NEZ GUEVARA The survey’s findings clearly indicate how important it is for African miners to see products operating in the field through demonstrations or product trials
Whether it can trial a service or product is the most important factor for African mining companies when choosing any new supplier, a new survey by UK-based information solutions and technologies company Timetric’s Mining Intelligence Centre finds.
According to the report, entitled ‘Winning and retaining business in the African mining equipment sector, 2016 – A survey of key buyers and decision-makers,’ the second- most important factor is that suppliers offer an on-site demonstration of the product or service and the thirdmost is that suppliers have a trusted brand in the market.
Timetric senior mining analyst Nez Guevara points out that these findings clearly indicate how more important it is for African miners to see products operating in the field, through demonstrations or product trials, than sourcing from a trusted brand.
He elaborates that the survey results – released last month – include the input of over 100 managers at operating mines across Africa. Guevara explains that respondents were asked to choose from seven factors that influence a decision when choosing a new supplier.
“The aim for this research was to identify the best formula for winning a new customer. “The factors respondents were asked to evaluate ranged from suppliers having a trusted brand in the market to suppliers being based locally.
“For each factor, respondents had to [assign] a rating of 1 to 10, with 1 being of very minor importance and 10 being critical,” he says.