Landscape Management, September 2013

ADVERTORIAL PRO Design On the go Mobile design software apps improve design efficiency LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET SEPTEMBER 2013 32 PRO Landscape Companion is available for iPad and Android C hris Walter says design software has become like his right hand because he uses it so much and has come to rely on it for doing business The Liberty Mo based landscape contractor and owner of Computerized Landscape Design utilizes PRO Landscape by Drafix Software And now that PRO Landscape is also available in mobile form with PRO Landscape Companion for iPad or Android tablets Walter says hes been able to greatly improve efficiency with his designs With the Companion application its the ultimate mobile design solution says Peter Lord president of Drafix Software A lot of landscape contractors will go out with a digital camera and take a picture but then they have to go back and download it to the laptop before they start any actual design work That method works fine but with a tablet you can take the pictures and then do the designing immediately using PRO Landscape Companion Because the app is also linked to a designers computer the user can start the design on the tablet and then open it on a computer and continue right away On the flip side the design can also be transferred from a computer to a tablet so that it becomes a mobile presentation to take directly to the client With everything linked its a big time saver Lord says If youre showing a client a design and they dont like a certain plant you can delete it right there and its linked back to the computer so theres no duplicating the work For Walter the software has really helped cement sales People think in pictures he says Its one thing to describe a design to a potential customer but to actually show it in pictures is a whole different story The software allows them to see something before it even exists and that can definitely help make the sale Improving flexibility sales Walter says that the mobile version of the software has only increased the possibilities for him I used to have to make one appointment with the client to walk the property and take pictures and then come back again after I design the plan he says These days its hard enough to get one appointment with someone let alone two appointments But now I can do everything at once with the Companion app I can take a picture of the area they want done and then we can sit on their front porch and start designing together In fact Walter says that engaging the customer in the design makes the sale even more likely When you work one on one with the client on the spot youre getting their input every step of the way Walter says They basically sell themselves on the design Having their help with the design makes a huge difference They feel more attached to it and are more likely to commit It makes the whole process easier Lord says the flexibility and efficiency is what todays software users demand in order to meet the needs of their clients From designing on site to presenting on site and even making changes on the fly the mobile application allows contractors to truly meet their customers needs Lord adds People want to be able to see things instantly and give feedback right away The old way of doing things with all the back and forth between the computer and the client simply takes too much time In addition to being a huge time saver the program is also easy to use Walter says that with good tutorials which help walk you through the process the learning curve is minimal Theres also excellent tech support he says You can get up and running very quickly and start getting plans designed right away The company also upgrades the program every year with new bells and whistles that help keep it fresh and new The bottom line says Walter is anything that makes the selling process easier is a welcomed addition and he says this program does just that Ive found that as long as youre able to gain peoples trust youre going to do business with them he adds And PRO Landscape definitely helps gain their trust