How to Track Your Arborists Work?

If you have been in the tree care industry for some time now, you know the drill… classifying and managing professional crews of arborists is akin to catching squirrels during the acorn madness period. It is too embarrassing to point out, but I’m sure that even though they are so good at attention to the little details, the arborist gets the exception of that and does what: climbing trees! There is more: nobody climbs trees to dispense their knowledge at heart.

The question, however, is how one can maintain sanity amidst the complexity of the project so that a well-coordinated team works at high productivity. Fortunately, this isn’t difficult. It is common knowledge that no one can think in the absence of proper brain-working tools. It is more than clear that everybody should be dressed up: this is computer software that permits tracking of time on site, work done, and even working equipment used, and nobody gets tired. Almost unbelievable, isn’t it?

Nonetheless, let us not plunge into the pool of software just yet and touch on the point of why tracking your team’s work is important.

The Importance of Tracking Arborist Work

In arboriculture, knowing where your crew is probably not about turning into an Overlord, but is of utmost importance with regards to safety, efficiency, and ensuring satisfaction for your clients. The last thing you want is for a client to call and say, “So… when were you planning on finishing the job?” Meanwhile, your crew is already halfway up another tree not knowing it.

Here’s why you should track the work of your arborists:

• Safety Comes First: Take note that arborists are climbers hired, so to speak, jumping barriers, but then even those will need supervision. By tracking the people and their activities in your team, you can monitor the adherence to safety practices and prevent the occurrence of accidents.
• Nothing Wasted: They say time is money, and especially when in the business of trees and wood, every little second matters. Estimating the time taken to complete a job and the location of the crew at any moment assists in harnessing the optimization of the schedule and cutting down nonproductive time.
• Clients Are Happy Plans Change: Clients always want updates (who wouldn’t). Being able to visually see up-to-date tasks made it possible to keep clients engaged without overexciting them which was very well done.

What methods will you employ to monitor all the same?

Old School vs. New School: Pushing Aside the Paper

There are some of us who have to some extent associated work with getting hold of a board, filling registers with forms, and bugging a colleague by saying “Text me when you’re done”. While this might have worked back when removing trees only you and your cousin Bob were in business, as your team grows, this line of talk begins to feel as useful as a dull chainsaw.

And that is where the use of new tools and software comes in.

The best free arborist software not only replaces paper forms; it saves you time as it eliminates repetitive processes and reports on the performance of every business unit. You have jobs such as tracking via GPS, updating job status, monitoring employee performance, and even managing equipment without changing platforms.

GPS Tracking: No More “Where’s Waldo?”

Have you ever placed a call for one of your arborists and heard them say, ‘Yeah, boss, we’re almost done’ when you know that they haven’t even stepped into the job?’ Those days are now gone with the GPS tracker that has been incorporated into the software. You will be able to see how many of your crews are there and for how long without trying to make a guess.

Thanks to GPS tracking, you are now able to track where all your workers are at the time. For example, when you open the app, your lead climber, Joe, shows that he is exactly where he is supposed to be – halfway through that big pruning job at Mrs. Smith’s house. It doesn’t matter if there is an emergency or a last-minute job request – you can quickly change your team’s operation without a lot of call promotion and getting everyone on the same page.

Task Management: Like a Digital Foreman

Task allocation and the ability to monitor them for their completion in real-time is one of the top elements of modern arborist software. You allocate tasks to every crew member, and your management skills are put to great use. Each crew member can practically view what is expected of them on that particular day down to the last detail (yes, even that annoying branch cut over the neighbor’s fencing). You can view the tough job being closed out by the target personnel, and as job timers, you will appreciate how long this job took.

In fact, recall the time when you had to badger your crew concerning their forthcoming job? In today’s world, you are most likely relieved that you can keep track of your workers’ progress without undertaking those strenuous feelings. That meant a lot of needless work and needless hassles. Now, with the task management tools, you can sit back and let the app do the talking, and it doesn’t even roll its eyes in frustration when reminding someone they forgot to do something again.”

Equipment Tracking: Keeping Yourself Updated on the Location of Your Gear This

The most expensive thing you buy is equipment, so that’s the one aspect you’d track. Anyone who’s lost a piece of expensive gear can tell you that equipment tracking is a game changer. When it is a stump grinder, a chainsaw, or a bucket truck, for that matter, knowing where your tools are saves both time and cost. Some applications enable you to manage when your gadgets need maintenance.

Reporting & Analytics: The Gold Mine That Is Entrusted To No One

Of course, you wish to understand the exact whereabouts of team members and their activity. Have you, however, projected this on relationships around the business? Reporting and analytics tools in the best free arborist software give you insights that go beyond the day-to-day hustle.

Get the right platform and you’ll be able to evaluate data and see which jobs bring in more returns, which staff are most productive, and which processes take longer than necessary. This type of accurate and powerful business intelligence will help clients make key decisions that touch on staffing, scheduling, and even their marketing efforts.

Stay Ahead of the Curve

When it comes to tree care, being reactive is never going to cut it; you have to be forward-thinking and Albert-Einstein-like in your thinking. Once you have the right kind of software in place, what it means is that you are not just passively waiting for issues to occur and dealing with them as they come, but rather looking ahead and optimizing your business even before the problems pile up beyond control.

As an example, think of a notification that one of your crew members has not moved from a job site for the last two hours. You can move in, resolve issues, and kick the workflow up a notch. Such details demarcate an average tree care business from an exceptional one.

Wrapping it Up

So, how do you monitor the activities of your arborists without coming across as the ‘Big Brother’? Easy. You acquire any of the best arborist software out there and indulge in features that include real-time data, job updates, and graphics without the tedium of guesswork and paper management.

Are you ready to take the next step in running your business like a pro? Visit the best free arborist software and expose yourself to hidden potentials in managing a tree care business.

Once you transition to a digital system, you will always question how you managed to live without it. Also, this will allow you to focus on what arborists do best – climbing trees and looking after the green mates on earth!