Editor’s Note: This article was kindly shared with us by Rob Palmer, founder and president of Lawn Squad. Palmer has been a part of the lawn care industry for over a decade, launching his own Ohio-based lawn care company, WeedPro, back in 2001. Authority Brands acquired the company in 2023 and rebranded it as Lawn Squad, a franchise offering comprehensive lawn care services and serves both residential and commercial properties.
Over the past five years, the lawn care industry has undergone a significant transformation driven by widespread advancements in technology that are revolutionizing both residential and commercial services. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology and customers demand modern services from lawn care providers, startups and franchises are particularly reliant on these advancements to stay competitive.
Technological Advancements in the Lawn Care Industry
One of the industry’s most innovative advancements has been the integration of satellite technology for customer property evaluation. Not only has satellite technology shortened the lead time for potential new business but has shortened staff members’ time for on-site evaluations. Lawn care companies utilizing satellite imagery tools can virtually measure properties instantly right at their fingertips. With this new technology, lawn care companies can also offer pricing and services online within minutes of the initial conversation with potential customers.
Additionally, many lawn care companies now use customer relationship management (CRM) systems to manage these leads. Once the initial conversation turns into a potential sale for services, modern phone systems can instantly connect with the customer database and display customers’ backgrounds and summaries of their past services. This gives salespeople the necessary tools and customer context to guide the conversation and potentially increase their conversion rates.
Tech Tools for Lawn Care Management
The way lawn care companies are managed has also been aided by the advancement of technology. While every company is unique, the majority are using similar software to navigate day-to-day business operations.
One company in particular, Real Green by Workwave, has a 75% market share in the space and has worked to modernize lawn companies since the 1980s. As one of the most comprehensive customer management services on the market, the software can efficiently integrate account information, streamline calendar and job management, ease scheduling automation, and speed up customer quotes and estimates, as well as provide real-time data for marketing activities.
Real Green also allows companies to offer 24/7 customer assistance through online and mobile platforms, auto pay billing and same-day system for account changes processes, GPS tracking and live production dashboard of employees when completing services, and routing assistance to ensure optimization when traveling to customer properties. While not every lawn care company uses Real Green, similar business management softwares can be used to streamline operations and may be worth the investment.
Lawn Care Technology Equipment Innovations
Another key area of technological advancements within the lawn care industry lies with equipment. While walk-behind equipment works just fine, lawn care professionals can become exhausted after pushing it around all day. Nowadays, many lawn care companies are using zero-turn, ride-on equipment to tackle properties both big and small.
Because of the technological advancements instilled in ride-on equipment, using them can improve quality and performance as a result of improved calibration of materials. We are also seeing the widespread use of this equipment increase the size of potential workers in the industry; with easier mobility, the average age of a technician has increased, introducing the industry to new workers, and allowing skilled and experienced ones to continue their careers longer than previously thought possible due to the physical demands of the job.
The Forefront of Lawn Care Innovation
Cutting-edge technological developments are not just improving the overall capabilities of lawn care companies, but are also enhancing efficiency, customer satisfaction, and overall growth in the industry. Rob Palmer, brand president of Lawn Squad, knows firsthand how critical the adaptation and implementation of technology has been in transforming lawn care business. Here is what he has to say:
“After founding my own Ohio-based lawn care company in 2001, I recognized the importance of leveraging advanced technology to expand our services and establish a national presence. This journey led to my company being acquired and rebranded by Authority Brands, and we now operate as a national lawn care franchise known as Lawn Squad. Thanks to the backing of Authority Brands and the integration of some of the industry's most cutting-edge technology, we are proud to offer a range of services including lawn fertilization, weed control, aeration, seeding lawn grub and insect control for both residential and commercial properties.”
As technology continues to advance, the lawn care industry is reaching new heights. Innovation in equipment, business management, customer relations, and service speed are allowing companies and franchises across the map to become competitive and offer premiere services to customers in a modern and efficient way.
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