The agenda is set for the inaugural Lawn & Landscape Technology conference. The 13 sessions will cover firsthand experiences of how green industry professionals successfully embraced the many different aspects of technology, along with perspectives from technology experts from outside the industry.
The event features a keynote from futurist and entrepreneur Gabe Zichermann, who will explain how to predict the future of technology and continue to factor in the human element in the digital age.
“Artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics are all going to transform the landscaping and lawn care industry,” Zichermann says. “But it’s a people-centric business, and as automation takes hold, it’s going to require a completely new strategy.”
You can see the full agenda by clicking here.
The bulk of the sessions will feature landscape contractors and lawn care operators discussing how they successfully integrated technological advancements into their companies. More importantly, the speakers will be open about the obstacles they faced and how they overcame them. They will also be available to answer questions.
"The sky is the limit on implementing new things for your business but why reinvent the wheel? Learn what works from others and then mold that to fit the culture of your team and clients," says Dani Collinson, conference speaker and division manager with Blades of Green Lawn Care & B.O.G. Pest Control. "It is the knowledge we have learned and tweaked from other companies that have gotten us to where we are today"
Leslie Allebach, vice president of The Greenskeeper in Pennsylvania, will present on how she helped those who resisted her company’s embrace of technology realize how the move can benefit everyone.
“Technology has made our company much more efficient and has given us a more professional appearance to our customers,” she says. “Attendees will leave with some practical ideas to implement in order to make transitions smoother for those that are resistant to updated technology.”
Dave Schwetz, director of technology and innovation at Chenmark, a Maine-based company with five landscaping brands under its umbrella, will take the audience from the basics of using technology to eventually being the leader in your area.
"We find that many companies treat technology in one of two ways: they struggle with what’s worth their time and energy, or they see technology as more of a cost center rather than something that can create value," Schwetz says. "We don’t blame them. It’s easy to tune out the noise and instead be satisfied with the status quo. I’d expect attendees to gain an understanding of how technology can create and capture value for small businesses, even to the point where they could become a dominant player in the market.”
The conference closes with a presentation from security and privacy veteran Neal O’Farrel, giving attendees tips on how to protect their cyber data as well as their customers’ information without having a massive security budget.
"Hackers and cybercrooks don't care that you're in the green industry,” he says. “The only green they care about is currency and they make that from data – including your data. My goal is to teach you how to avoid the most common cyber risks by deploying the most powerful weapon. Hint – it's wedged between your ears."
The conference will take place Feb 19-21 in Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive. Learn more about the event by clicking here.