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Launch HN: GreaseBoss (YC W21) – Real-time system to manage industrial greasing

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Re: Launch HN: GreaseBoss (YC W21) – Real-time system to manage industrial greasing

#31

Post by jeffrallen »

So here's a question: if a company was suffering below average equipment downtime from lube problems, because they had somehow managed to have above average compliance to manufacturer's specs, would your sales pitch still work? Because as they said on Prairie Home Companion, "all our children are above average". No one thinks they have incompetent maintenance teams.

There are industries where safety risks make lube happen correctly. Are they still in your addressable market?

Good luck!

Re: Launch HN: GreaseBoss (YC W21) – Real-time system to manage industrial greasing

#32

Post by jbob2000 »

I pursued something similar. The challenge you may face is that the act of regular inspections, maintaining the RFID tags, and paying for the service may cost more than doing a poor job of grease maintenance. The alternative is just simply doing regular rounds with a grease bucket.

Re: Launch HN: GreaseBoss (YC W21) – Real-time system to manage industrial greasing

#33

Post by jeffrallen »

jasonpeacock wrote: post #29

This may be due to my complete clueless-ness, but all these fittings look the same? https://www.greaseboss.io/our-product It looks like you're trying to list a variety of different fitting but copied the same image multiple times.

That's a simulated picture of the panel on the machine where all the grease lines come together for easy access.

Re: Launch HN: GreaseBoss (YC W21) – Real-time system to manage industrial greasing

#34

Post by jeffrallen »

jbob2000 wrote: post #32

I pursued something similar. The challenge you may face is that the act of regular inspections, maintaining the RFID tags, and paying for the service may cost more than doing a poor job of grease maintenance. The alternative is just simply doing regular rounds with a grease bucket.

Or running machines to destruction and taking the downtime costs (which the dysfunctional organisation has already built into their business model, since they cannot get their employees to grade then right).

I agree that there's a danger that this is easier to justify on Powerpoint than down in the dust and mud of real life industrial financials. (Pretty sure that gold mines do not stay open when the price of gold is too low to be able to pay for forgotten grease on conveyors.)

Source: countless posts on /r/skookum referring to idiot management that runs machines to destruction then drives maintenance teams to work overtime to stop the "unplanned" downtime.

Re: Launch HN: GreaseBoss (YC W21) – Real-time system to manage industrial greasing

#36

Post by solarkraft »

> We are building a HaaS (Hardware as a Service - is that a thing?) business model: we charge customers upfront for the hardware and then a software subscription fee.

Oh god. The rest sounds great, but this sounds like the worst of renting and owning combined.

How do your customers react to this model? Can the devices be used without the subscription?

Re: Launch HN: GreaseBoss (YC W21) – Real-time system to manage industrial greasing

#37

Post by arjunvpaul »

Awesome! HaaS is a thing. You just made it one.

Regarding the business model: You ever thought of a Franchise model? Perhaps train a few folks (perhaps folks who were incorrectly greasing before) who can then take contracts for the large job sites?

I have seen this practice with diamond coring machines of companies like Hilti in markets like Dubai (building contractors don't need the machine , they just need the holes they cut and they don't need it everyday) where folks but the coring machines and then charge per hole (per Zerk in your case) and Hilti provides training to them.

Regarding the segment: If incorrect greasing leads to machinery failure, then perhaps look at operations where machine failure can be mission critical. Sites like Baffin Island, where large contractors' maintenance plan is "buy 10 of each machine" If one breaks down, they just park it and put the next one into service. OR Offshore Platforms where downtime can mean several millions down the pipe. Example projects offshore in Guyana where replacements are not available onshore too.

Re: Launch HN: GreaseBoss (YC W21) – Real-time system to manage industrial greasing

#38

Post by woah »

solarkraft wrote: post #36

> We are building a HaaS (Hardware as a Service - is that a thing?) business model: we charge customers upfront for the hardware and then a software subscription fee. Oh god. The rest sounds great, but this sounds like the worst of renting and owning combined. How do your customers react to this model? Can the devices be used without the subscription?

I mean, they have to sell them the hardware. Then software needs to be run and continuously updated. I would probably prefer a subscription to a large up front charge for ongoing software maintenance, or having to gamble that a “free” cloud service stays online

Re: Launch HN: GreaseBoss (YC W21) – Real-time system to manage industrial greasing

#39

Post by [deleted] »

jeffrallen wrote: post #34
jbob2000 wrote: post #32

I pursued something similar. The challenge you may face is that the act of regular inspections, maintaining the RFID tags, and paying for the service may cost more than doing a poor job of grease maintenance. The alternative is just simply doing regular rounds with a grease bucket.

Or running machines to destruction and taking the downtime costs (which the dysfunctional organisation has already built into their business model, since they cannot get their employees to grade then right). I agree that there's a danger that this is easier to justify on Powerpoint than down in the dust and mud of real life industrial financials. (Pretty sure that gold mines do not stay open when the price of gold is…

[deleted]
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