Industry 4.0: What’s in it for Construction Equipment Manufacturers?

This channel offers tangible insights into practical application examples and technological backgrounds related to virtual product experiences. LECTURA and Vuframe have been partnering in this innovative field since 2024.

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Experience live how machines will be brought to digital life in 2025 - visit us at the following events:

• bbi Tagung - February 20-21 2025 in Friedewald.

• VDBUM Großseminar - February 11-14 in Willingen.

• bauma 2025 - April 7-13, stand EWE.22 in München.

Let’s be honest: as construction equipment manufacturers, we all know this story. Everyone’s talking about Industry 4.0, BIM interfaces, and connected machines. Our excavators can already do a lot today: track operating hours, report maintenance needs, optimise fuel consumption—technically, all of this is already possible.

But let’s face it: for us as manufacturers, it primarily means one thing—more demands on our products. New interfaces here, sensors there, more complex software everywhere. Customers expect our machines to communicate with all sorts of systems. But the real challenge lies elsewhere: how do we make our own processes more efficient? How can we simplify sales, marketing, and service?

Take a real-world example: a customer is interested in a new excavator. In the past, it was simple: schedule a demo, transport the machine, demonstrate it, done. Today, the customer wants to know how the machine fits into their digital ecosystem. What data does it provide? Is it BIM-compatible? For us, this means: more explanations, more complex sales processes, and higher demands on our sales team.

Here’s the ironic part: while our excavators are getting smarter, we’re still working in sales and marketing as we always have. We transport massive machines across the country for demonstrations. We print thick product catalogues. We send technicians halfway around the world for training sessions.

This is where SmartVu comes in

This is exactly where SmartVu makes a difference. Instead of just digitising our machines, we’re finally digitising our own processes. The virtual twin makes it possible: product presentations without transporting machines, training sessions without travel costs, and marketing without paper catalogues. For us, this is the true “Construction Machine 4.0”—an innovation that makes not only our products smarter but also the way we work.

The technology for this doesn’t come from the industry itself but from the gaming world. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Who else has been perfecting the realistic representation of complex machines for years?

How LECTURA Supports This Transformation

LECTURA, a leading provider of market data and digital solutions, offers comprehensive services to support the Industry 4.0 transformation for construction equipment manufacturers. With over 40 years of experience and the LECTURA Specs platform, which is visited by more than 1.5 million users each month, LECTURA doesn’t just provide data—it delivers innovative tools to enhance marketing, sales, and service processes.

One of LECTURA’s key advantages is its ability to transform complex data into clear and actionable formats. Services such as market research, lead generation, and content creation enable manufacturers to reach their target audiences more effectively. LECTURA also supports the integration of digital solutions like SmartVu, enriching product presentations with up-to-date market data and specifications.

Industry 4.0: A Broader Perspective

Perhaps this is the most important lesson from Industry 4.0: the best solutions often don’t come from within the industry itself. With partners like LECTURA and technologies like SmartVu, it’s clear that the future of the construction equipment sector lies not only in smarter machines but also in optimised processes.

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