I think Yuneec considers themselves to between a rock and a hard spot: They sold the 520 as a Commercial Unit for a Premium Price, Then they brought out the Plus that they wanted to market to the masses that had bought the 480, the Plus is essentially a 520 minus a few features, so as not to upset the current 520 owners.
Well how is that any different than what is taking place across the entire industry? We buy something that fills our needs at a certain price point and use it till something better/ cheaper comes along and then discard the previous like a child on Christmas day. Thats how it is in the tech world and (hopefully) it always will be. We expect it, I know I do. So to answer my own question - How would I as a 520 operator/owner feel if the Plus all of a sudden was a match? I probably would not mind. I would hope Yuneec continues to support me as a 520 owner fully, (maybe a little sour grapes), but I would feel truly no different than I felt after spending 1400 bucks 24 months prior on my 480.I bought it, enjoyed it, made a few bucks then moved on.
Let's play with the above for a moment. Unless Yuneec desires to be just another "toy maker" they need to recognize their market has to appeal to higher levels of sophistication. Whether those people are focused on advanced level hobby imagery, professional videographers, or survey and inspection specialists doesn't really matter, they will be looking for a platform that both fills their immediate need and will remain viable for some time to come. They won't be looking for the cheapest price for a generic "Barbie" doll, they will be seeking effective specialization tools.
One manufacturer pretty much already figured that out, but their method of serving the customer is quite heavy handed by releasing multiple models of the same aircraft to serve different purposes. We know whom I'm referencing. If we consider both the industrial/military scale UAV manufacturers and auto makers we see a different approach. They retain a basic model for a considerable period of time and add or subtract equipment or features to meet user/buyer requirements. With auto manufacturers a model type might remain relatively form consistent for three years or more. For UAV manufacturers the basic form remain consistent for 7-10 years, or more. What changes are software, new accessory products additions, and a few other minor items that can be changed via firmware upgrades.
They develop their initial customers through the performance of a base model and expand their customer base via implementation of new features without altering the base model format. More often than not the customers establish the path the manufacturers will take by delivering the products and features the customers state they absolutely must have. And they earn some pretty darn high returns on their investments for doing so as their platform development costs are both stable and minimized. One size initially fits all if you will, and the customers are fiercely loyal.
Our equipment doesn't wear out at the mechanical level very often. Where we encounter problems is with poorly vetted soft ware and firmware along with impact induced damage. There's really no reason to be running out to buy a new platform every 9 moths to a year or so. The significant improvements in flight control and mission planning can all be performed through firmware changes What does physically change is the technology used in and for the payloads. Our payload needs also change based on an evolution of our areas of endeavor.
If a maker was to design a basic platform that allowed for flexibility in payload weight, employing software that provided for what we might call "industry standard" that encompassed the more common uses currently in place, they could develop various payloads to fit the basic platform which would provide the variability necessary to attract a wider customer base.
If there were needs and a market for more specialized payloads and exotic software those could be developed and sold with the exotic software residing only within the particular payload. if you wanted the super great stuff you would have to buy the super great payload. That payload might (would) be expensive but as you already had the primary platform the transition higher end operations would be easier, cheaper, faster, and safer.
There would be more people buying payload upgrades as doing so would be less expensive that buying a completely new system. You want LiDAR? No problem, buy the payload and associated software. Multi-spectral? No worries, just obtain off the shelf and load the software. IR/Thermal? Same thing. Your payload mount allows for a wide range of adaptation or expansion so there's no problem.
It would make life a lot simpler and more efficient for customer service and tech support departments as there would be fewer models to deal with. The platform manufacturer would retain control of platform service and repair and shift payload service back onto the payload manufacturers as the people that create and produce payloads possess more specialty knowledge and experience in that area. In the end the customer would obtain a base platform and swap payloads in and out as the missions dictated, something critical to success as what we do has to be both agile and flexible.
If Yuneec pays any attention to this forum at all I hope they read the above and seriously consider it. The path they have been following is not working and cannot be made to work. The competition is too far ahead of the game to be playing catch up. Yuneec needs to get ahead of the game and the only way they can do that is by doing something new and different, or at least different from what most are doing.
Mimic a method that has enable earning $billions from the customer base, that's already being done by all the people that have been serving the big money markets for a long time. All that's left is to take the product out on the road to show your customers just what they could do if they had it. Make it easy, make it simple. Establish a customer service department that is fast and efficient. Create one that caters to the higher end commercial customer, providing 24/7 response.
If you want to survive, that's what it will take. Otherwise you might as well be selling generic "Barbie" dolls that end up sitting uselessly on a shelf only a short period after obtaining one. The person that bought it soon cast it aside as 'the other guy" came out with something just a little different.
