Dealers talk workforce, technology and survival

During a roundtable that followed the Under 40 awards presentation at the OPE + Power Forum, industry leaders gathered to talk honestly about the pressures reshaping the outdoor power equipment business. The conversation was candid, occasionally messy and unmistakably real— a reflection of the pressures dealers are facing across the outdoor power equipment industry.

What unfolded over nearly two hours was less a formal panel and more a working-session conversation— one that surfaced uncomfortable truths about profitability, staffing and dealer-manufacturer relationships, while also pointing toward practical paths forward.

The discussion moved quickly and often overlapped, but a consistent message emerged: independent dealers are under strain and survival will depend on better business education, stronger leadership and a willingness to rethink long-standing assumptions.

Workforce challenges dominate the conversation

Nearly every major issue raised during the roundtable traced back, in some way, to people. Recruiting technicians remains difficult but retaining them has become even harder. Several participants emphasized that training investments frequently walk out the door when technicians leave for higher pay or better leadership elsewhere.

One speaker framed the issue bluntly, saying technicians often do not leave companies— they leave leadership. That observation sparked agreement around the table and led to a broader discussion about culture, communication and accountability inside dealerships.

Sponsors and attendees networking at Power Week 2026( OPE + Power Forum co-located with Powersports Business Accelerate Conference and

Boating Industry Elevate Summit) in Orlando Florida.

Hands-on training, participants said, remains essential. While online modules and training videos introduce concepts to entry-level technicians, they cannot replace real-world experience.

“ They need hands-on experience,” one participant said.“ We use training videos and online modules all day, but technicians learn best when they can put their hands on equipment in a classroom, not for the first time on a customer’ s machine.”

Several dealers noted that younger technicians often enter the workforce with limited exposure to mechanical problem-solving. Without structured mentorship and realistic expectations, frustration builds quickly on both sides of the service counter.

Technology as a force multiplier, not a replacement

While labor shortages dominated the discussion, technology was viewed less as a threat and more as a potential lifeline.

Participants talked at length about emerging tools designed to support entrylevel and mid-tier technicians, including wearable smart-glasses that integrate with dealer software to simplify diagnostics and parts identification.

The appeal, participants said, is not about replacing skilled technicians, but about accelerating productivity and reducing bottlenecks caused by experience gaps. By automating parts lookup and guiding repairs step by step, these tools could allow shops to take on more work without overburdening senior technicians.

Still, there was caution. Several attendees stressed that technology adoption must be practical and accessible, especially for rural or smaller dealerships already stretched thin.

Thin margins and financial blind spots

Beyond staffing, financial health emerged as one of the most sobering topics of the roundtable. Multiple participants shared firsthand experiences reviewing dealer financials and finding businesses barely breaking even, or even quietly losing money.

16 OPE + March 2026 www. OPE-Plus. com