If you've ever considered adding robot mowers and battery powered equipment to your operations tune in to this episode of Roots of Success, as host Kevin Keim from McFarlin Stanford sits down with Bob Carey of Kress Outdoor to talk electrification and autonomous mowing in the landscape industry. They bust common myths on power and reliability, break down the business drivers behind electrification, and reveal practical steps for piloting new equipment. You'll hear about how data-driven decisions maximize ROI, how robots are tackling large and small properties alike, and why the future of landscaping is as much about logistics and analytics as it is about green thumbs. Whether you're curious about new regulations, competitive edge, or labor-saving tech, this episode arms you with the knowledge to modernize your operations and plan for 2026 and beyond.

THE BIG IDEA:

Your business is a logistics business and data from automation drives profitability.

KEY MOMENTS:

[06:05] Balancing Retention and Client Value [09:30] "Personalized Financial Growth Strategies" [12:57] "Optimizing Labor Through Digitization" [14:47] IoT Insights for Efficiency [17:20] "Team Planning and Workflow Optimization" [21:38] Energy Consumption Analysis for Battery Needs [23:56] "Proper Tools, Proper Application" [29:37] Landscaping Labor Shortage Solutions [32:47] Robotics Security and Reliability Concerns [36:00] "Plan, Measure, Align, Execute" [38:34] "Have a Plan for Change"

QUESTIONS WE ANSWER

1. What are some of the biggest myths surrounding battery-powered landscaping equipment?

1. How have advances in technology addressed earlier limitations of autonomous lawn mowers, such as functioning under tree cover?

1. In what ways can a landscaping company benefit from approaching their business as a logistics operation?

1. Which factors are most influential in driving the transition toward electrification in landscaping—regulation, customer demand, or economics?

1. How does data collection from new equipment help landscaping companies improve profitability and site-level efficiency?

1. What are some best practices for rolling out electrification in a landscaping maintenance division?

1. Where can landscaping businesses typically find the fastest return on investment when switching to battery-powered equipment?

1. How does automation with autonomous mowers impact labor allocation and overall service quality for large properties?

1. What are some common misconceptions or concerns clients have about deploying autonomous lawn mowers, and how can they be addressed?

1. Why is it important for a landscaping company to have a written plan and an integrator for implementing new technologies or automation strategies?