How AI, Automation, and Innovation Strengthen John Mini’s Landscaping Services

Friends and family have said that I’m lucky this wave of “AI” leaves us protected for now. My intuition tells me they’re referring to the preservation of our workforce and that generative AI isn’t a looming force poised to replace the hands-on, creative, and highly relational work our people do every day.

At John Mini, however, we never assume what works today will work tomorrow. We always mind the long term and each technological revolution. To think of AI as a singular, isolated tool invites existential threat into any business, in any industry.

For years, we’ve embraced AI as a partner in our craft, exploring how it enhances our discipline to serve our company’s purpose: to make places beautiful. We’re also equally focused on how it drives efficiency and creates value that we can pass along to our clients. Our team understands innovation is an obligation, not an option.

Early Entrance into AI: Hardware

Around 2018, we initiated research and testing on autonomous equipment. Our intuition was that improving technology could deliver client benefits through long-term cost reduction plus quieter and cleaner operations. The latter would manifest through reduced noise pollution, fumes and conveyance, improving comfort for those who experience our landscapes.

An example of this research in practice is our growing autonomous mower fleet. We’re the only firm in our urban market managing one and the results speak for themselves. Our early intuition proved right: clients appreciate the dramatic reduction in noise and site disruption. Continued testing revealed that the technology also enhanced horticultural precision, allowing us to execute granular tasks remotely to support the longevity of our landscapes.

We’ve also introduced AI-powered sensors and cameras across our 30+ vehicle fleet, providing real-time feedback to drivers and managers. This hardware collects and transforms raw data into real time actionable insights that improve safety.

This is only the beginning. Research into further vehicle and aerial AI applications is underway.

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Software: Building the Foundation for the Future

If hardware represents the hands of innovation, software represents its brain.

The wave of AI-driven software has engulfed every industry. And, we’re leaning in. Over a two-year period, we conducted an evaluation of our core ERP systems with a clear goal: to not only find software that meets our operational needs today, but to partner with a company that’s positioned to lead tomorrow.

We expanded our vetting beyond features and functions to assess who is winning in AI: which companies are actively investing and integrating artificial intelligence into their platforms. We selected a partner positioned to capitalize on AI’s evolution, ensuring we have a tool that will scale exponentially. In technology, as in horticulture, timing is everything.

 Generative AI: Leveling the Playing Field

Our business has always been a people business as much as a plant business. It’s about driven, hard-working, relationship-focused, and creative individuals who bring landscapes to life.

The wave of Generative AI, built on large language models, will amplify their strengths. It’s a tool that levels the playing field, if not shifting it to our advantage against larger, slower-moving firms.

Of course, we encourage our teams to use off-the-shelf AI tools to streamline daily tasks. But we’ve also developed proprietary applications that harness over 50 years of John Mini’s expertise, empowering our frontline teams with instant access to our collective knowledge.
I’d share more, but there’s no “burn after reading” feature on this post.

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It’s All About the Client

Our willingness to embrace change is rooted in one of our founding promises: Deliver a Distinctive Client Experience.

We adopt technology not for novelty, but for its potential to create value for our clients and the end users who experience our landscapes every day. That mindset of continuous improvement is what unlocks the opportunity for our teammates to build meaningful, long-term careers doing work that matters.

As my father and our founder once said;

“Unless you want to pillage and plunder for a quick payoff, you need to build long-term staying power and intrinsic value to your enterprise by, more often than not, investing for the long term.” – John Mini

We are here for the long term.

-          Mark Mini

Why Businesses Choose John Mini Distinctive Landscapes

✔ 50+ years of expertise in commercial landscaping
✔ Trusted by corporate clients, property managers, and designers
✔ Sustainable, innovative designs that maximize space and impact
✔ Full-service approach, from planning to long-term care

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