Landscape Management, January 2019

Design Build Installation I n the tight labor market creating DESIGN SOFTWARE Software savvy LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET JANUARY 2019 48 PHOTOS PRO LANDSCAPE NEARMAP Three things to keep in mind when choosing software BY DANIELLE PESTA LM ASSOCIATE EDITOR WORKING TOGETHER Contractors should choose software that integrates into their current systems efficiencies and saving time is key What better way than to use technology to do so Landscape software has come a long way and its improving all the time There are numerous options to help improve your designs and better plan your projects We spoke with a few experts David Sloan sales and marketing manager for Drafix PRO Landscape Mike St Louis director of marketing for Nearmap Cameron Ashby systems manager for Elite Grounds and Jim and Billie Helms owners of Helms Lawn Specialist to learn what landscape pros should consider when choosing design software USER FRIENDLY A functionality thats easy to use and intuitive is crucial especially for training crew members of all ages and at different points in their careers Its important to identify team members who are eager and willing to learn how to use and implement new software properly Before choosing software make sure to consider the skill level of those using the software and how they might approach technology Sloan says If a landscaping company has to hire a specialist just to use software it adds to the bottom line St Louis adds ACCURACY St Louis also says having an accurate base map is a good start to any design project Getting accurate measurements makes it easier to prepare quotes and bids for projects For example the location data on Nearmaps aerial imagery has helped Ashby capture accurate measurements for Elite Grounds which is based in Salt Lake City We can easily measure a property and calculate material costs to avoid extra inventory he says Using the oblique view we can measure details such as fence and wall height the linear feet of rooflines and even the degree at which the property slopes Jim and Billie Helms use PRO Landscape at their Delphi Ind based company to show customers what a design might look like five years into the future Homeowners really find out what they want at the beginning of the process The design sells itself Jim Helms says We can even add snow and lighting to show what the landscape could look like INTEGRATION Keeping in mind the type of projects being designed will make it easier to determine how a software might integrate into current company processes Different pieces of software have different capabilities so its important to choose the software that is right for a companys exact situation Sloan says Customization can make integrating new software at a company easier and more effective long term With PRO Landscape the Helmses can set up the software with the specific location to ensure the correct plant is used the first time around We can choose plants from all zones of the U S Billie Helms says Or we can narrow it down to all of the plants that grow best in zone 5 our region Ashby says Elite Grounds local service area is growing with new homes and businesses so designing installation projects has become easier with historical images and seeing the property as a blank slate before structures are built At the end of the day Ashby says having integrated software will make his company more efficient Its a software that I really enjoy he says And soon it will go out to the full team making their jobs better BIRDS EYE Capturing aerial imagery can help contractors accurately measure different properties