor Group ( 24 / 7 chat group for support in EVERYTHING related to owning an asphalt business ) with 3 video calls a month , a Social Media Assessment Snapshot to see where the contractor can use help in that area and a Target Market Branding plan to start putting your company and services in front of the right potential clients , just to name a few . Something like this has never been offered ever before and makes the competitive price point to the other brands very interesting for the future . Not only can you now buy a piece of equipment , but the equipment itself now comes with a team and product that aims to help you succeed in business with that machine . Of course I am excited about the partnership I mentioned at the end of the last paragraph , but I ’ m also excited because it could be the start of more collaborations and changes , that will help the people who we , as Industry Companies and Leaders , should care about most , the community of contractors we serve and lead , who ’ s eyes and ears are on us all as we move into new times and possible a new era of how things work . As always , if you have any insight or criticisms about this article or anything in it ( which I have a feeling there will be ), please feel free to email me at marvin @ blacktopbanter . com or of course , reach out to us at Blacktop Banter on any form of social media .
Marvin Joles III , Owner of Wis-Coat Asphalt Maintenance and host of Blacktop Banter podcast . You can listen to and watch Blacktop Banter podcasts by visiting https :// blacktopbanter . com
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[ 49 ] March 2023