Service is the differentiator for so many of today’s equipment dealers.
Power Equipment Company (PECO), a dealer representing some of the industry’s most familiar brands in seven states and two Canadian provinces, recognizes this. PECO’s new headquarters in Brighton, Colorado, is its way of elevating service for end users in the region.
From centralizing service dispatch to leveraging telematics and streamlining work orders, the new facility is equipped to keep PECO customers up and running like never before.
“A lot of manufacturers make quality equipment,” says Marc Dowdell, president of PECO. “It’s not like 25 years ago – everyone today has the capability to build a good machine. But no matter what you do, it’s going to break. So, the question then becomes how do you handle it and also prevent it to minimize downtime?”
Flagship for the Front Range
Ultimately, PECO consolidated three locations – its legacy headquarters in downtown Denver and branches in Brighton and Greeley, Colorado – into one mega facility in suburban Denver.
A centralized dispatch center in Brighton is among the new components of the facility. PECO now coordinates all field service from the dispatch center, delivering faster, more efficient repairs for end users across the Front Range of Colorado.
“When you call into a local branch, you’re limited to whoever is available there,” Dowdell says. “But with a centralized dispatch and 45 techs in one bullpen, we can send the right technician to the right job much faster – and with the right expertise.”
Additionally, PECO has telematics-driven visibility into its trucks, work orders and weather patterns, giving the company a true central command. Resources like PECO’s technical communicators and training group are also centralized in the facility to expedite service jobs.
“We can see where every truck is, what every tech is working on and what jobs are coming next,” Dowdell says. “That lets us make smarter decisions and get a customer taken care of much faster.”
Centralized dispatch, faster response
Getting parts orders out in a timely manner is also a service priority at PECO, which invested in a vertical storage system leveraging Kardex technology to improve picking speed and accuracy.
The new PECO shop, meanwhile, features 13 double service bays measuring 25 ft. x 80 ft. – plus a heated indoor wash bay. Three 10-ton overhead cranes and a five-ton crane support heavy component rebuilds and other activities.
A technician locker room and cafeteria represent other investments, creating an environment where people truly want to work.
A training room for up to 50 people is another key feature of the facility. The classroom-style setup gives PECO a place to host traditional training, but the company made accommodations in Brighton to make training even more dynamic when necessary.
“We can bring education right into the shop,” Dowdell says. “We’ve got televisions on tracks we can roll right up to a machine, so we can train seven, eight or nine technicians on a live piece of equipment. We’re also hosting OEM trainings and regional dealer sessions.”
Building for what’s next
More is coming to PECO’s flagship headquarters, as well. The site is undergoing a second phase of construction that will result in a clean room to perform component rebuilds – plus a paint booth.
“The real investment is in what you don’t immediately see – the centralized dispatch, the Kardex systems and the larger bays with 10-ton overhead cranes,” Dowdell says. “The majority of the investment is geared toward leveraging technology, training and tooling to service the customer.”
