Machine IQ Transforms Garden Design from Reactive to Proactive Fleet Management

Challenge: Effective Oversight for Multi-Site Operations 

Garden Design, a leading landscaping company in Dallas/Fort Worth, entrusts Fleet Manager Javier Cortez to manage its Bobcat equipment across various commercial and residential projects.  

The complexity of coordinating equipment involving different subcontractors and regions made fleet oversight a constant struggle. Without clear visibility into equipment utilization, determining which machines were actually productive versus sitting idle became guesswork rather than strategy. 

The maintenance challenge was even more complex. Machines would run out of fuel or develop preventable issues because operators didn’t treat the rented equipment like their own. Without accountability, minor problems could quickly become unplanned service interruptions. 

Solution: Comprehensive Fleet Visibility and Control 

After transitioning from a third-party telematics system to Machine IQ, Garden Design discovered powerful OEM tools designed to tackle these persistent issues. 

Utilization Reporting  

Machine IQ provides dynamic reporting for engine hours, idle times, and fuel consumption across the entire fleet. “Crews would tell me, ‘I need a machine at this other job site’” Javier said. With Machine IQ, I can look at the utilization data and say, “Well, you have a machine that hasn’t been used in four days. What’s going on?” Equipped with this information, Javier can immediately reallocate machines to crews that need them, turning idle assets into billable hours. 

Proactive Maintenance Alerts  

With Machine IQ, Javier receives notifications for fault codes and maintenance reminders. Rather than waiting for operators to report problems, Javier can identify issues immediately and direct crews to address them before they escalate into costly repairs. 

Remote Engine Disable/Enable  

Designed as a powerful tool to prevent theft, Javier uses Machine IQ’s remote engine disable/enable technology in a creative way - to enforce maintenance standards and ensure proper equipment care. When machines aren’t being properly maintained, Javier will remotely shut them down until issues are resolved, creating immediate accountability. Once the crews understood I could shut down machines remotely, their whole approach changed. They realized really quickly that taking care of equipment wasn’t optional” he said. 

Results: From Reactive to Proactive Operations 

From reactive to proactive operations, the impact was immediate. As crews stepped up and are owning the job and machine like never before. “Now the guys are a lot more proactive instead of being reactive,” Javier observed. “I can text them about a fault code, and they’re like, “Don’t worry about it, we’ll take care of it. I check back on that machine, and 99% of the time, they take care of it.”  

This shift goes beyond just fixing problems. Crews now communicate issues before they become emergencies, leading to better scheduling and reduced downtime. “If I have more control of the machines, then my machines last a lot longer,” Javier said. “The crews appreciate this because the machines are what’s helping them get the work done.” 

Strategic Growth Through Comprehensive Fleet Intelligence 

Machine IQ has fundamentally transformed how Garden Design operates and scales. Near real-time tracking, proactive maintenance alerts, and accountability enforcement gives leadership the information they need to make better business decisions. Each week, Javier presents utilization insights to the company s CEO, commercial manager, and residential manager to review equipment performance.

This data-driven approach has proven particularly valuable as Garden Design continues to grow, ensuring consistent operational standards across all projects. Javier s masterful implementation of Machine IQ goes beyond just monitoring his fleet; he’s used it to create a culture of efficiency and accountability for every job site. As he puts it, “If we take care of our guys - and our guys take care of the machines – they’re gonna take care of us.” 

As Javier’s experience proves, when you equip the right technology with the right people, you don’t simply solve problems...you create solutions. That’s the power of Machine IQ.