In today’s digital landscape, you need to find technology trends to embrace to make your landscaping business run smoothly and efficiently. These trends offer immense opportunities, from drones, robotic mowers, and smart irrigation systems.
Incorporating 3D visual designs are also essential. By aligning these trends with business objectives, your landscaping company can thrive, innovate, and stay ahead in a competitive market.
Technology Trends to Embrace: 3D Landscape Design Renderings
Technology is a godsend because it saves time in many areas, including landscape design. While you may love hand-drawing landscape and hardscape designs, 3D landscape design software provides the experience for the homeowner to see their design’s finished product.
Likewise, you reduce the time having to redo a design because you can make changes in 3D reality. According to an article in TotalLandscapeCare.com, these 3D designs also help customers make a decision faster than the traditional 2D designs—which allows you to work on their property asap.
Here are some other benefits of 3D landscape design software from the TotalLandscapeCare.com article:
- You spend less time fielding questions from homeowners because they can see what the design looks like
- You spend less time in the design phase with your customers, which means you can fit in more clients
- You have fewer site visits to close projects
- Since 3D designs give your customers a picture of what their property will look like at the end of the project, you’ll find it’s easier to sell and install hardscapes
- While there will be fewer questions from the homeowner, you’ll find that if the customer can see two to three design viewpoints, you can answer specific questions during the design phase.
Augmented Reality Tools: Transforming the Landscaping Experience
Augmented reality tools merge with your 3D landscape design software. You can take a tree species or go to a prized flowerbed and bring those parts upfront and close for your customer to see.
You can show a closeup of outdoor lighting along a new walkway and show your customers what different materials look like for their new patio.
For example, you can bring up flagstones and pavers in augmented reality so that your customers can see the detail of each material before making their final selection.
GreenIndustryPros.com explains in their article, “The AR Effect: Why This Emerging Tech is Gaining Traction in the Landscaping Industry,” AR blends the digital and the real world into “one visual experience.”
Also, AR exceeds traditional design tools, such as 2D sketches, images, and videos, and “merges other new design elements into an existing landscape.”
You can create a realistic design by showing your customers via AR how different textures, materials, and elements added to the 3D design will look in the customer’s current landscape.
Read more: The Importance of Landscape Client Management
You may wonder if using augmented reality in your landscape design process is complex. The GreenIndustryPros.com article states that you need to hire a 3D artist to create 3D models of the current products you use.
Your artist will only need reference photos and dimensions to begin the process. You’ll also need a 3D web view to put in the 3D model on your website.
While this seems tedious, it’s much better than lugging around various materials or having to tweak the finished design because the customer couldn’t visualize how this would look on their property.
Harnessing the Power of Drones in Landscaping
Have you ever visited one of your competitor’s websites to see aerial and close-up views of their final product? More than likely, that landscape design company used drones to get that bird’s eye view.
According to LandscapeHub.com, there are five benefits of using drones in your landscape design/build business:
- Use drones to help you in the design phase
Get your drone up to 150’ into the air to give you an aerial view of your customer’s property. Have your drone take pictures of the entire property in the air.
You can use the pictures of hardscapes, the house, and any other structure on the property for ground-level photos too.
- Use drone mapping
Instead of using a surveyor, your drone helps you capture slopes and measure the area you’ll work on. You can create a map of your client’s property with your drone.
Then transfer all the data from your drone survey, including elevation information, image tracing, and the contour map, using the drone’s software and measuring tools to transfer to your 3D design software.
- Use drones to help with improved visualization of a landscape design
Since drones can move in all directions, you get an accurate view of your landscape design. You can show this to your client to give them perspective on how different design elements will work with the completed project.
- Provide your customers with a real-view, high-quality design
Give your customers a real-time view of their landscape by showing them the drone images you captured. It’ll help your customers see their property from an aerial view and how each new landscape element improves their outdoor space.
- Upload your drone photos to your website and social media
Use drone imaging to capture the finished landscape design, but always ask your customers if you can use those images on your website and social media.
You can include these permissions in your contract that you write up for all your customers so you can gather a portfolio to take on sales calls.
Other Lawn Care and Landscaping Technology Trends to Embrace
The landscaping industry is buzzing with new technology trends to embrace that cover all areas of the industry. Smart irrigation systems help customers conserve water while maintaining a vibrant lawn and landscape.
If you provide in-ground sprinkler systems to homeowners, you can encourage your audience to recalibrate their lawn sprinklers with moisture sensors, Bluetooth technology, and other irrigation system technology.
Save time and labor by using robotic mowers. While robotic mowers are pricey, they’re quiet and do the job.
Robotic lawn equipment is eco-friendly because they don’t require gas. You also save on labor because the robotic mowers show up for work and are on time (as long as their battery is charged).
Technology Trends to Embrace with Spyker Spreaders
Elevate your services with the ultimate solution for spreading grass seed, fertilizer, sand, and salt: the Spyker push spreader. Our state-of-the-art technology and precision will revolutionize your lawn care operations.
What makes Spyker spreaders stand out? Our new line of broadcast spreaders boasts 150 years of craftsmanship and engineering expertise. Built to last and excel in performance, every Spyker spreader is a testament to our perfected techniques and skills.
You can find our Spyker push spreaders and other landscaping products at your local dealer, online, or at the Spyker store.
Spyker Customer Service: For warranty, service parts, or help at any time, reach out to our team by calling our toll-free number (800-972-6130) or by emailing customerservice@brinly.com. Replacement parts can also be ordered online at Spyker’s website.
Sources:
GreenIndustryPros.com, The AR Effect: Why This Emerging Tech is Gaining Traction in the Landscaping Industry.
Blog.LandscapeHub.com, Everything You Need to Know about Using Drones in Landscaping.
MowingMagic.com, 5 Best Robot Mowers for Commercial Lawn Care Businesses.
TotalLandscapeCare.com, Taking the Green Industry Virtual: Finding Value in 3D Renderings and Other Digital Tools.
