Buyers Guide

Table of Contents

• What is Landscape Software?
• The benefits of Landscape Software
• Typical features of Landscape Software
• The cost of Landscape Software
• Considerations when purchasing Landscape Software
• Relevant Landscape Software trends

What is Landscape Software?

Landscape software (also known as landscape or garden design software) is primarily used by architects and designers to lay out plans for a variety of internal and external landscapes, such as gardens, softworks, groundworks, ventilation, irrigation, and more. The software helps with laying out visual interpretations of the landscape that needs to be constructed with accurate measurements and labeling.

Most landscape software comes with a preloaded library of environmental elements such as plants, pathways, streetlights, etc. Architects can use these elements to create a visual look-alike of the garden to be constructed. Some common features are computer-aided design, photo imaging, proposal building and sharing, 3D rendering, reporting, and accounting.

The benefits of Landscape Software

• Create beautiful designs: Landscape software assists architects in designing visually appealing plans using digital tools that can generate an exact replica of the landscape they are planning to build. These software applications offer design elements such as plants, soil, statues, rocks, and other decorative items that designers and architects can add to their designs and view a rendering of the final output. Additionally, there are no restrictions to the number of changes an architect can make to their designs before finalizing them, which allows them to test multiple options before making any heavy investments in their client’s landscape.
• Check out the growth pattern: These solutions also include features that project how the plants will appear as they grow and with the changing of the seasons. Plant growth projections can help landscapers better plan their client’s gardens and fix elements such as sitting structures, pools, and patios.
• Better manage client interactions: This type of software helps you keep track of your existing customers as well as identify new leads. With built-in CRM functionality, landscape architects can save customer details and requirements, keep track of meetings with their clients, and schedule upcoming appointments.

Typical features of Landscape Software

• Billing and invoicing: Bill clients for the services provided, then record and send invoices.
• Job management: Manage job requests in one place, along with client information, details, deadlines, etc.
• Customer database: Build a searchable repository that stores customer information and past interactions.
• Quotes/estimates: Create an estimate based on the requirements submitted by clients and share proposals with them quoting the approximate cost of the work and other contractual details.
• Appointment scheduling: Schedule appointments with clients and keep track of upcoming meetings via a calendar.

The cost of Landscape Software

Most products in this market are priced as a one-time license fee and can be divided into three pricing tiers based on their starting price.

Price ranges*:

• $0 - $100
• $100 - $1,750
• $1,750+

*The pricing included is for the entry-level/lowest-priced offering that was found on vendor websites on December 1, 2019. These ranges correspond to 25th, 75th, and 100th percentile of the pricing information gathered from the vendor websites of sample products.

The above list summarizes pricing for the base plans of most products. An enterprise or premium product, which is priced higher, may include some additional features such as computer-aided design (CAD) tools and integrations with third-party applications.

Considerations when purchasing Landscape Software

• Understand the scope of your work: There are hundreds of landscaping systems available on the market, each with a different set of capabilities, features, and price points. As a buyer, you need to analyze your needs and evaluate your level of expertise with CAD tools. If you are a freelancer or a small architecture firm, you should start with a generic solution and then scale up and customize as your business and expertise grow. On the contrary, if you work for a larger firm and have prior experience with CAD tools and designs, you would ideally go with a more advanced tool that meets your budget and feature requirements.
• Look for a solution with a mobile app: Having a mobile app can be really helpful when meeting clients. Instead of noting down the client’s requirements on paper, you can simply take notes on your smartphone or tablet and even take pictures of the garden or structure that needs to be redesigned. A mobile app will allow you and your business to function remotely. Look for a solution that comes with a dedicated mobile app or offers mobile accessibility while purchasing a new landscape software for your business.

Relevant Landscape Software trends

• 3D views: In order to offer something new and innovative to clients, landscape architects have started designing landscape models in 3D. To facilitate this, landscape software vendors have started adding 3D and building material modeling (BIM) capabilities to their existing offerings. 3D landscape models provide clients with a more interactive experience and let them visualize their landscape virtually in a 3D environment.