He says the only drawback is that the cloud-based estimation portion can be hindered by Internet availability and bandwidths.Ī computer software-generated design is also a sales piece, enabling landscape contractors to show clients how designs will look on their properties, Sloane points out.
Hess likes software that integrates inventory from suppliers to streamline takeoff and estimation. Some software programs feature photo imaging, which enables a designer to create a visual in less than 10 minutes by dragging and dropping high-resolution images of plants into a digital photograph of the project site.ĪutoCAD offers a more traditional 2-D design using a blueprint-type view with pavers, lighting tools and irrigation design tools.Ī scale plot plan enables a designer to start with a blueprint or a plot plan, and an estimating piece produces quotes. He switched to design software for greater efficiencies and to keep pace with sales and production.Ī closer look at the markup and photos from a Duchene Design Solutions’ project. Until 10 years ago, DuChene rendered drawings by hand as was his training. Patrick DuChene, of DuChene Design Solutions, Somerville, New Jersey, provides landscape design services, 3-D modeling and consulting for landscape contractors. “They can tackle more projects, sell more projects and, therefore, increase their revenues.”įor example, she says, “The process of creating a hand-drawn design that takes a couple of hours could be replaced with a 30-minute visual design with software.” No going back “By using landscape design software, companies can produce designs faster and communicate design ideas to customers in a more efficient process,” says Anne Behner Coke, sales manager for Visual Impact Imaging, Delray Beach, Florida. Now think about how a potential client’s eyes would light up as he or she watches a barren or tired landscape instantly transform into a lush backyard dream come to life on a computer or tablet screen. Now envision creating a holiday lighting scene that comes alive with a keystroke. Then suppose just a few keystrokes could help one visualize a plant growing to maturity over a few years. Imagine taking visuals of plants, trees, shrubs, hardscapes, water features and lighting and moving them around a computer screen to create a landscape.