Marine maintenance management company Vessel Vanguard and Formula Boats signed a 5-year subscription agreement, a move that expanded the company’s client base beyond the yachts it typically serves.
Beginning July 1, every Formula model from 24 to 45 feet will be provisioned with a 5-year Vessel Vanguard subscription.
“Formula represents a bit of an expansion beyond the current core of our membership base, which is more in the 40- to 60-foot range,” Vessel Vanguard chief marketing officer David Hensel told Trade Only Today. “But even a boat with five or six systems still has maintenance needs. We have people who have RIBs for megayachts and have accounts for the RIBs. The core need is still the same.”
The company seeks to simplify ownership and vessel maintenance, Hensel said, ultimately making the whole experience better for the boater.
“There is no such thing as business as usual these days,” Formula Boats director of product support and consumer affairs Mike Boyd said in a statement. “Vessel Vanguard is a 21st century solution that keeps us closer than ever to our customers, with no additional effort on our part. It is precisely what consumers need and expect and offers an equally powerful impact for our dealers and service centers, both before and after the sale.”
The subscription gives Formula owners cloud-based access to a boat profile from a browser, tablet or smartphone. The profile contains all manuals in searchable form with current updates, warranty data and registration and insurance documentation, organized to the preferences of the owner.
“Boat owners today are distinctly different than previous generations, and so are their expectations,” Vessel Vanguard CEO Don Hyde said in a statement. “Mobility and one-click simplicity are just the start, and now we see smart manufacturers like Formula bringing new boaters to the lifestyle and reaping the rewards of increased market share, new operational efficiencies and greater profits. The industry must adapt to its new customer profile by setting aside the status quo, and Formula’s decision establishes a true leadership role, making them an even stronger competitor.”
Since 2001, Formula Boats has included a five-year Formula Guard extended warranty with every boat, offering peace of mind and a first-class customer experience. Providing simplified functionality that does not require a software tutorial, Vessel Vanguard’s digital manuals and automated lifecycle management tools enhance the Formula guarantee by communicating maintenance needs to owners and their service professionals.
“It was also important to us that Vessel Vanguard places such a high premium on simplicity of design, so there is little to no learning curve,” Boyd added. “Neither our customers nor our dealers or service centers need to acquire software or devote hours to tutorials. There is no substitute for knowledge when it comes to vessel upkeep, and now our customers and dealers will know in advance what those maintenance events are and when they will occur.”
