Implementing TreePlotter INVENTORY is a collaborative process that typically takes between two to six weeks, depending on the complexity of existing data. It begins with a consultation and a 2-week free trial to ensure the platform fits the organization's needs. Once a subscription is confirmed, PlanIT Geo's Professional Services team assists with 'Data Onboarding,' which involves cleaning and migrating any existing legacy tree data (from spreadsheets or other GIS systems) into the TreePlotter schema. Users then attend a customized orientation training session to familiarize themselves with the mobile workflows and administrative tools. For larger municipal clients, this process may also include the configuration of custom API integrations with city asset management or CRM systems. The final 'Go-Live' phase includes a review of all data fields and permissions to ensure the system is ready for full-scale field operations.
TreePlotter INVENTORY is highly customizable, allowing organizations to tailor the platform to their specific operational requirements. Users with administrator-level permissions can utilize the 'Data Field Editor' to add, remove, or modify data fields and lookup values, ensuring the software captures only the information relevant to their projects. This includes everything from specific tree species lists to custom maintenance priority levels. The 'Interactive Legend' can also be configured to display trees based on any chosen attribute, such as risk level or diameter. Furthermore, PlanIT Geo offers several 'Add-On Modules'—like the Advanced Risk Assessment or Eco Benefits modules—that can be toggled on to provide specialized functionality. For enterprise clients, the company provides custom development services to build unique features or deep integrations that align with specific governmental or corporate workflows.
Beyond the base annual subscription fee, organizations should budget for potential additional costs related to professional services and specialized modules. Initial setup and data migration fees are common and vary based on the volume and quality of the legacy data being imported. Specialized modules, such as 'Work Order Management,' 'Offline Collector,' and 'Eco Benefits,' may carry additional annual licensing fees. Training is another area where costs may vary; while initial orientation is often included, advanced on-site training or recurring professional development sessions may incur extra charges. For clients requiring high-resolution aerial imagery beyond standard Google or Bing maps, subscriptions to premium imagery providers like Nearmap are handled as separate costs. Finally, significant custom development or deep API integration work requested by the client is typically billed as a one-time project fee.
PlanIT Geo provides a comprehensive training ecosystem to ensure all users can effectively navigate the software. Every new subscription includes an 'Orientation Training' session, which is typically a live webinar tailored to the client's specific configuration. This is supplemented by an extensive 'Orientation Video' and a searchable knowledge base hosted on the TreePlotter Support site. For ongoing learning, the company hosts monthly webinars covering advanced topics like 'Eco Benefits Analysis' and 'Strategic Work Planning.' Organizations with large field crews can also request on-site training where PlanIT Geo experts provide hands-on instruction in the field. Additionally, the software includes built-in tutorials and 'Tool Tips' to help new users as they interact with the map, ensuring that even seasonal volunteers can quickly become proficient in plotting and updating tree data.
Security is a top priority for PlanIT Geo, as many of their clients are government entities. The platform is hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS), utilizing industry-standard cloud security protocols. All data transmissions are encrypted using HTTPS (SSL/TLS), and user access is managed through robust role-based permissions, ensuring that only authorized personnel can edit or delete data. PlanIT Geo performs nightly backups of all client databases, allowing for rapid recovery in the event of accidental data loss. For enterprise clients, the system supports Single Sign-On (SSO) integrations, enabling organizations to manage user access through their existing corporate identity providers. While the company does not publicly list a SOC 2 certification at this time, they strictly adhere to AWS best practices for data storage and maintain a transparent Platform Security and Privacy FAQ to address specific IT concerns from municipal stakeholders.
TreePlotter INVENTORY operates on a continuous improvement model, with minor updates and bug fixes deployed frequently. Major feature releases typically occur on a quarterly basis, informed by a publicly shared product roadmap and extensive user feedback. Because the software is browser-based (SaaS), all updates are applied automatically on the server side, meaning users always have access to the latest version without needing to download or install patches manually. PlanIT Geo communicates significant changes through their newsletter, in-app notifications, and dedicated 'Feature Release' articles on their support site. This ensures that the platform evolves in step with changing industry standards, such as updates to the i-Tree benefit calculations or new ISA risk assessment protocols, without disrupting the daily workflows of field crews.
PlanIT Geo maintains a clear policy that all map-based and inventory data uploaded to the platform belongs entirely to the client. PlanIT Geo acts solely as a service provider and will not share, sell, or trade client data with third parties without explicit permission. Clients have the right to access and export their data at any time using the built-in 'Exporter Tool,' which supports formats such as CSV, ESRI Shapefile, and DXF. This ensures high data portability and prevents 'vendor lock-in,' allowing organizations to move their data to other GIS systems if they choose to discontinue the service. If an account is closed, PlanIT Geo provides a grace period for data extraction, and backups are typically maintained for up to one year before being permanently deleted from the recovery systems.
TreePlotter INVENTORY is designed to scale seamlessly from small municipal departments to large-scale enterprise environments. The cloud-native architecture can handle hundreds of thousands of tree points and associated work records without performance degradation. As organizations grow, they can easily add more users—often at no extra cost due to the 'unlimited user' model in many plans—and expand their data collection efforts across multiple regions or 'Client Sites' within a single administrative account. The platform's 'Hierarchy' system allows for data to be organized across different geographic scales, from individual project sites up to county-wide or state-wide inventories. This scalability is supported by a robust API that can manage increasing data volumes and integrate with other enterprise-scale asset management tools as the organization's technological needs become more sophisticated.
The standard contract for TreePlotter INVENTORY is an annual subscription agreement, though multi-year contracts (typically three years) are common and often include significant discounts. Contracts generally include 'Start' and 'End' dates, and renewal notices are sent well in advance of the expiration date. Cancellation terms typically require notice prior to the renewal date; if a contract is terminated, the client retains ownership of their data and is encouraged to export it before the account access expires. Support is included in the subscription fee, with guaranteed response times during standard US business hours (8 AM to 8 PM EST). For emergency technical issues, PlanIT Geo provides an after-hours emergency line. The terms also specify that users are prohibited from reverse-engineering the platform or attempting to subvert its security measures, maintaining the integrity of the SaaS environment for all users.
PlanIT Geo is committed to maintaining high standards of data privacy and regulatory compliance. The platform is designed to be GDPR compliant for UK and European customers, with data for these regions typically housed in UK-based AWS data centers to meet residency requirements. Their privacy policy is reviewed regularly to align with evolving standards like the CCPA in California. In terms of industry compliance, the software aligns with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) standards for tree risk assessment and the i-Tree protocols for ecological benefit quantification. For UK clients, specialized modules like the 'Development Survey' help organizations exceed BS 5837 requirements for tree protection during construction. While primarily focused on environmental data, the platform's security framework is built to satisfy the stringent IT requirements of major municipal and governmental procurement processes.
