How We Use Technology to Monitor and Respond to Winter Storms in Real Time

Plenty of evidence suggests winter storms are becoming more unpredictable lately. The three recent fast-moving winter storms shown below are why Yellowstone Landscape keeps investing in technology that improves our company’s storm response.

Plenty of evidence suggests winter storms are becoming more unpredictable lately. The three recent fast-moving winter storms shown below are why Yellowstone Landscape keeps investing in technology that improves our company’s storm response.

We’re excited about these innovations that enable us to serve clients at an even higher level. The latest tech tools mean we have more accurate weather predictions, speedier reaction time, and reliable service clients can count on even during record-setting snowstorms. 

These tools are not only adding extra safety for our drivers, but are keeping the roadways safer overall too. Advanced technology is also reducing the odds of slip-and-falls and car collisions on client properties. It’s also giving property managers protection against frivolous lawsuits. 

Let’s see exactly how after a look at the storm data below.

3 Recent Fast-Moving Winter Storms and Their Impact

Yellowstone Landscape Branch Manager Q&A 

What challenges did you face before using technology in snow response?

Before today’s tech, our snow responses relied on manual communication. When a storm hit, it was tough to coordinate crews across different properties. We’d spend hours piecing together where teams had been and what work was done. It slowed down invoicing and logged timelines were not as clear as they are now.

What motivated you to adopt tech-driven tools?

It was a mix of wanting to serve clients better and running more efficiently. GPS tracking and two-way cameras in trucks let us see where crews were. They also gave us hard data on which to base decisions. Our GPS made it clear we needed other integrated tools. Pretty soon, every truck and our larger tractors had this tech installed. 

How has client feedback changed since you implemented these systems?

Clients appreciate the faster updates and clarity on the snow removal details. Communication became less of a guessing game. We dispatch teams based on their live location and proximity to the winter storm path. If plans need to pivot due to changing weather or client needs, everyone sees the update at the same time. We can check back on camera footage or logs if client questions come up.

The Role of Technology in Modern Snow and Ice Management

When it comes to snow and ice management, the difference is night and day between today’s technology and outdated manual procedures. GPS systems were the first giant leap in efficiency for snowstorm clean-ups. That advancement led to integrations with automated dispatch for snow plows, real-time weather sensors, and Internet of Things devices.

This combination of tech tools makes snow and ice management much more efficient by removing the need for manual crew check-ins. And with enhanced weather station data, snow crews can respond before conditions turn icy and hazardous. That protects property managers from liability while keeping the site safer for residents, guests, and employees.

3 Snow Response Improvements: Safety, Efficiency, and Accountability

Safety is always the number one priority at Yellowstone Landscape. Winter weather response technology helps keep our drivers and those around them safe through driver-assist tools. Our trucks’ in-cab cameras provide safety, traffic, and weather updates to Yellowstone drivers. It’s like having a spotter that provides more time to react, especially in a blizzard.

All our drivers go through extensive driver training because driving commercial vehicles requires more skill than driving a passenger vehicle. The in-cab cameras provide additional training since drivers can review their driving habits and make improvements if needed.

"Driver training programs teach drivers how to manage fatigue, handle emergency situations, and operate specialized vehicles safely.” ~Prolius

Efficiency comes with automated dispatch, remote monitoring, and optimized routes. GPS plays a role because snow removal teams’ location can be tracked, allowing quick dispatch to nearby sites in need of snowplowing and de-icing.  

This cuts down on wasted drive time, which reduces Yellowstone Landscape’s carbon footprint. With efficient routes, the roads are safer, too, since our service trucks do not travel extra miles on snowy highways.

Accountability improved greatly with modern innovations. Yellowstone clients can receive as much detailed service data as they want (e.g., time-stamped GPS data, before/after site photos, same-day snow depth reports). This provides transparency for clients’ peace of mind. 

It also gives them evidence they might need for insurance purposes in case of a fraudulent slip-and-fall claim (or legitimate car collision) on the site.

Yellowstone Landscape Branch Manager Q&A

What do you think sets Yellowstone apart in its use of technology?

Yellowstone stands out by using technology to benefit our snow crews and clients. Tools like face ID clock-ins and GPS cameras are used every day. This technology provides clients with snow removal transparency and simplifies operations by pre-staging crews at client properties. 

How do you train crews to use these tools effectively?

All crew members and subcontractors clock in using face ID. This initiates their route and ensures accurate payroll. The system lets many workers head straight to sites, skipping a central check-in. That’s helpful in getting ahead of snow and ice storms. It increases safety, too, because it reduces unnecessary travel to headquarters.

Do property managers see the tech updates directly, or is it filtered through your team?

Updates are filtered through our team and customized for each client. We share summarized reports, service timelines, and snowfall data so property managers get only the facts they want (which is discussed in their tailored snow and ice plan ahead of time).

Snow Management Technology Yellowstone Landscape Uses

GPS Tracking

All Yellowstone trucks have GPS installed. Additionally, some key equipment, such as tractors, utilize GPS. With crews’ exact location tracked, snow and ice routes can be optimized. No needless miles driven or wasted fuel are solid benefits. But it also means clients get their property clear of snow and ice faster than in the past.

GPS tracking with time-stamps allows clients to see when our crews arrived on their site and when work was completed. While that’s great for clients, it also gives Yellowstone data for commercial snow removal services optimization.

Weather Monitoring Systems

Each Yellowstone Landscape client gets maximum protection during winter storms because our teams utilize NOAA data. This advanced data isn’t limited to predictive overviews of the past. It provides hyper-local weather predictions. 

These dialed-in weather reports can be the difference between a snow crew having to backtrack ten miles to a property versus pre-staging on that site as the winter storm approaches.

How modern weather monitoring benefits property managers:

• Minimized liability 
• Avoids staff arriving late
• Reduced response time
• Reduced operational disruption
• Keeps key areas free of snow and ice

Real-Time Communication

Property managers don’t have to wonder if snow is blanketing their sidewalks, entrances, and parking lots. They receive live updates during a snowstorm or freezing rain from a Yellowstone field supervisor. Updates include progress reports, photos, and completion confirmation. 

Each snow plan is customized, though. Property managers can choose more or less information in their updates, depending on their needs. Text and email alerts mean they receive the information they want quickly. 

Yellowstone Landscape Branch Manager Q&A

Can you share an example where predictive alerts allowed you to respond faster than competitors?

Last winter, early warnings helped us clear a high-traffic commercial property ahead of schedule, while others in the area were still scrambling to get started.

How do you handle system reliability - what if tech fails in the middle of a storm?

Multiple backup systems give our teams options and redundancy coverage. Crews are trained in manual protocols if all the tech options go down.

Snow and Ice Management Technology Benefits to Yellowstone Clients

Faster Response

Response time is everything in a winter storm. Snow is one hazard, but ice takes the hazard level up several notches. Using GPS tracking and hyper-local weather alerts, Yellowstone can be on a site hours ahead of the wintery mix. This keeps snow from devolving into invisible ice that causes major injuries each winter due to employees, guests, and tenants falling. 

Fast responses to snow and ice mean critical areas of your property get cleared first, before treacherous ice can build up. 

Reduced Liability

What do property owners need the most in a lawsuit or insurance dispute? Thorough documentation. That’s included in Yellowstone Landscape’s snow and ice services. 

Clients have access to the following:

• Crews’ GPS time-stamps and exact location
• How many crew members were on site
• Amount of time the service took
• Any de-icers used and where
• Clean-up progress photos
• Localized weather reports

That level of evidence is what property managers need should a serious slip-and-fall occur. 

“Severe winter conditions often lead to “high-fall days,” where there’s a 70% increase in fall-related emergency department visits.” ~El Paso Emergency Room

Transparency

In the past, many property owners were in the dark about critical details of their property during snowstorms. That doesn’t have to be the case now, as long as their provider invests in the type of technology Yellowstone Landscape utilizes. Our clients know exactly when their property is being cleared of snow and ice.

They receive this vital information as it happens. Plus, they know which crew members are doing the clearing and de-icing. And the best part is that it’s all automated. Clients receive email and text alerts for their peace of mind. 

Yellowstone’s snow management technology reduces concerns, such as:

• ADA compliance
• Insurance claims
• Local regulation violations
• Lack of access for deliveries and staff
• Fending off frivolous slip-and-fall lawsuits
  

Yellowstone Landscape Branch Manager Q&A

Which benefit do clients comment on most often - speed, transparency, or liability protection?

Clients say they appreciate our speed and transparency. But it's the live communication and real-time service documentation that stands out. Property managers now depend on these updates to answer tenant questions and prove service quality in board meetings or insurance reviews.  

Do you ever provide post-storm reports? If so, what do they look like?

 Yes, we use Weather Command reports that show snowfall amounts by area. 

How has snow removal transparency helped you build long-term relationships with clients?

By giving them real-time updates, service photos, and digital logs, we remove any guesswork. Clients know exactly which services were done, by which employee, and when. This openness builds trust. When a property manager can share a service record, they see Yellowstone Landscape as a partner instead of just a vendor.

Conclusion

Winter storms are powerful forces. And in modern times they seem to be moving faster and causing unexpected problems more often. Fortunately, modern technology has made numerous tools available to snow and ice management companies to overcome winter storms. Property managers appreciate these innovative tools because they’re no longer crossing their fingers, hoping their provider is acting swiftly with the right procedures.

Yellowstone Landscape customers get full transparency with tech-enabled snow services. 

Clients have a “front-row seat” to services, similar to the actual snow removal team members. That’s because property owners are alerted when Yellowstone teams drive into the parking lot. They see how the site looks via crew photos, the time the crew finishes the job, and post-service site conditions with a completion photo.

If you’d like more peace of mind this winter and full transparency with your snow and ice management, contact Yellowstone Landscape. We’d like to answer any further questions you have about how our technology makes your property safer and more accessible all winter long.