Small Team, Big Results: Trimble S5 Helps NC Small Business Do More
Investing in new equipment can either make or break a small business, and new tech isn’t always the right answer. For Coastal Carolina Surveyors, a small four-person surveying firm, owners Jamie Hamm and Ken Biggs have always had a forward-thinking approach when it comes to tech, but were careful with their investments. When the duo saw what the Trimble S5 could do for their team, they knew it was a worthy investment.
Prior to this company, Jamie and Ken both worked at a large architecture engineering firm when they were laid off due to the recession. That’s when they formed their own business – Coastal Carolina Surveyors, based out of Winterville, NC. For years, the team at Coastal Carolina Surveyors relied exclusively on conventional surveying methods and did nearly all of their work manually. Like many small business owners, Jamie is used to, and even enjoys, being a part of every job from start to finish.
As Jamie noticed his small team struggling to keep up with the business’ growing demand, he started to consider the value investing in new equipment could offer, “We were reluctant to take on bigger jobs because we were so busy.” Originally, Jamie and Ken were looking at GeoMax or Spectra equipment, assuming they couldn’t afford a Trimble item. That was until Rick Lusher of Duncan-Parnell demoed the Trimble S5 Total Station for them, and they saw everything it was capable of.
Before this growth in demand, with Jamie and Ken’s experience and expertise in land surveying, they never felt slowed down doing everything the conventional way, despite having a small team. Technology at the time they were starting was not where it is now and some of the “advanced” equipment felt more cumbersome than productive to Jamie and his team.
Jamie had a history with Rick Lusher and Trimble from his prior job, since that company would purchase Trimble products through Rick from Duncan-Parnell. Seeing the S5 in action was all the proof Jamie needed that it had everything he wanted. Not only was the Trimble S5 faster than the other options they were considering, but it also came with a tracking system and other extra features that would make it possible to complete more jobs without adding extra employees. An added bonus? It was more within their budget than Jamie realized.
For Jamie, the equipment provided a better way to continue executing the quality of work his team was already doing while fitting more jobs into their busy schedule, “The faster we can get on a jobsite and finish and get on to the next one, the better… the Trimble S5 was exactly what we were looking for.”
Jamie and the rest of his team were excited about bringing on the S5, and after a small learning curve, the team was able to confidently operate the machine within just weeks, “Now, we can split up, and one employee can use conventional equipment and the other can use the robot… we no longer have to limit the work we take on.”
Even on the rare occasion there is a technical problem, they know they can call on Rick or Duncan-Parnell for assistance, “If you buy something like [the S5] and you don’t have the support, it doesn’t do you much good. That was a big part of going with Duncan-Parnell and Trimble.”
On one job, Jamie saw first-hand what a difference having that extra support makes. When Jamie was experiencing technical difficulties working in the middle of the woods, he reached out to Duncan-Parnell and was able to quickly get help. That little bit of extra help over the phone was the difference between completing the project that day or packing up and having to come back after the problem was fixed – and for a busy surveying firm, that’s a huge difference.
In fact, Jamie and Ken have been so impressed with how the S5 has positively impacted their business that they’re already considering investing in another one. They’ve seen the difference it’s made with the increase in projects they’re able to take on, and Jamie likes how this work has been added successfully without the need for extra hires.
For small business owners, making the investment in advanced equipment can be intimidating. You don’t have the same protections or backup that large corporations do, so it’s understandable to want to really weigh your options. For Jamie, he was always interested in upgrading to something that would help his team complete jobs faster, and he was able to find just that and more in the Trimble S5 Total Station.
Coastal Carolina Surveyors’ owners Jamie and Ken have found that state-of-the-art equipment, a talented crew and the support of trusted partners like Duncan-Parnell and Trimble lets them nearly double their workload, take on more clients and ultimately grow their business for years to come.