Brian-Kyles Landscapes of Distinction is a familyowned landscaping company based in Northeast Ohio that has been designing, installing, and maintaining outdoor environments for residential and commercial clients since 1988.
The Brian-Kyles team saw snow removal as an opportunity to expand its services and stay busy year-round while retaining skilled employees. They began snow and ice operations initially as a subcontractor for another company, and eventually brought the service offering in-house around 2002.
From there, they grew their snow and ice business by focusing primarily on commercial clients in 2012.
In 2015, the company began using Aspire to manage its business operations, and now relies on the cloud-based platform to establish itself as an exemplary service provider in the landscape and snow management industry.
"It’s hard to realize that for so many years we didn’t use Aspire," says Brian-Kyles President Brian Maurer.
Before implementing Aspire’s comprehensive business management software, Brian-Kyles handled dispatching using piles of paper and binders for each route. Three or four office staff members would have to go through the binders and capture data for financial reporting, invoicing, and managing payroll.
"The biggest thing Aspire did for us was that it took all the different systems we’d implemented throughout the years and rolled them all up into one place," Maurer says. "From the work ticket management side of dispatching to documentation of issues."
With Aspire, the company can now record everything that happened during a snow event in a single place. Real-time updates enable staff to see the details of every job and make informed decisions immediately—an essential part of navigating the challenges of the snow industry.
Aspire has helped Brian-Kyles streamline its operations, making it easier to manage dispatching, as well as handle documentation of issues, invoicing, and payroll. They’ve been able to break into a new service offering and build up trust over time by demonstrating their competence.
One of the reasons for Brian-Kyles’ success is the company’s exceptional customer service record. Maurer says he learned early on that communication was key, especially during the snow season when things are constantly changing.
"I think the biggest thing in our industry is that clients often complain about not knowing what’s going on," he says. "That’s one of the things I found out when we started doing more retail clients—they felt that if they’d had a better idea of what to expect, they would’ve had a better understanding of what’s controllable and what’s not."
Brian-Kyles makes a point of staying in constant communication with clients before, during, and after snow events to set expectations. And since implementing Aspire, they’ve been able to invoice events within 36 hours, and sometimes in as little as 12 to 18 hours.
"With Aspire, it’s a lot easier to prevent burnout on the managerial side of the business," Maurer says. Prior to using Aspire, field staff would be able to finish their work and go home to rest, while managerial staff would be stuck in the office for long hours filing paperwork and preparing for the next event.
Those tasks still need to be done, but they’re much easier now that they can be accomplished with cloud-based software that’s accessible from any computer or mobile device. Maurer has found that even the most resistant subcontractors comply when they quickly recognize the advantages of the program, especially in respect to timely payment.
At the core of Brian-Kyles’ success is their commitment to company values. With over three decades of experience, the team attributes their achievements to their year-round approach to work, which sets them apart from others in the industry.
The team believes transparency and integrity help them serve clients better by always doing their best work, communicating regularly, and being honest about any issues that arise. And when issues do come up, they’re able to address them immediately with Aspire.
"For us, it’s all about service," Maurer says. "We really value the level of service we provide to clients."
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