GPS Devices
GPS Tracking
Job Costing
Landscaping

GPS Tracking for Landscaping: Do You Really Need It?

March 6, 2024
GPS tracking helps landscapers cut costs and be more profitable
gps tracking for landscaping

Worth it or Worthless?

Maybe you’re not sold on GPS tracking.

 

You already have a decent handle on where your crews are. Jobs are getting done. Customers are happy. Sure, costs are up, and you’ve had a few “where’d that blower go?” moments—but does that really justify adding a GPS Tracking system?

 

A lot of landscaping business owners feel the same way. Until the business starts growing—or worse, stalls.

 

Growth brings more trucks, more jobs, and more pressure to keep expanding without losing quality or control. That’s when GPS stops being a “nice to have” and starts looking essential.

 

On the other end are the owners who stay busy, but the bank account never grows. It’s the business version of living paycheck to paycheck—and it’s exhausting.

 

Most GPS systems weren’t built for landscapers. They’re overpriced, locked behind long-term contracts, or designed for massive fleets with full-time admins—not small-to-midsize crews trying to stay lean and profitable.

 

If you’re trying to figure out whether GPS tracking is worth it for your business, this guide is for you. We’ll break down the real-world problems it solves, what to watch out for, and how thousands of landscapers are using Momentum to turn GPS data into a profit engine.

Most GPS systems weren’t built for landscapers. They’re overpriced, locked behind long-term contracts, or designed for massive fleets

Benefits of GPS for Landscaping Businesses

GPS Tracking is not about watching dots on a map moving around. It’s about getting back time, streamlining processes, and seeing where your money is going.

Assets shown on Momentum IoT GPS Tracking interactive map. Easy to see who to dispatch when you can visualize where assets are and what they are doing.
Assets shown on Momentum IoT GPS Tracking interactive map. Easy to see who to dispatch when you can visualize where assets are and what they are doing.

1. Smarter Dispatch & Routing

With real-time visibility into where your crews and vehicles are, you can dispatch faster, cut out backtracking, and reduce fuel costs. That translates into more money in your pocket and more billable hours.
GPS Tracking and fleet management from Momentum provides real-time access to vehicle location and status as well as financial insights into the profitability of your jobs.
GPS Tracking and fleet management from Momentum provides real-time access to vehicle location and status as well as financial insights into the profitability of your jobs.

2. Visibility & Accountability

Know which jobs are in progress, running late, or already done. GPS helps you spot issues early, keep projects on track, and hold teams accountable—without micromanaging.
Preventive maintenance can help you double the life of your equipment
Preventive maintenance can help you double the life of your equipment

3. Theft Prevention & Equipment Security

Lost a blower? Had a trailer disappear overnight? GPS tracking helps recover stolen equipment and deter theft before it happens. Set up alerts for after-hours movement or if gear leaves a geofenced job site.
Customer getting an email telling them when your crew will arrive. Keep customers happy with arrival notifications built into Momentum IoT GPS tracking
Customer getting an email telling them when your crew will arrive. Keep customers happy with arrival notifications built into Momentum IoT GPS tracking

4. Better Customer Communication

With the right GPS system, you can stop getting the “When’s your crew getting here?” calls. For example, Momentum can send a real-time tracking link to the customer so they know exactly when your crew will be there. Customers love it.
Momentum fleet maintenance software service schedule detail that shows stats for each service type - like oil changes.
Momentum fleet maintenance software service schedule detail that shows stats for each service type - like oil changes.

5. Maintenance Scheduling & Reminders

GPS tracks vehicle usage and mileage automatically, and sends reminders for scheduled fleet maintenance. Stay ahead of unscheduled downtime and keep your trucks in the field where they belong.
Automated job costing reports from Momentum IoT let you ditch the spreadsheets and cost jobs down to the penny without lifting a finger. See Budgeted Vs Actual Reports for the company and each job.
Automated job costing reports from Momentum IoT let you ditch the spreadsheets and cost jobs down to the penny without lifting a finger. See Budgeted Vs Actual Reports for the company and each job.

6. Lower Operating Costs

From fewer miles driven, tighter schedules, extended vehicle life, and no side gigs, GPS helps reduce overhead across the board. And for many businesses, it can even lower insurance premiums.
Ensure compliance with logging for accountability using our GPS system
Ensure compliance with logging for accountability using our GPS system

7. Compliance Logs and Verification of Service

GPS tracking shows you where your vehicles and equipment were when and for how long. GPS gives you a full audit trail – automatically. It’s your built-in backup when questions come up.

What to consider with GPS for landscaping

Here’s a few factors to consider in your GPS system.

  • Scalability: As your business grows, your GPS system should keep up. One of the biggest roadblocks to scale? Installation headaches. Momentum installs in under a minute—just plug it in or wire it in. No special tools, no tech guy needed.

 

  • Compatibility: Your GPS system should play nice with the tools you already use. Momentum has an open API, works in the cloud, and has mobile apps for iPhone and Android. You can access it anywhere, and it integrates easily with your existing software stack.

 

  • Cost: Watch for hidden fees—some GPS providers charge for hardware, installation, shipping, or per-user licenses. Momentum doesn’t. We charge a flat rate per device. No contracts, no upfront hardware fees, and unlimited users. In fact, many customers find the insurance savings cover the cost.

 

  • Reliability: Look for a GPS provider with a lifetime warranty on their GPS trackers and good customer support.  Downtime or technical issues can disrupt your operations and affect your business. We take a ton of pride in our device reliability AND our customer support. All of our support team is based in the US. We’re available by email, phone, or through our website chat. Our GPS devices have a 99.9% uptime and run on a dependable 4G network. If an Eagle One GPS device ever loses connectivity, trip and location data will still be collected, then restored when connectivity is restored. This protects from you from any data loss.

 

  • Data Security and Privacy: Since GPS systems collect sensitive data about your vehicles and employees, make sure the provider has robust security measures in place to protect this information. We take data security and privacy seriously. All of your data will always be encrypted and only accessible by you. With Momentum, you can operate with peace of mind knowing that your data and privacy is secure.

 

  • User-Friendliness: Choose a GPS system that is intuitive and easy for you and your employees to use. Complicated interfaces can lead to frustration and low adoption rates. We’ve designed Momentum to be intuitive for the whole team—owners, ops, finance, and HR. Clean dashboards, simple controls, and smart workflows, all shaped by real landscaper feedback, make Momentum a great choice. You can see how it works and how it looks with our interactive demo here.

 

  • Battery Life: If you opt for GPS devices that attach to vehicles or equipment, consider the battery life and whether they need to be recharged or replaced frequently. Battery life is one of the questions we get asked the most. Mainly because so many of our customers have been burned by other GPS providers in the past. The Momentum Eagle One GPS tracker for landscaping business has an internal battery that lasts up to six months on a single charge. Each time your vehicle or asset in turned on, the Eagle One will recharge. Take a deep dive on the technical specification of our GPS tracker here.
Look for GPS Trackers with a Lifetime Warranty
Comparing GPS Tracking Devices for equipment
Comparing GPS Tracking Devices for equipment
CrewID in a tool bag
CrewID in a tool bag

Automated Job Costing

Just tracking location isn’t enough. Every GPS provider can do that.

 

Momentum goes further with tools that actually impact your bottom line—like the Burndown Analysis Report. It updates automatically after every site visit and shows how much budget has been used, how much is left, and how close you are to hitting your profit goals on recurring maintenance contracts.

 

You’ll catch scope creep early, spot work that hasn’t been billed, and see how crew performance affects profitability.

All the data needed is pulled straight from connected devices. No guesswork, no spreadsheets, and no data entry.

See exactly how much it costs to service every customer updated in real-time.
Job Costing & Profitability

Momentum gives you real-time automated job costing, and profitability reporting using GPS tracking to extract cost data without needing any manual input. You can see exactly where your money is going.

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