Use the latest business and design software to gain a leg up on the competition
The tools of the landscape trade have changed dramatically during the past 10 years. While you likely have a favorite digging tool, hand pruner or brand of leaf blower, these days you should also take advantage of software programs that can dramatically improve your efficiency. Whether it’s tracking your company vehicles, maintaining your financial books, generating bids or creating designs that sell, here are some sharp software programs you might want to stock in your tool shed.
Better by Design
Drafix Software just released Version 17 of PRO Landscape (shown left) and now claims the largest image library of any landscape software, boasting more than 9,000 items. “PRO Landscape is created specifically for use by landscape designers, contractors and architects. It contains realistic photo imaging, CAD and estimating all in the same package,” says David Sloan, director of marketing for Drafix Software/PRO Landscape.
When Drafix noticed the sluggish economy forcing more landscape professionals to expand into areas such as holiday and night lighting, the company adapted its software to include more lighting tools to demonstrate realistic lighting effects to clients. Drafix also noted an increase in landscape renovation projects, so they responded with improved cloning tools to facilitate removing elements such as overgrown shrubs from an image. “This is a key improvement as many designers are doing more renovation work as money-conscious customers try to save what they can,” Sloan says.
The photo imaging feature is a big advantage for the landscape designer working with a client who may lack the ability to mentally transpose two dimensional plans into a finished landscape. “You can sit with the homeowners and create the design right there with them,” he says. “You get the homeowners involved in the design process and a better feel of what they prefer. When the design is complete, they will be able to see the proposed design created that includes their property and home as the backdrop.
“The bottom line is photo imaging designs sell.”
