by Aaron Kline, Co-Founder of Boom & Bucket
In today’s economy, any entrepreneur looking to kickstart, build and scale is obsessed with two words: capital efficiency. And for a good reason. The way a company spends money can make or break it.
Leading decision-makers who master capital efficiency drive rapid business goal outcomes with cost-effective resources and strategies. The bottom line? It’s not just about saving money or time on unnecessary expenses but knowing how to evaluate savings and risks versus costs, return on investment (ROI), and real results. This is why sustainable practices like reusing resources are increasingly popular. The more sustainable a business is, the more it can grow without compromising quality or customer satisfaction.
One of businesses’ largest costs is equipment — the machinery, vehicles, tools, or devices they need to do the job. Despite knowing that equipment can negatively impact cash flow and profitability, many companies overlook the potential of the second-hand equipment market as a source of savings and sustainability. Let’s take a look at how pre-owned machinery can boost your ROI.
The Digital Transformation of The Second-Hand Market
The second-hand market is not what it used to be five years or ten years ago. The used market used to very informal, offered cash-only and no warranties, and lacked transparency. This changed with the emergence of modern second-hand online markets, and they are driving significant growth.
A report by Transparency Market Research valued the second-hand global market at $405.5 billion in 2022. The market is expected to grow to $3.1 trillion by 2031. Used heavy machinery makes up a big portion of the second-hand products market: According to Global Market Insights. The rapid increase in pre-owned heavy machinery investments is augmenting the industry.
Thanks to the digital transformation of the second-hand market and the expansion of e-commerce, buyers have better, and more informed, access to cost-efficient machinery and goods.
Additionally, consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about their consumption effects on the environment, whether it may be waste, plastic, energy, or CO2 emissions.
However, second-hand equipment is also associated with risks. Was the equipment used properly? What does the maintenance history reveal? Is the equipment modern and up to the task? Does it have any hidden defects or damages not visible to the naked eye?
These questions were hard to answer in the past, but today, powered by digital transformation, new technologies and platforms help buyers make data-driven second-hand purchases. Modern online markets give potential buyers a wide range of information on second-hand equipment so they can feel confident they have chosen an item that meets their needs.
Cost, Usage History, and Condition
The first aspect to consider in any purchase is cost. How do you know if you are getting a fair deal on a second-hand machine? How do you compare prices across different sellers and markets?
Just like the Kelley Blue Book has helped millions of people calculate the market value of a vehicle — based on its make, model, year, mileage, and condition — to determine fair prices, other tools can enable informed purchases of heavy machinery. For example, Equipment Watch provides price benchmarks and trends for over 15 categories of equipment across North America.
Usage history is the second factor that needs to be evaluated. Customers should use platforms that provide equipment’s previous maintenance information and data and see whether items have any issues or problems that could affect their performance or safety.
Equipment marketplaces use data from various sources to provide a detailed report on the asset’s past, including repairs, recalls, inspections, and all ownership changes.
Similarly, data-driven e-commerce sites can help a user find the usage history of second-hand equipment based on data from telematics and OBD2 devices — systems that collect and transmit information from a machine’s sensors and GPS location, and can connect to a machine’s onboard computer and read diagnostic of machines.
Finally, the condition of the equipment needs to be carefully evaluated. How do you know if the equipment is in good shape and ready to use? How do you inspect it for any signs of wear and tear or damage?
This is where comprehensive inspection tools can help. They check hundreds of points on a vehicle to ensure its quality and functionality, saving companies the time and cost of doing inspections.
Final Thoughts
The second-hand equipment market is a powerful resource for companies that want to remain competitive. Thanks to the digital transformation of marketplaces, data-driven technologies, and new transparency trends, companies can make informed decisions about buying second-hand equipment for their business and keep costs low.
Calculating the risk, increasing savings and enhancing sustainability has never been so straightforward. With all the CO2 emissions, usage, and condition information online, the modern second-hand market can increase capital efficiency, help companies achieve profitability faster, and grow their business more efficiently.
Aaron Kline, Co-Founder, and COO of Boom & Bucket. This innovative company is revolutionizing the market for used heavy equipment, providing contractors with a reliable online platform for buying and selling their machinery. With a solid sales and business development background, Aaron has served as Vice President of Global Sales at Skylo.
