In addition to managing tenant needs and expectations, handling maintenance and repairs, and dealing with financial constraints, many building managers are also responsible for making sure the grounds are well-maintained.
If you manage a series of buildings or if your offices are on a large campus, overseeing lawn care is as much of an issue as your other concerns. And with a chronic labor shortage in the landscaping industry, escalating safety and liability concerns, pressure to improve curb appeal, and an increasing demand to do all this in a sustainable and cost-efficient manner, many building managers are bringing their lawn care in-house.
Building managers see a benefit in keeping direct control of their crew by cross training their maintenance staff to build an internal team of skilled professionals who are more reliable and minimize legal risk.
To support this shift, you should also consider a more modern mowing fleet that includes robotic and/or autonomous mowers.
Modern Ground Maintenance
When most property or building managers think of groundskeeping equipment, they envision some riding and push mowers and several string trimmers—equipment that requires hiring enough people to work on hazardous terrain.
Instead consider a purpose-built, remote-operated mower that can handle steep slopes, retention ponds, ditches, and hard-to-reach areas with ease. Some robotic mowers are engineered specifically for commercial, municipal, and risky environments—no retrofitted design.
With this modern lawncare equipment, facilities managers can:
- Enrich their labor efficiency and optimize their crews. Not only can one operator do the work of a multi-person crew, a robotic mower can also help your staff focus on high-visibility or detailed landscaping work. This can also reduce your reliance on seasonal contractors and improve your control over quality, timing and training.
- Reduce liability and improve worker safety. Without having to ride or push mowers on 30- to 50-degree slopes, next to highways, or around water features, your team can prevent injuries related to rollover accidents, repetitive strains, or heat exposure. These machines are operated via line-of-sight remote control and use built-in safety features like emergency stops and operator alerts. This helps you save on insurance risks and reduces time lost to worker recovery.
- Improve the return on investment and the impact on budgets. Robotic, remote-controlled mowers replace multiple pieces of traditional equipment, reduce labor hours spent per acre, and shorten job timelines. In addition, this equipment helps facilities managers avoid outsourcing costs and reduces equipment damage and repair costs by eliminating risky maneuvers on hazardous terrain.
- Refine sustainability efforts and property appearance. Modern lawncare equipment allows your team to regularly mow areas that were left unmanaged or tamed using expensive chemical vegetation control. You can not only meet environmental goals by reducing a reliance on these chemicals, you can also improve the property’s appearance, which impacts tenant satisfaction and building values.
Autonomous Mowing Robots
In addition to remote-controlled mowers, the future of grounds maintenance includes autonomous mowing robots (AMRs). These machines are ideal for expansive, flat terrains like corporate campuses, sports fields, and business parks. They deliver self-driving mowing capabilities without the need for any infrastructure—no boundary wires, no base stations.
By using sophisticated onboard LiDAR sensors and artificial intelligence, an innovative AMR can navigate and mow with precision. This allows facility teams to shift their focus from routine mowing to more intricate tasks like trimming, edging, and landscape detailing.
By delegating the repetitive, time-consuming task of mowing to a robotic or autonomous solution, groundskeeping operations can scale efficiently without expanding labor resources. The result is a smarter, more strategic approach to maintaining outdoor spaces—ushering in a new era of autonomous, cost-effective grounds maintenance.
Smart Mowers Work for Modern Campuses
As facilities continue to evolve with technology-driven solutions, robotic mowing is emerging as a strategic asset in the modern smart building ecosystem. Far beyond a novelty, these innovative systems are becoming essential tools for forward-thinking facility managers.
Here’s why:
- They are a natural fit for smart building operations. Robotic mowing aligns seamlessly with the growing adoption of intelligent building technologies. Just as facilities increasingly rely on automation for lighting, HVAC, and access control, robotic lawn care brings precision, efficiency, and data-driven insights to landscaping, contributing to an integrated and smart grounds maintenance system.
- They meet compliance and sustainability efforts. Well-maintained green spaces do more than enhance curb appeal, they also support environmental compliance. Regular mowing can help buildings meet EPA stormwater runoff requirements and minimize issues like erosion or pest infestation. Robotic solutions ensure consistent care, helping facilities stay ahead of regulatory requirements while supporting sustainability goals.
- They attract and retain high-quality workers. In an industry facing a labor shortage, robotic mowing can play a role in attracting and retaining talent. These automated tools reduce manual labor and safety risks, allowing facilities teams to focus on higher-value tasks. For younger or more tech-savvy employees, the opportunity to work with advanced equipment makes facility roles more appealing and inspiring.
As a facilities manager, adding robotic or autonomous mowing equipment to your fleet could help you bring your groundskeeping in-house. Helping you maintain control over your landscaping crew’s productivity, budget, and safety standards could be more cost-effective than outsourcing in the long run.
