Daktronics centralizes field service ops

Daktronics has created a centralized
field service organization dedicated to delivering service to the company
’s
customers nationwide. Field service was previously provided as a
function of each of the company
’s business
units.

“We have determined that consolidating our
field service personnel into one group creates an opportunity for us to
better utilize our field service resources, ”
said Dan Bierschbach, the Vice President of Schools and Theatres and
After Sales Service. “This reorganization
involves staff who previously played a role in both sales and service in
our schools and theaters business unit into a fulltime services
fulfillment role along with technicians from other business units. ”

Bierschbach continued, “Over time, we believe
that this change will improve service to our customers while driving
significant cost out of our services infrastructure. In the first
quarter, this change will transfer some costs from selling expense to
cost of goods sold. Then over the fiscal year, as we implement new
systems and infrastructure to support this organization, we expect to
see positive net impacts on operating margin. ”

Daktronics is recognized for delivering the most comprehensive service
within its industries and remains committed to providing that service
into the future in a cost effective way.

To achieve these goals Daktronics has appointed Dan Schulte to the new
role of National Field Service Manager. A 20-year Daktronics employee,
Schulte has experience throughout the company first as an electrical
design engineer, later as a product manager and most recently as manager
of the company ’s technical services
department for the Live Events business unit, which included starting
the Live Events field service group.

In the new structure, field service personnel will receive additional
cross training to serve a broader segment of Daktronics customers. This
will allow greater flexibility to respond to customer needs quickly and
efficiently.

According to Schulte, “If we have a
technician dispatched to a particular sports venue in a given area, this
same technician will be able to service a commercial account in that
same geographic area. This provides better coverage for customers across
business units and eliminates the customer having to wait for a
technician trained only to serve commercial accounts. “