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Australia | I can see you points... but from a manufacturers perspective the term 'game changing' refers to your competitors' ability to play by the new rules. The more you can make the new rules favor your strengths the harder it is for the others. Deere and Trimble are experts at this.
The new rules were set in the EZ500 where the RTK receiver was integrated onto the same PCB as all other electronics. This drastically reduces the build cost. They have now done the same with the high end systems with the FMX. Trimble's margins on these products is extremely high, but it also enables them to manage price competition extremely well.
Only those competitors who own their GNSS receiver technology can hope to manage under these new rules. Not only that, they have to be prepared to continue to invest in Glonass, Galileo, Compass, CORS and every other newfangled technology that continues to be created. In this even Deere struggles to keep up noted by their lack of Glonass and CORS support. Leica and Topcon are the others that can sustain this investment.
This may not be game-changing for the customers, but it is a milestone for the industry. The rules are changing and there will be a few teams who have to bow out because of it. More consolidation and partnering are inevitable which in my view is game changing.
Cheers
John | |
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