Reducing Operating Costs

Tips for Reducing Equipment Operating Costs

By Evelyn Long

It’s vital for landscaping business owners to maintain equipment that’s in total working order. Any issues can delay project completion and could leave customers feeling disgruntled.

The last thing a landscaping company should worry about is having their equipment conk out on them while they’re on the job. It could also take extra time, effort and money to get things working again.

Five tips to reduce equipment operating expenses are as follows:

1. Keep a tight maintenance schedule

One of the simplest ways to keep costs down is to perform regular maintenance on all landscaping equipment. Company owners understand that maintenance costs can get expensive, and based on the size of these machines, it’s critical to keep them in working order.

Without maintenance, equipment can deteriorate over time and create hazardous working conditions for all team members. It’s a wise idea to set up a spreadsheet to create an organizational chart.

The chart can include a space for each maintenance check, the date and a description of the condition of the item being worked on. It should also have an area for a worker to initial, so managers are aware of who performed upkeep last.

2. Use machines for their designed purpose

It should go without saying, but using any landscaping equipment for a purpose other than what it was designed for can lead to negative consequences and high costs.

Using a piece of equipment for something it wasn’t designed can ruin a landscape, damage the machine itself or cause malfunction or injury to the operator. Using the right device can also have benefits, such as improved project efficiency and higher productivity levels.

It’s crucial to read the manuals of all pieces of equipment beforehand to ensure they’re being used correctly.

3. Effectively train operators

Working in the landscaping industry means always prioritizing safety. Employees operating any heavy machinery need to be trained on maximizing safety precautions and using the equipment correctly. Training operators means there’s less of a chance equipment will malfunction or conk out, so a company would spend less money on repairs.

Training operators properly also frees up their time for more crucial tasks, helping them reduce more mundane parts of their workday and focus on productive work. An estimated 35% of construction workers’ time is spent looking for information — solid, reinforced training helps them access these resources faster.

While landscaping equipment can be expensive, it’s worth the investment when it’s in the hands of a trained, professional and knowledgeable operator.

4. Ask for warranties or insurance

Landscaping professionals may want to consider asking about extended warranties and think about insuring their equipment. Mistakes happen, and insurance providers will help when things go wrong or in a pinch.

This can reduce the cost of equipment repairs and maintenance over time, making it a worthwhile investment.

5. Use predictive analytics

Big data is becoming increasingly prevalent across various industries. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models are becoming more popular. Leveraging this new technology may have high costs upfront but can be a long-term investment.

Using predictive analytics to forecast future incidents with machinery can be a perfect way to prevent overspending on equipment operating costs. Identifying any issues a machine may be experiencing essentially prevents the problem from becoming much bigger, saving time, money and energy.

Preparing for the future of landscaping

Any landscaping business would benefit from the reduced costs these five tips. Overall, the landscaping industry will continue to grow in the future and stay competitive. Companies need to maximize their profitability and find more than one way to reduce overall operating costs. Following landscaping best practices is ideal to ensure equipment operates efficiently and there will only be small maintenance costs. Consider training operators, setting a maintenance schedule, using equipment for what it’s designed to do and employing predictive analytics. Always ask about potential warranties or insurance coverage to protect landscaping equipment.

Reduce operating costs, maximize profitability

It may seem challenging or unavoidable to run into issues while operating landscaping equipment. No piece of technology is perfect, whether it’s a mower or an excavator. It’s critical to follow the steps listed above to reduce operating costs, see an increase in profitability and maintain a healthy flow of cash.

Evelyn Long is a writer and editor focused on home building and construction. She is the co-founder of Renovated, a web magazine for the home industry.