As the end of the year quickly approaches, your landscape company is probably busy with budget season, wrapping up projects and possibly prepping for snow season, depending on your region.
However, one aspect that can be overlooked during this hectic time is the current technology your business is using. Conducting a technology needs assessment at the end of the year can give you a quick snapshot of what technology you have, as well as gaps or inefficiencies that should be addressed.
If you aren’t reviewing the entire scope of technology in your organization, you can have unnecessary duplication, obsolete software or a bloated tech budget.
Conducting a Technology Needs Assessment
Before you can know if you need to add a new piece of technology to your business, you have to take stock of your current programs. This includes everything from your CRM and fleet management system to any accounting software or training technology you have.
Talk to your employees who use these different types of tech on a regular basis. Find out what tools they can’t do without as well as if there is any technology on their wish list. By asking your team lots of questions, you can discover if there are any repetitive or frustrating processes they’re dealing with.
Once you have taken stock of every tech-related tool your team uses, then evaluate how each one helps your company reach your objectives. Also, determine whether the technology you’re using meets your needs currently as well as in the future. One asset may be getting the job done this year, but with your planned growth for next year, you may outgrow the service tiers it provides.
Also, think through how your landscape business could end up behind if you do not invest in certain technologies.
Another important consideration before implementing new technology is determining whether the current software your team uses is the right fit and if your staff just needs more training to maximize its potential.
Questions to Ask When Adding New Technology
Once you’ve concluded that there is a gap or a need to upgrade some of your technology, then you’ll have to find which new tool will suit your company.
As you research your options, keep these questions in mind:
- What problem will this technology solve?
- Will it provide enough ROI to justify the cost?
- How easy will it be to implement and train staff?
- Who on the team will be impacted by this change?
- Is there support available for using this tool correctly?
- What does the future of this technology look like?
- When will this new technology be operational?
Overlooked Features to Consider
One of the other overlooked features to research when looking to add new technology tools is the data security of the software. Your company deals with sensitive customer and business information so you want to find an option that takes that aspect seriously.
Integration is also a critical feature because your new tech needs to communicate well with your current systems, or any efficiencies you could have gained will be lost. When adding any tech asset, always consider its scalability. As your business grows, you want to make sure your technology solutions can mature with you as well.
Because so many of your staff are out in the field, it’s important to select assets that are accessible and functional on mobile devices. Employee adoption of any new technology will ultimately decide if a new tool is successful with your organization, so make sure you are getting buy-in beforehand and have processes in place to ensure the new asset is utilized.
If it is possible, conduct a trial of the new software or hardware before rolling it out companywide so you can determine any shortcomings. Talk to industry peers about what they are using and have had success with.
However, don’t feel like you have to go with the popular choice if something simply isn’t the right fit for your business.
In some cases, opting to go the custom route can ensure you get exactly what you need without unnecessary features. If you choose this option, make sure it is still capable of interacting with other vendors’ systems and you have a support system that can address any issues that may occur.
