It's interesting again today to note the emerging trend of major manufacturers either buying into or acquiring a robotic technology startup.

The latest case is Kubota and Yamaha investing in a company who are developing tech for the automation of strawberry harvesting. Having once spent a day as a student in the 90s crouched down in a field picking the fruit, before promptly quitting because it hurt too much, I have to say it's a job that a robot is welcome to! 

The pattern of large outdoor powered machinery manufacturers splashing the cash with these new tech companies is apparent though. Most recently we reported on John Deere acquiring Bear Flag Robotics. Other examples that spring to mind are Husqvarna buying into Franklin Robotics, Toro buying TurfLynx and Left Hand Robotics, or Claas backing AgXeed amongst others.

As discussed previously, it must be seen as an indication of where the big boys see the future of the industry heading - and across all markets, including domestic, commercial and agricultural machinery. Whilst robots here in the UK aren't there yet in terms of mass sales, I think most industry commentators would agree there's only one direction in which sales can go.  Which is of course, ever upwards.

Speaking at November's Service Dealer Conference will be Sam Watson Jones, founder of the Small Robot Company. Whilst he'll be addressing the event's theme of Smart Working, it'll be fascinating to also hear his take on how the robotics scene will disrupt the traditional marketplace - and what that could mean for dealerships.

Perhaps it'll be a similar situation to what we saw with battery-powered products? A few short years ago, cordless products could be argued to have been a bit of a niche. An area that certain manufacturers and dealers were cautiously dipping their toes into.

Now of course they are ubiquitous. And from what we're hearing, some great business is being achieved from the equipment. Customer demand appears to growing ever greater. Supply just needs to keep up!

On which front, we've heard from several dealers recently lamenting on what perhaps this season could have been, if only the supply had been there - both for wholegoods and for parts. From anecdotal feedback we've received from some dealers, we've been told that despite everything 2021 is turning out to be another profitable year for the business. 

However, some have been left with a sense of 'what if?'

If they had been able to get hold of more stock, there seems no doubt in their minds that the customer demand was readily available to make those sales, leading to a potentially bumper year. It's not every season that can be said.

One dealer told us, "Supply has hurt us. We would have been well up on last year had the supply been available."

Another added, "We have been losing sales and seeing customer dissatisfaction as a consequence of delays in obtaining parts for repairs. We have had a very good year overall, but it’s just a shame we could not convert the extra potential business that’s out there."

There can be no doubt that this industry has fared so much better than many throughout the pandemic. We've been told that both last year and this have provided truly successful returns for many businesses - whilst other sectors have been decimated. So in many ways, dealers are counting themselves lucky,

However, it is only natural for a business to consider what heights might have been achieved if supply could have kept up with demand?

Is this something you recognise within your own dealership? Do you feel you there was more to be done if you'd had the supply to hand?

Let us know in the comments below.