Making Telematics Work

Machines like stand-on skid steers and trenchers are the workhorses of landscaping, irrigation and other green industry operations. But because contractors typically only have operator reports and manual inspections to know what’s happening with these machines, they rely more on guesswork than data to manage and maintain their fleets. This can lead to costly equipment downtime, inefficient jobsites, and lost revenue.

Telematics can give operators data-based visibility into their machines that they’ve been missing until now. Telematics systems provide valuable data about a machine’s performance, health, and physical location. This can help green industry pros make better decisions both in the day-to-day use and maintenance of their machines and the overall management of their fleet.

Maximizing Uptime + Productivity

Increased costs and ongoing talent shortages make it more critical than ever for operators to maximize productivity and efficiency in every job.

Through telematics, operators can monitor data on battery performance and track how long equipment like stand-on skid steers and trenchers have been running, setting alerts based on run time. This ensures maintenance is performed at the appropriate service intervals for each machine.

Additionally, machine diagnostic messages can be sent to the cloud, allowing landscaping and lawn care companies, as well as equipment dealers, to quickly be notified of any issues. This capability enables them to either immediately begin troubleshooting to minimize downtime or schedule maintenance for emerging concerns.

Monitoring machine operating parameters allows companies to understand utilization and track productivity from one job to the next. This insight helps identify issues such as misuse or underutilization and sets a course for addressing them.

Protecting Assets on the Jobsite

Theft continues to be a significant pain point for a wide range of equipment users. In the rental industry alone, more than 360 pieces of equipment are stolen monthly. And compact equipment like stand-on skid steers can be particularly vulnerable targets due to their ease of transport.

However, telematics provides a solution with GPS tracking, enabling contractors to monitor asset locations in real-time. Using GPS data, operators can locate misplaced or improperly moved equipment.

OEMs such as Ditch Witch offer fleet management systems with GPS-enabled geofencing capabilities. This feature allows operators to create a digital “fence” around a jobsite or shop yard, sending alters if equipment moves outside the defined area.  

Improving Fleet + Business Management

Landscaping and lawn care operators with large fleets can leverage telematics data to drive business decisions throughout their fleet's lifecycle. For example, operators can track job duration and machine workload in varying ground conditions. This helps them make more informed decisions when providing quotes or bidding on jobs in the future.

With access to comprehensive machine performance data, operators can see what equipment logged the most hours, where and for what jobs. This utilization data can help them better understand the ROI of their machines and be more strategic with future purchases.

Additionally, logged data boosts transparency and trust. GPS insights verify machine presence at jobsites, while operational data confirms task completion, reinforcing accountability.

Data-driven Decisions That Pay Off

In landscaping, irrigation and lawn care, maximizing the performance of stand-on skid steers and trenchers is crucial. Telematics empower operators to monitor performance closely and identify maintenance needs early, preventing costly downtime. With valuable insights, contractors can enhance jobsite efficiency, safeguard equipment investments, and strategically manage their fleet.