these problems and is also environmentfriendly .
The Future of Premixed Concrete Sector
The Concrete fortunes have annually been growing by about 6.4 percent and in tandem with those of the construction industry . The growth has been driven mainly by Government spending on infrastructure . Additionally , private developers in the commercial and housing sectors are also steadily growing . Considering these facts , ready-mix concrete future in Kenya is indeed bright .
Our unique selling proposition is that ' we care .' The customer is changing , becoming more discerning , always demanding quality at a fair price , and delivered on time . Guided by the fact that construction is driven by cost and time and that our product is perishable , we endeavor to build our capacity and have the right people to deliver solutions that the customer is seeking every day .
Apart from this and more importantly , the growth of concrete will come from three inevitable factors . One is the change in the customer who is looking to build better , faster , and cheaper . There are also taste changes where customers are demanding a different end product such as colored concrete and joint-less slabs . These are better done elsewhere and delivered ready to the site . Our product , all other factors being constant , contributes to achieving this .
Additionally , shrinking construction space means that buildings are going higher , and Rhombus has the technology that enables us to deliver concrete to as high as 20 floors , increasing construction cost when done manually . Moreover , mixing on-site requires many workers to use a larger space which increases costs . The need for site efficiency and space utilization is essential to the contractor and the developer .
Construction is becoming more complex , and customers demand smaller but stronger columns which augur well for pre-mixed concrete . Pre-mixed concrete ensures quality consistency as the whole process is mechanized and computerized hence reducing guesswork and other human error . It avoids wastage and leads to safer buildings . Poor concrete mix is a crucial contributor to most collapsing facilities during construction .
Ready-mix concrete also reduces theft of materials as nothing gets diverted during transportation . Pre-mixed concrete is always cost-effective as Rhombus buys all ingredients in bulk , and all volume discount savings are passed on to customers .
Lastly , concerns for environmentally friendly options in the construction industry will push developers to adapt premixed concrete . The advantages that this innovation offers will prove irresistible . Pre-mixed concrete is the future , and I do not doubt it .
Who are your customers , and why do they come and stick with Rhombus ?
Our customers are contractors and developers , be they commercial or those building their own homes . They come to us for two main reasons . Firstly , it ' s our consistent quality . To ensure quality , we have invested in the requisite technology across all processes , and we source and select our raw materials from the very best sources . We also have the necessary checks and balances , including independent labs , to test every batch that leaves our premises .
Secondly , it ' s our timely delivery . Over time we have come to appreciate that we are in the logistics business more than anything else . We have the most significant number of delivery trucks and two batching sites , one in Athi River and the other at Ridgeways , Nairobi . That enables us to deliver to sites located further than any of our competitors can .
We keenly listen to our customers and ensure we give them the solution at their pain points . We visit construction sites to understand various customer needs better and identify areas we can improve . Lastly , being a local indigenous company and medium size , we are nimble and agile , adapting our ways to changing customers ' needs and the industry .
In short , our unique selling proposition is that ' we care .' The customer is changing , becoming more discerning , always demanding quality at a fair price , and delivered on time . Guided by the fact that construction is driven by cost and time and that our product is perishable , we endeavor to build our capacity and have the right people to deliver solutions that the customer is seeking every day .
The Effect of Covid-19
Initially , there was a slow down when the Government enforced the Covid-19 containment measures . The curfew lowered our capacity as we had to work fewer hours to give our workers time to reach their homes in time . The steps also affected our deliveries as we could not deliver at night . However , work didn ' t slow ultimately as the construction sector is an essential service .
Nevertheless , there was a silver lining for the construction industry . Government construction projects , especially roads , did not stop . Additionally , private developers , especially those putting up residential units , who may have put them on hold now found they had time on their hands , given the lockdowns and curfews , to start new projects , complete stalled works , or carry out some repairs .
The need for social distancing worked out in our favor as the fewer people onsite , the safer it got . Mixing cement onsite requires many people close together , while our product eliminates that need . We , therefore , witnessed an uptake of premixed cement for that reason too .
I must add that being a socially
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