‍Why OEMs Are Investing in Digital Aftersales Platforms (and How to Stay Competitive in 2025)‍

Aftersales Is Now a Strategic Priority

For years, industrial OEMs considered aftersales service a support function. Today, it's become a primary growth engine. According to McKinsey, top-performing manufacturers now earn more than 40% of their total profits from services, not equipment. With increasing pressure to create stable recurring revenue and meet customer expectations, OEMs are doubling down on digital aftersales platforms to stay competitive.
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Aftersales Revenue Is Outpacing Equipment Sales

Aftermarket services can yield margins 2× to 10× higher than original equipment sales. Digital service platforms give OEMs the tools to build recurring income streams, deepen customer loyalty, and reduce operational costs. Platforms like Makula support not just repairs, but full lifecycle engagement, turning service into a strategic differentiator.

“The future of OEM growth lies in scalable, digital service workflows — not just product innovation.”
— Grand View Research

Aftersales = Margin Engine

Did you know? Leading OEMs earn up to 4× higher margins from services than from selling new equipment. The shift toward digital aftersales platforms unlocks this value by enabling upsells, predictive maintenance, and service contracts.

Internal data, 2025

The Shift Toward Digitisation

The global shift is well underway. According to a 2025 report by ResearchAndMarkets, the Field Service Management (FSM) software market is projected to reach $11.5 billion by 2030. This reflects a growing demand for digital tools that bring automation, visibility, and analytics to aftersales operations.

In Europe, the shift is even more evident. As LumoSphere outlines, major manufacturers across the EU are adopting AI-powered FSM platforms to gain operational clarity and deliver consistent service across partners and geographies.

What’s Driving OEM Investment in Aftersales Platforms?

1. Service decentralisation
Many OEMs struggle with fragmented service execution across dealer and contractor networks. This leads to inconsistencies in quality and customer experience. As Field Technologies Online notes, centralising service processes via unified platforms has become essential.

2. Skilled labour shortages
According to Field Service News, the #1 challenge in the sector is finding and retaining skilled technicians. Modern digital platforms allow even junior techs to access documentation, AI-based guidance, and remote support — reducing onboarding time and improving service consistency.

3. Shift toward predictive and AI-driven maintenance
A survey from Fluke Reliability found that while only 8% of manufacturers currently use predictive maintenance, 76.5% are planning to adopt it. This positions AI tools like Makula’s Industrial AI suite as vital for future-ready OEMs.

What OEMs Need from a Digital Platform in 2025

All of these are core components of Makula, which is built specifically for machinery suppliers, distributors, and manufacturers.

Makula: Powering the Digital Shift for OEMs

Makula is a modular platform built to help OEMs move from reactive, fragmented service to a unified digital ecosystem. It combines:

Conclusion

As the field service and CMMS markets mature, OEMs face a clear choice: digitise or risk falling behind. With service departments generating the lion’s share of profit and customers demanding faster, smarter support, the business case is undeniable.

Makula gives OEMs a scalable, purpose-built platform to unify service processes, reduce technician burden, and improve long-term customer loyalty. For organisations seeking a true partner in digital transformation, the time to act is now.

→ Book a personalised Makula demo and start your digital aftersales journey today.‍