Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association Green Industry Software Survey
This survey conducted by the Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association provides insights into the software and social media usage among member firms in the green industry. It includes details on accounting software, business management solutions, and recommendations from respondents. The results highlight various software options, their cost, ease of use, functionality, integrations, and customer support. Explore the findings to understand the preferences and trends in the green industry software landscape.
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Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association s Green Industry Software & Social Media Survey May 2021
Survey Details: A confidential survey of all members of the Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association that asked for the names and types of software and social media that member firms use in their business. Total Number of Respondents = 101 Segment Key: Arboriculture = A Number of Respondents by Segment: Garden Retail = GR Landscape Design/Build = 60 Greenhouse Production = GP Turf/Landscape Management = 45 Grower = G Snow & Ice Management = 39 Irrigation = I Garden Retail = 19 Landscape Design/Build = L Grower = 30 Snow & Ice Management = SN Greenhouse Production = 13 Supplier = S Irrigation = 28 Turf/Landscape Management = T Arboriculture = 9 Ranking Key: Supplier = 18 1 is least recommended 5 is most recommended
Green Industry Software Survey Results
Accounting Software Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms 3 1 Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software AccountEdge (1) Asset by Include (1) 3 4 4 2 4 3 5 3 G L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A Billdu (1) Construction Manager (1) 5 4 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 L, T, I, S L, T, SN, I, A Eagel By Epicore (1) 5 5 5 1 5 L, GR, G, GP, S Enspire (1) Excel (1) Grow Point (1) Microsoft Dynamics (3, 1 w/ SalesPad) Open Systems w/ traverse (1) 2 4 4 3.67 3 2 4 4.33 4 3 4 4.33 2 1 4 4.33 1 1 5 4.67 S L G GR, G, GP 3 3 3 2 2 L, GR, S Pro Landscape (2) 3 4 4 4 4 L, T, SN, G, I, S Quickbooks (62) 3.77 4.17 4.22 3.84 3.30 L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A, S L L, T, SN, I Quicken Pro (1) Real Green w/ Quickbooks (1) 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 5 Sage/ Peachtree (3) 3 4 4.67 4 4.67 L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A L, GR L, T, SN, GR, G, I, S Slice (1) UA Custom (1) 4 5 4 4 3 4 1 3 5 5 UDS Active Accounting (1) 5 4 4 4 5 L, GR
Business Management Solution (all-in-one software program) Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms 3 3 4 1 Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software AccountEdge (1) ACS Nursery (1) Aspire (1) Asset by Include (1) 3 4 2 4 4 5 4 2 4 5 5 3 5 5 5 3 G G L, T, SN L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A L, T, SN, I, A Construction Manager (1) 4 4 5 5 4 Clip (3) 3.33 2.67 3.67 4 3.33 L, T, SN, I Custom (2) Excel (1) Greenius (1) Groware (1) Ideal (1) Jobber (1) LMN (10) Manage 360 (3) 4 5 5 3 5 5 3 2.67 4.5 3 5 3 4 5 3.5 3.33 4 3 5 3 4 5 4 3.5 3 3 5 3 3 4 3.7 3.33 5 2 5 3 4 3 4.4 3.67 L, T, SN T, SN, I L, T, SN, I G S L, T, SN L, T, SN, I L, T, SN, GR, G, I Microsoft Dynamics (1) 4 4 5 4 5 G, GP MS Office 365 (2) Quickbooks (5) 4.5 3.8 5 4 5 4 5 3.8 5 4 L, GR, G, GP L, T, SN, GR, I, S Real Green (3) Sage (1) 3 4 3.67 5 3.33 5 2.33 5 3.67 5 L, T, SN, I L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I L, T, SN, GR, I, A, S T, I, A Service Autopilot (3) 3.33 3.67 4 4 3.33 ServiSuite (2, 1 w/ ServicePro) 3.5 2.5 2 2 3 Slice (1) UDS Active Accounting (1) 4 5 4 4 3 4 1 4 5 5 L, GR L, GR
Communications Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software 3CX (1) ConstantContact (2) Email and Business Phone (1) Fanbooster by Traject Social (1) GroupMe App (1) LinkedIn (1) MailChimp (2) L, T, SN L, T, SN, G L 4 4.5 4 4.5 4 4.5 4 4.5 4 4.5 5 5 5 5 4 T 3 5 5 4 3 5 4 3 3 4 2 No Rating 4 1 No Rating L, I, A L, G T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, S L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A, S 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 Microsoft Office Outlook (3) 4.67 4 3 5 5 4 3 5 4.67 5 2 5 4 5 3.33 5 4.67 5 2 5 4 5 3.33 5 4.67 5 1 5 5 3 3.33 5 4.67 5 1 5 3 5 3.33 5 Sage (1) Send Hub (1) ServicePro (1) Slack (1) Traction Tool (1) Verizon (3) VOIP (1) L, I T, SN, I, A S T, SN, I L L, T, SN, I L, T, SN, I
CRM (lead tracking, sales management, marketing campaigns) Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms 1 3 3 3 4 Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software Asset by Include (1) Clip ITC (1) Custom (1) Dynascape (1) Jobber (1) Keap(1) 4 3 4 3 5 2 3 5 4 5 3 3 5 3 5 3 3 5 3 3 L, S L, G L, G, GP L L, T, GR, G L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, S L, T, SN, GR, G, I, A, S L, T T, SN, GR, G, GP, I T, SN, I T, SN,I L, T, SN L, I S L, T, G, A S I Not indicated 5 5 5 3 1 LMN (8) 3.5 3 4 4 4.25 4 4 4 4.75 3 Manage 360 (1) Office 365 (1) 4 3 3 2.5 4 4 3 5 4 4 5 4 3 3.5 5 5 4 5 3 5 5 5 2 4 5 4 4 5 3 5 5 4 2 2.5 5 4 4 5 3 5 3 4 1 3.5 5 5 3 5 3 5 Pipedrive (1) Quickbooks (1) Real Green (2) Sage (1) SalesPad (1) Service Autopilot (1) ServicePro (1) ServSuite (1) WebLocal (1)
Fleet Management (inventory, repairs, maintenance) Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionali ty Convenient integrations with other platforms 5 Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software Construction Manager (1) 4 4 5 4 L, T, SN, I, A Enterprise (1) 4 5 5 No Rating 5 L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I L, T, SN, G L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A L, T, SN G S L, T, SN, I L, T, SN, I, A L, T, SN, I, S S L, T, SN, I T, SN, I, A T, SN, I Excel (2) Fleetio (2) 4 4 4 4.5 3.5 4.5 2 4 1 4.5 Google Docs (1) Grow Point (1) Ideal (1) LMN (1) ManagerPlus (1) MS Project (1) Quickbooks (1) Samsara (2) ServicePro (1) Verizon (1) 5 4 5 No Rating 4 4 4 4 5 3 3 4 4 No Rating 2 4 2 4.5 5 3 3 4 4 No Rating 2 4 2 4.5 5 3 4 4 3 No Rating 2 4 3 4 5 2 2 5 4 No Rating 2 4 1 4.5 5 2
GPS & Equipment Tracking Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software Automile (1) Azuga (2) Fleetmatics/Reveal (1) Garmin (1) GeoTab (2) 4 4.5 3 4 3.5 3 4.5 4 4 3.5 4 4 3 4 4 No Rating 2 3 4 2 5 3 4 4 3.5 L, T, SN L, T, SN, I S L, T, SN, I, S L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A L, T, SN L, T, SN L, T, SN, I T, SN L, T, SN, I G L, T, SN, I T, SN, I, A L, T, SN, GR, I, S L GPS and Track (1) Insight (1) LMN (2) One Step GPS (1) Quartix (1) Raah Route Tracking (1) Samsara (2) ServicePro (1) Verizon (2) 5 1 2 5 3 5 4 5 3 4 4 1 5 3 4 4.5 5 3.5 3 5 4 5 3 4 4.5 5 4 No Rating 3 2 3 3 2 4 5 3 2 3 5 5 2 3 4.5 5 3.5 Zubie (1) 4 4 4 3 4
Human Resources Management Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software ADP (2) BambooHR (1) Construction Manager (1) Employee Navigator (1) 3 3 4 3.5 4 4 4 4 5 3.5 3 5 3 3 2 L, T, SN, I S L, T, SN, I, A 5 5 5 5 L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A GrowPoint (1) LMN (3) 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 3 5 4.5 G L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I L, T, SN, I GR, G, GP Maintain x (1) MS Office 365 (1) 4 4 4 5 4 5 1 5 5 5 Paycor (3) 3.33 3.67 3.67 3.33 2.67 L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A, S Quickbooks (5) Sage (2) 4 4 4.25 4 4.25 4 3.25 4.5 2 4 L, T, SN, S L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I G, GP Farm Bureau and Midwest (1) 5 5 5 1 3
Landscape Design Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms 4.5 3 Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software AutoCAD (2) DesignCAD (1) Dynascape (7) L, G, S L, I L, T, SN, GR, G, I L, T, SN, I L, G, S L, T, SN L, T, SN, GR, I, S 4.5 5 4.5 5 4 5 3.5 5 3.67 3.5 2 5 3.83 3.5 4 4 4.2 4.5 4 5 3.17 3.5 3 5 4 3 3 4 Land FX (2) LandscapePro (1) Photoshop (1) Pro Landscape (5) 4.2 4 4.4 3.2 4.4 Idea Spectrum s Realtime Landscaping Architect (3) UVision (5) L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A L, T, SN, G, I, S 3.67 4.6 4.33 3.8 3.67 3.8 1.33 4 4 3.2
Measuring, Mapping & Estimating Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software Adobe Acrobat (1) L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A L, S L, G, S 5 4 4 4 2 4 No Rating 4 No Rating 4 BlueBeam (1) Findmylotsize/GoogleMaps (1) GIS (1) Goilawn (1) Google (7) 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 3 5 5 1 5 No Rating 1 5 T, SN, I, A L, T, SN, I L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, S L, T, SN, I L, T, SN, GR, G, I GR, G, GP T, SN, I L, T, SN L, G, GP L, T, SN L, I S L, T, SN T, SN, I 4.67 1 4.83 5 4.6 5 4 4 3.33 3 iLawn (1) LMN (3) 4 5 4 4 4 3 4 5 5 2 3.67 5 4 4 3 4.5 5 5 5 3 4.33 5 2 4 3 4.5 5 5 5 5 3.33 1 3 4 3 4.5 5 5 4 3 4.33 5 2 4 3 3.5 5 5 4 5 Measurelotsize.com (1) Microsoft Excel (1) MS Project (1) PlanSwift (1) Real Green (2) Sage (1) ServicePro (1) SodSolutions (1) Tree Plotter (1)
Photo Management Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software Adobe Photoshop (1) GR, G, GP 3 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 Company Cam (2) Construction Manager (1) Google Drive (5) L, T, SN L, T, SN, I, A 4 4 5 5 4 L, T, SN, GR, G, GP , I, S 4.8 5 4.8 5 4.6 5 4.6 4 3.25 2 iCloud Photo (1) LMN (1) L L, T, SN, I 2 1 4 2 5 Photos folder (2) L 3 5 5 3 3 Pipedrive w/ Google (1) Site fotos (1) WebLocal (1) I, A 3 5 4 4 5 4 5 5 5 4 1 5 4 1 5 T, SN, I G, S
Scheduling & Routing Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms No Rating Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software Asset by Include (1) 4 2 3 3 L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A Circuit (1) Clip Itc (3) Custom (3) Google Sheets (1) Hindsite (1) Ideal (1) Jobber (1) LMN (9) MS Project (1) Real Green (4) Sage (1) Service Autopilot (2) Service Fusion (1) ServicePro (1) ServiSuite (2) Swipeclock/Timeworks plus App (1) Team Road Warrior (1) Tsheets (1) Vericell Vision/Envision (1) White boards- manual system (1) 5 3.33 5 5 3 5 5 2.88 4 3 4 3.5 5 5 3.5 4 5 3 4 4 2 4 5 3.37 4 3.75 5 4.5 5 5 3 5 3 4 4.5 4 4 4 5 3.5 4 4.33 5 4.5 5 5 3 4 No Rating 4 4 4 3 3 4 3.5 4 2.5 No Rating 4 5 5 2 4 No Rating 2.33 4.5 2 3 4 3 4.38 4 3.5 No Rating 3.5 5 5 3.5 4 L, G L, T, SN, I L, T, SN, I, A G I, A S L, T, SN L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I L, T, SN, I, S L, T, SN, GR, G, I L, T, SN, GR, G, I L, T, SN, I, A L, T, SN, I T, SN, I, A T, I, A S 5 5 3 5 4 4 5 3 3 5 1 4 5 5 4 I, S T, SN, I GR, G, GP 1 4 4 1 4 L
Time Tracking & Payroll Processing Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software ADP (3, 1 w/ Tsheets) 4.67 4.67 4.33 3.67 3.67 L, T, SN, G, GP, I, S Asset by Include (1) 4 2 3 1 3 L, T, SN, GR, G, GP, I, A Attendance Professional/Flexchecks Cyberpay (1) Clip Itc (2, 1 w/ Timestation) 5 5 5 5 5 GR, G, GP 3.5 4 4 3.5 3 L, T, SN, I Construction Manager (1) 4 4 5 5 4 L, T, SN, I, A Excel (1) Flexible Timers (1) Grow Point (1) 2 5 4 3 5 4 2 4 4 1 2 4 3 No Rating 5 L L G Homebase (1) 5 5 5 5 5 L Infotronics/Paychecks (1) G, GP 4 2 3 3 2 Lathem PayClock (2) L, T, SN, GR, G, GP 4.5 4 4 3 3.5 LMN (5, 1 w/ Lathem and 1 w/ QuickBooks) MS Project (1) On the Clock (1) L, T, SN, I 2.5 4 5 3.5 4 5 3.75 4 5 3.25 4 5 4.25 4 5 L, T, SN, I, S L, T, SN, I
Time Tracking & Payroll Processing, continued Paychex (2) L, GR, G, GP 2.5 4.25 5 4.5 3.5 5 4 3.75 5 3.5 3 5 3.5 2.75 5 Paycor (4) Payroll Mate (1) Precision Payroll Service Isolved HCM (1) QuickBooks (12) L, T, SN, GR, G, I, A L, T, SN, GR, I, S 4 4 4 4 4 I L, T, SN, GR, G, GP , I, S 3.82 4.18 4.1 3.6 3.36 Sage (1) L, T, SN, GR, G, GP , I 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Service Fusion (1) Swipeclock/Payentry (1) L, T, SN, I S 3 4 4 3 4 Time Pilot (1) L, T, SN 5 5 3 5 3 5 4 5 3 No Rating UDS Active Accounting (1) Virtual Time Clock/AccountEdge (1) L, GR G 5 4 5 4 4
Weather Service Name of Software (# of Responses) Cost Ease of Use Functionality Convenient integrations with other platforms Customer Support Segment(s) that use this software Accuweather (2) EnviroWeather (1) My Radar (1) NWS (1) TDS Weather (1) TWC (2) WeatherBug (2) WeatherRadar (1) Weather Underground (3) Multiple Sources: WoodTtv8, NOAA, Accuweather, TWC (1) GR, G, GP , I G L, T, SN, I, S L, T, SN L, T, SN, I L, G L, T, SN, G, I, A T, SN, I 4.5 5 4 5 3 3 5 4 4 5 4 5 5 4 5 4 4 5 4 No Rating 5 4 4.5 4 3.5 No Rating 4 2 1 1 2.5 1 2.5 No Rating 4 1 4 1 1.5 1 L, G, GP 5 4.33 4 1.67 1 L, T, SN, I 5 5 5 5 5
Additional Software Used: Microsoft Streets & Trips - cannot get updates anymore and that is very disappointing as we love the functionality. Fax.plus - we switched from an analog fax machine to a fax app service. We use WordPress for website design, and WooCommerce for our online store, very satisfied. We are currently leaning towards replacing Slice with Epicor/Eagle or NCR Counterpoint Rapid Garden POS both use QuickBooks for A/P and GL We have used Microsoft Office with publisher, but found it s not very useful for us Sage Fixed Asset Tracking - It is an older platform but it does the job well.
Green Industry Social Media Survey Results
Note: The numbers in each column represent the # of respondents that utilize each social media platform. What social media platforms are you using? Segments Facebook Instagram Twitter Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn Other Landscape Design/Build Turf/Landscape Management 40 27 8 8 13 19 6 29 20 4 3 9 15 4 Snow & Ice Management Garden Retailer Grower Greenhouse Production Irrigation Arboriculture Supplier 26 13 18 18 7 12 4 2 3 4 3 2 9 3 7 14 4 8 4 0 2 9 18 6 10 7 8 3 3 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 4 3 1 3 6 7 3 5 1 1 0 0 Other responses included: Google Company Website TikTok Houzz
For what purpose do you use social media? Advertising Recruitment Education Brand Awareness Advertising events & classes, services offered, location and hours Networking, connecting with suppliers Promotions Find and Reach potential customers Educating public Helpful tips for clients Project & photo sharing Promoting the horticulture industry to the general public Customer communication Sharing community service involvement Do not utilize Exposure Client pictures Strategically Mapped out plan None. Boycott FB, YT, Twit & Instagram censorship and "cancel culture" has eliminated all such platforms from our support. Pinterest for design ideas, FB for marketing and establishing a dialog with client base, Instagram for images. Product education We use social media to give our Raker- Roberta's programs and variety trialing awareness to our customers and other industry stakeholders. We also use it to promote new items, promote our early order discounts, and job postings. We also use it to drive business for our retail outlet which we opened in spring 2020. We post material at least 2X per week. Christmas trees, maple syrup
How often do you post? Segments Greater than Daily Daily Weekly Less than Weekly Landscape Design/Build 1 8 15 20 Turf/Landscape Management Snow & Ice Management 1 5 12 13 1 4 12 11 Garden Retailer 1 1 2 3 5 8 5 6 Grower Greenhouse Production 1 1 1 2 5 6 2 11 Irrigation Arboriculture 1 0 1 0 2 4 3 7 Supplier
Do you have a social media manager? Segments No Yes Landscape Design/Build 28 17 Turf/Landscape Management 19 13 Snow & Ice Management 17 12 Garden Retailer 7 6 Grower 8 11 Greenhouse Production 2 7 Irrigation 12 9 Arboriculture 4 3 Supplier 9 2
How do you measure social media success? (choose all that apply) Segments Increased Followers Post Likes and interactions Higher Website Traffic Other Landscape Design/Build 25 28 20 6 Turf/Landscape Management Snow & Ice Management 18 19 15 5 17 17 14 4 Garden Retailer 10 14 9 15 7 11 2 2 Grower Greenhouse Production 7 11 8 11 8 11 1 2 Irrigation Arboriculture 4 5 3 5 4 2 1 2 Supplier Other responses included: Not measured Just keep to inform customers and keep from getting stale Applications submitted A few other metrics we are not able to share Requests for quotes We get analytics Direct leads
