Takeuchi's updated Web site, launched in December, is filled with easy-to-access technical information for the conscientious customer. It also serves as the primary Takeuchi dealer portal for machine and parts ordering and warranty processing. The site was designed with fresh images to invite customers to keep Takeuchi in mind. National sales and marketing manager, Scott Carnell, says the updated version is as different as night and day from the old version. Even the old necessities have been revamped and updated.
The new Web site offers information about Takeuchi, its products and includes a dealer locator. The product section includes the ability to print literature of current- and older-generation products. Carnell says that previously site visitors weren't able to print PDFs of important information. While the finance portion is still under construction, Carnell says it should be up and running in the next quarter.
The site is straightforward and easy to navigate, with a clear navigation bar and informative home page. The link to What's New takes the site visitor to up-to-date Takeuchi company news, such as the groundbreaking for the company's new corporate office and distribution center in November. The Dealer Locator, a new addition to the site, allows the user to search for Takeuchi equipment dealers by state. Selecting a state on the drop-down tab brings up all equipment dealers located in that state, along with their address and contact information. A link to the dealer's own Web site, if available, is also included. This is a great feature because users can link directly to an actual dealer to see the equipment they supply. A link to a map of the dealer's location on Mapquest is also provided, saving the customer a step in looking it up himself.
The Products link enables the Takeuchi site visitor to find information about equipment both old and new. Selecting a model number from the drop-down tabs brings up a separate window with a list of the machine's features, as well as a complete list of specifications. The information can also be pulled up in a PDF format. On the main Products page, the customer can click on the Loaders and Excavators links to get more information about the product category. These links are helpful because they give general information about the equipment, the user can link to features found on these pieces, and then link to specific model information.
The new site also seeks to connect potential buyers to used and affordable Takeuchi equipment. The machine model, year, run hours, description, location and contact information for the seller are given. This is a convenient feature for anyone looking to buy or sell Takeuchi equipment. Employment seekers can click on the Careers link to pull up information and job summaries for current available employment. It gives an e-mail address to send resumes to. Also, the seeker can click for more details to bring up a more thorough job description, including essential functions and necessary job requirements.
Contacting the company has also been made easier. Now site visitors can fill out a form and choose where it goes, be it the service department, parts, sales and more.
The fresh, updated look gives the potential customer a better impression of the company. As equipment buyers get more and more Web savvy, it helps to have a lot of useful information about the company, its philosophy and equipment online in an easy-to-access format. Carnell says that although a lot of equipment purchasers aren't necessarily buying online, they are definitely seeking out information before making purchasing decisions in this way. And the Takeuchi site helps the potential customer navigate the World Wide Web.
“This site is very easy to get around, you don't feel like you're lost or being inundated with too many things,” Carnell says.
