ArborNote offers detailed comparisons of estimated versus actual time and cost. “It shows the actual versus the esti- mated right down to the individual tree level,” Ortiz stated. “That is a really valuable tool.” This feedback helps estimators learn, while crews benefit from clearer and more realistic targets over time. Ad- vancements in AI are accelerating this process. “The AI tools available now allow the estimator to do a better job and allow the sales manager or company owner to manage things more efficiently,” Ortiz continued. FOCUSING ON FUNDAMENTALS Tree care may be increasingly support- ed by digital tools, but its success still rests on the fundamentals: communica- tion, clarity, and safety. When compa- nies uphold those principles, technolo- gy becomes a powerful tool that enhances efficiency, strengthens job performance, and supports long-term business growth.
“When crews arrive, they can open the digital work order on their phone,” Ri- naldi said. “They can clock in and out, and the data goes straight back to the office. Staff can see job costing data, in- cluding how much it actually cost the business to send a crew out to do a re- moval or stump grinding.” These tools also reduce costly mistakes, such as working on the wrong tree. “Landscapes have lots of trees, and what might be obvious to the person who sold the job might not be obvious to the crew,” Buell reiterated. Mobile tools ultimately allow faster estimating, clearer job understand- ing, more consistent execution, and fewer errors.
Technology is solving this problem. “Landscapes have lots of trees that might be obvious to the person who sold the job but not obvious to the crew,” Buell explained. “Technology has improved in this area. We can take pictures of a tree and include them in the specifications.” ArborNote offers interactive proposals with photos, maps, per-tree pricing, and visual markers, all accessible on crews’ mobile devices. “It really tells the story, and that is critical in this industry,” Ortiz said. “It gives crews perspective on the size and necessity of the work.” SingleOps similarly enables estimators to map properties and capture job-criti- cal details in real time. “This lets crews show up and exceed client expectations,” Rinaldi stated. JL Tree Service uses Arborgold’s mobile app , which streamlines the entire estimating process. “I dictate notes on my phone – ‘front-center, 22-inch oak, crown clean, prune deadwood over two inches’ – and hit send,” Lewett explained. “The cus- tomer can approve it right away. Ap- prove, sign, done.” Concise job tags, such as “crane may help” or “permit needed,” help clarify requirements and streamline sched- uling. Technology is increasingly the bridge between estimators and crews – one that simplifies management and ele- vates job consistency. Increase On-Site Efficiency with Mobile Tools Mobile apps allow estimators and crews to access and update job information directly in the field, with changes vis- ible to office staff in real time. 5
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Track Performance to Improve Future Estimates
Evaluating how crews perform com- pared to estimates allows companies to refine pricing, boost profitability, and strengthen sustainability.
While these tools will help promote team efficiency, the most important aspect of management is taking initiative and pursuing opportunities to better support your team.
56 | Winter 2026 ArborTIMES ™
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