Growing Your Business

Digital Cameras Are Becoming Standard Sweeping Equipment

Along with a new sweeper, an upgraded computer and a quiet backpack blower, many sweeping contractors are finding another tool indispensable to a successful business: the digital camera.

When we talked with Dale McCaskill, of South Carolina-based Southco Sweeping and Maintenance, he had just returned from using his digital camera for two different purposes in one day. He'd taken a photo of the property of a prospective new account, in order to enhance the information in his bid.

"I went by to look at a new property today and took digital photographs of issues I saw in both sweeping and maintenance areas. I'll reproduce the shots on regular paper, in color, and attach them with my proposal, so the client can see the problem areas and my solutions."

He'd also photographed some problem areas at existing client properties. McCaskill says he used to take Polaroids, but the cost was prohibitive, they didn't copy very well, and he couldn't email them. "The cost of printing digital pictures on good quality paper is minimal, and you can attach a business card or copy them onto letterhead." He has also taken a picture of a property that isn't being maintained well and emailed it with a note that says, "If we were doing your property, it wouldn't look like this."

If he sees a job he isn't happy with, McCaskill takes digital photographs of properties he already cleans as a defensive move. "I'll email the photos to my operations manager that night, and when the trucks go out the next day, he will be able to tell them what the problem is as well as show them exactly what I was concerned about. That approach really defuses any kind of defensive position on the part of the employees and gets the jobs done right."

A digital camera can be used to take photographs for brochures and other promotions, and it is a unique public relations tool. "Once, when I traveled out of state to meet some property owners I hadn't met before, I took pictures of them to show the staff back home who we were dealing with. Plus, I printed the photographs on Kodak paper and sent them out with a note saying 'Enjoyed seeing you on my recent trip. Hope this will brighten your day a bit,' " said McCaskill.

He received several contracts that trip and is sure the photographs helped. "A picture is worth a thousand words, or in this case, maybe a million pixels."

Ted Dykstra, from A-MMACU-LOT Sweeping Service in Grand Rapids, agrees.

Besides using his digital camera for pre-bidding and spot checking existing jobs, he finds it handy to document his level of service. "For example, during one season when it was really rainy, this particular property would get re-covered with dirt soon after we swept it. The managers were wondering if we were even showing up. By taking pictures each night we could show what we'd done. And, when you put up Christmas wreathes, using the digital camera allows us to easily show a remotely-located property manager how nice it looks."

Dallas Smith of Kleen Sweep

Dallas Smith, of Kleen Sweep in Georgia, says he now can't imagine being without his digital camera. "We use it to take pictures as reference material. Many managers have owners that are out of town, and I can send pictures showing what we need to do or what we've already done."

Another special use is to identify parts needed for repair on sweepers. "Sometimes I don't know for sure what the part is called, so I take a picture and send it to the factory. Then, they know exactly what needs to be replaced," said Smith. "Also, I've sent pictures of sweepers I want to trade-in to my salesperson at Schwarze, and then they can know exactly what kind of condition the outside of the sweeper is in."

Joe and Margaret of Total Power

Clients like the convenience and time-savings of digital photographs. "If we see some graffiti or damage at a site, we can snap a quick shot, attach it to an email and send it right to the customer, giving them instant access," explained Joe Wright, of Total Power Sweeping. "They don't have to drive out to the site to assess next steps."

Since Wright worked as a commercial engineer for 12 years, he learned the importance of documenting prior damage. "A digital photograph is time-dated and is an excellent communication tool," he said. Plus a digital camera is an instant file. The photographs become valuable visuals showing before and after pictures and special jobs completed.

"Also, it is a convenient tool for all kinds of reference needs. I may be driving down the road and see a Coldwell Banker sign on a property," Wright said. "I don't want to take the time to stop and write down the information, but a quick photo means I can go back to my office that night and have all the information about contact names and numbers, etc."

Other Considerations

Like most new technologies, the prices for digital cameras vary along with the quality. Speed and storage capacity are two crucial elements to consider.

According to John Henshell, at www.ehow.com, buy the camera with the highest resolution you can afford, at least 2 megapixels (a resolution of 1000 x 1000 pixels) if possible. "Digital cameras cost more out of the box than comparable film cameras and scanners, but offer the convenience of immediate viewing, multiple image storage, and computer connectivity and there's no film to develop."

If you are only outputting pictures to a computer monitor, inexpensive digital cameras with 640 x 480 pixel resolution will be satisfactory. However, since you will probably be printing out photos for clients, a better recommendation is to get one with at least 2 megapixels of resolution.

Most contractors interviewed for this article were using equipment that had lower-end pixel resolution and were happy with the results. But you will want to do some research to narrow down the type of camera and resolution that's right for your situation. (For more information see www.photocourse.com).

In addition, some companies now offer a range of specialty papers that provide preprinted color graphics on templates for brochures, letterhead and business cards. These make it easier than ever for someone to use digital photographs to create professional materials, (for some great examples of this concept, see www.paperdirect.com).

In fact, once you start using a digital camera you may find that one is not enough. "I'm planning to buy two more cameras," confided McCaskill, "one to give to my operations guy and one for my vice president, who heads up quality control. That way we'll have two more sets of eyes out there taking pictures."

McCaskill also said he needs more cameras with his management team because their four office locations are spread out, and having more than one camera will allow them to respond faster. "Plus," he chuckled, "they'll stop borrowing mine all the time."

Barbara Hudson is a freelance writer who also teaches writing at the college level. After doing this article, she had plans to get her own digital camera soon.

This article is reprinted from American Sweeper magazine, Volume 8 Number 1, 2000.

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