Landscape industry leaders saw some of the latest innovations and technology on the Expo show floor during ELEVATE, presented by NALP and powered by Cat.
This year’s event featured 205 exhibiting companies covering everything from software solutions to prototypes of mower models coming to market in the near future.
“It’s the place where you’re going to get the information you need and you will find things you don’t even realize you are looking for,” says Les Lightfoot, founder of LEI Grounds Groomers, based in Houston, Texas.
Productivity-Boosting Innovations
A major theme across the spread of products and solutions on display was a focus on productivity as landscape companies continue to push the envelope.
“We come with a purpose in mind; this year was autonomous mowers,” Lightfoot says.
Caterpillar spotlighted their SIS2GO app, which is designed to provide technicians parts and service information when they’re out in the field. This app has been expanded to Caterpillar’s customer base where they can access the parts and operation manual for no charge or for a monthly fee of $14.99 per serial number, end users can access the service information with troubleshooting guides as well.
“We wanted to proactively provide this to empower our customers,” says Jennifer Nelson, a digital experience consultant with Caterpillar. “There are a lot of technicians that are needed for multiple companies, and we are finding more and more customers are doing their own work, and they tend to go to YouTube and Google and other places to try and find information. So why not give them the information in the palm of their hands?”
Nelson says many of the attendees were unaware of this app but are eager to pass the information on to their mechanic or fleet manager.
Stanley Black & Decker showed off the Hustler 104, which can mow a football field in nine minutes, and a slope mower rated up for a 25-degree slope. Aaron Griffith, director of professional dealer sales with Stanley Black & Decker, says they also brought a prototype track mower for tough terrain.
“We’re a couple of years from launching this product, but what better way for us to get feedback from end customers than to bring it to an event like this?” Griffith says. “I could take it around for two months and not get as much feedback as I can get right here in two days, which is fantastic.”
STIHL featured their new battery-powered backpack blower as well as their energy management systems available. Roger Phelps, corporate communications manager for STIHL, says ELEVATE is more of a relationship show for them.
“We have two of our research and development people at the show,” Phelps says. “They’re actually walking around interacting with the clients and the contractors, just to understand what’s working, what do you need? What do you want? What do you like? What do you not like?”
Aspire highlighted their new Marketing Pro and PropertyIntel releases with landscape contractors. PropertyIntel enables the virtual capture of measurements and key property insights, including elevation, as well as the completion of takeoffs.
“There’s a pretty large issue in the industry with point solutions,” says Gage Roberts, senior director of strategic accounts for Aspire. “There are a lot of software solutions for the issue that solve very specific issues. Our solution is focused on solving all of the problems in a contractor’s business related to operations. Our platform is meant to manage everything from estimating to invoicing. A business that would use Aspire would eliminate all the point solutions that they would be using today.”
As stand-on mowers increase in popularity, John Deere has introduced their new 72-inch stand-on mower, allowing companies to mow large properties in less time. Deere also featured their operations management solution, John Deere Operations Center.
“We always look forward to talking to the CEOs and the C suite of the companies,” says Chase Tew, B2B production system and business unit manager for John Deere. “It’s always great to engage with this segment of the market, which is typically more technologically advanced and more creative. They’re looking for more data to run their businesses, particularly as they grow larger from one branch to two branches or even geographies. That’s when we excel as a brand is we bring a lot of technology capabilities to the table.”
PBI-Gordon has noted an increased demand for multi-modes of action products to reduce labor costs and application frequency and has brought new products to market in response.
“We only have so much time, people and resources,” says Alan Estes, Southeast product development for PBI-Gordon. “These products are tools to help reduce the labor costs.”
Meanwhile, Envu has recently acquired In2Care, which provides environmentally friendly mosquito control for lawn care companies looking to expand in the space.
“I think it’s only natural when you look at the lawn care operators that are out there in the customers’ front and back yards, making sure that these areas are free of pests as well as are growing as strong and free of weeds as well,” says Mark Schneid, head of Americas for Envu. “It’s a new revenue source for them, but it’s something that’s really important to the homeowner because if you look at mosquito control within lawn care, it’s one of the fastest growing segments.”
Sharing Thoughts Around the Campfire
Attendees could also collect and share valuable nuggets during the 18 Campfire Conversations. Individuals gathered in campfire-themed areas to discuss topics like how to mentor the next generation of women, support your CSR team and strategies for recruiting and retention.
“I like the opportunity for bouncing the microphone around,” says Corey Petersen, a branch manager with Pacific Landscape Management, based in Hillsboro, Oregon. “I just think that’s a cool format to be organic and just see what comes out of this giant version of ‘Breakfast with Champions.’”
At the Mentoring the Next Generation of Women in the Green Industry campfire, participants shared some of the takeaways they had gathered from the Women’s Forum held on Sunday. They also pointed out that women should say yes to opportunities to mentor others in the industry as they are all practitioners who have something to contribute.
During the How to Support and Inspire Your CSR Team campfire, attendees discussed different methods and resources for keeping their customer-facing team members from becoming burnt out. Jennifer Jorge with King Green shared how they shut down for an employee appreciation day where each department does something different together, like white water rafting.
“Shutting down your business for one day will not kill your business, but unhappy or unsatisfied employees will,” Jorge says.
Phelps says he was blown away by the conversations being held at these sessions.
“I was looking at someone who’s running a $2 million business, who’s sitting next to someone who’s running a $50 million business, and over here is someone running a $500 million business, and the challenges are the same,” Phelps says. “Everyone’s sharing solutions and everyone’s sharing common challenges. I think that almost more than anything else, networking and the ability to learn from each other, are why you need to come here because that is not available anywhere else.”
