Be that as it may, running a business of tree care is no pleasure stroll. Whether organizing crews to prune trees or tracking invoices, an arborist who seeks to make a little profit will probably be doing more than just swinging in trees. Fortunately, in the year 2024, there is no need to use traditional practices such as Excel or Post-it notes for organizing the activities of the office. It is clear that dedicated applications are the best answer to this problem, but there are many different ones available on the market. So today we will explore five arborist software systems.
1. ArboStar: A Perfect All-In-One Solution Made By Arborists For Arborists
Let’s start with the fabulous ArboStar, which is a reason why it has made the top of the list. The best arborist software, or as is the case with this one, is specifically designed for tree care businesses. What is it in more detail? Crew booking, tracking through GPS, sending invoices, providing estimates, managing contacts - everything is available and designed within a single software. Every process can be managed on the field, at the office, or at home while reclining on the couch.
Somewhat unlike its competitors, ArboStar doesn’t just provide basic tools and then walk away from you. It offers a Business Intelligence module that allows the user to evaluate the effect of their actions on the performance of their company, and improve it if necessary. It is also possible to observe the most effective ways to grow the business in a short period by being alerted of specific events in real-time.
Additionally, it allows growth whether one is in the initial phase or is handling a big business. In addition to its mobile application for both Android and iOS, all the details can be carried around by both you and your crew.
2. ArborNote: Good for CRM basic tasks
ArborNote is a comprehensive software for CRM, focused on Arborists. Although it performs well in terms of client checking, there aren’t many features of sophisticated business management to be expected. It’s good for organizing appointments and sending out bills, but other than that, maybe you should look for something else. ArborNote is good enough if you are operating a small enterprise without many frills but larger organizations may soon find out that they have quickly reached the peak.
3. SingleOps: Functional CRM
SingleOps is another software that attempts to address the needs of the tree care business. This construction was made not only for arborist companies but landscaping companies too. For straightforward solutions such as CRM or basic invoicing, SingleOps will gladly address that. But it also packs in features for inventory tracking, job costing, and reporting.
At the same time, the parameters also provide a degree of discretion to the users. There is additionally the problem with users over the years of having to learn more since some applications are complicated. So if you are not good with technology, be prepared to work patiently at the lower level of the curve.
4. Jobber: Less Unique But Provides Value For Small Businesses
Jobber is a software that is mainly suggested to small service-based businesses and it has its day-to-day utility functions like planning, billing, and receiving payments done quite well. You will find the interface uncluttered and simple to navigate, however, there is a drawback - it is not a header exclusively for arborists.
This is where Jobber does not demonstrate any practices in the tree care industry sector. Here, the emphasis on important arborist tools like job costing on larger jobs, risk analysis reports, or tree management processes is nonexistent. If all that is required is software to help run a small tree care business, then Jobber would do the trick.
5. TreePlotter: A Software For Professionals
TreePlotter is a software applicable as a Geographic Information System created for arboriculture, especially in urban forestry with extensive projects. However, it’s great for extreme degrees of mapping like trees grown in some urban landscape, an estate or a park, however, here is the catch – it’s not very helpful for routine tree care practices. This software is capable and even excels at collecting data and mapping it, whereas this software is excessive for doing simple jobs of tree removals or tree pruning at residential houses.
TreePlotter's biggest problem is that it’s a very narrow product focused on map-centric and inventory management. Therefore, it does not provide much in terms of client management, invoicing, or resource management. It is a very effective tool but for only one very specific type of arborist. If you do not think that mapping is going to form a significant part of your business, then probably it is better to look elsewhere.
Key Factors to Help ArboStar Surpass Its Competitors in 2024
Many software options for arborists have emerged on the market, but the truly single and unified solution we can call ArboStar. Competitors like ArborNote and Jobber do land the basic requirements but do not provide the depth that real arborists require to facilitate their operations. Even though plotting and trees is what TreePlotter is best at, it is off the mark when it comes to the routine management requirements of most tree care businesses.
ArboStar is focused on providing all critical features, such as employee scheduling, GPS tracking, CRM, invoicing, business intelligence, etc., on a single platform targeting the tree care industry representative of all sizes, budgets, and needs. It is not a product that tries to be all things to all people and that’s both how it can appeal to arborists. From onboarding of new clients, the ability to grow your business or better still, make your day-to-day operation easier. ArboStar remains, for the year 2024 and in the coming years, the best arborist software.