Last year, I traveled to Yanmar Compact Equipment’s EVO Center in Acworth, Georgia. I was there to inspect and operate Yanmar’s compact equipment lineup. Under the Georgia sun sat compact track loaders, mini excavators, compact wheel loaders, and tracked carriers. Yanmar has spent years filling out that portfolio, including developing its own CTL line following its 2019 acquisition of ASV. In 2026, the company now offers 13 Yanmar compact track loaders, after recently merging the ASV brand into its portfolio, 10 mini excavators, five compact wheel loaders, and two tracked carriers in North America.

But it’s not just machines. Yanmar continues to key into service. Here’s a recent example: Yanmar Compact Equipment North America just launched an enhanced version of its SmartAssist Remote telematics platform.

“Machine data only creates value when it helps customers make better decisions,” said Anna Christine Sgro, president of Yanmar Compact Equipment North America, in the press release. “SmartAssist Remote gives equipment owners the visibility to protect their machines, stay ahead of maintenance needs, and better understand how their equipment is being used. It also gives our dealers earlier insight to provide more proactive support. This is an important investment in the complete Yanmar ownership experience — helping our customers protect uptime, improve productivity, and get greater value from their equipment.”

What Yanmar SmartAssist Remote can monitor

SmartAssist Remote is Yanmar's telematics system, and it works through a web platform and mobile apps for iOS and Android. The technology itself isn’t new. Yanmar launched SmartAssist in 2013. I saw this tech throughout Yanmar’s construction lineup during my 2025 visit, but this latest release expands both the platform and how owners can use it.

The updated platform includes:

• GPS location and movement history
• Operating hours and utilization data
• Geofencing and after-hours alerts
• Preventive maintenance schedules
• Diagnostic trouble codes
• Service records
• Daily equipment inspections with photo attachments
• A nearest-machine finder
• Navigation to machines in the field
• Configurable dashboards
• Scheduled reports

Five years of telematics included

Eligible new equipment will include five years of SmartAssist Remote service. Yanmar also noted that the enhanced system is backward compatible. Fleet managers, this means the update isn’t exclusively for customers buying their next machine. Exactly which older machines qualify will depend, so check with your Yanmar dealer. Overall, this approach fits with Yanmar’s emerging ownership strategy. Last year, the company introduced its Ycare Extended Warranty program, which can provide up to seven years or 7,000 hours of coverage.

Dealers get a better look at machine health

This new SmartAssist Remote update isn’t only aimed at equipment owners. With the owner’s consent, Yanmar dealers can also view machine alerts, operating hours, and diagnostic information. Then they can help. According to the press release:

“Operating-hour visibility can help identify upcoming preventive maintenance opportunities, while machine history and service information can support more informed conversations about equipment condition, utilization, and future fleet needs. Together, these capabilities help create a more connected relationship between Yanmar customers and their dealers — one centered on uptime, productivity, and long-term equipment value.”

When is this update coming out?

The enhanced SmartAssist Remote platform will be available across North America beginning October 22, 2026. Wait. That’s today! Also, SmartAssist Remote is a platform that supports AEMP 2.0 API integration. That allows Yanmar machine data to feed into compatible third-party fleet management, ERP, and business systems. That’s, of course, very important for our fleet manager readers who run multiple brands.

Yanmar focuses on life after the sale

Service continues to be a big focus for Yanmar. When I visited the EVO Center last year, Sgro told us Yanmar was positioning itself as a “one-stop shop for equipment, maintenance, and long-term support.” Yanmar has expanded its compact equipment lineup, and it is nearly a one-stop machine shop (it’s maybe missing a stand-on mini skid). Now, the company is figuring out the ownership side of that equation. Extended warranties, excellent dealer support and communication, and an upgraded SmartAssist Remote platform — that’s a pretty strong base for keeping machines working and customers coming back.