Trimble Review - Features, Pricing & Deals

Trimble provides technology solutions for industries including construction, geospatial, agriculture, and transportation. Their flagship software, Trimble Business Center (TBC), helps professionals manage and process survey data from field to finish.

Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Westminster, Colorado, Trimble now operates in over 150 locations across 30 countries. The company focuses on connecting physical and digital worlds through technology that improves productivity, quality, and safety across multiple sectors.

TBC software enables surveyors and geospatial professionals to transform raw field data into useful deliverables. It supports input from various sources like GNSS receivers, total stations, laser scanners, and drones. The platform offers tools for data processing, analysis, and collaboration while maintaining compatibility with common industry software.

While pricing varies by region and package, Trimble offers several subscription tiers starting with a free Personal plan. Business plans begin at $12.99 monthly per user, with premium options available for larger teams needing advanced features. Users should contact Trimble directly for specific pricing details in their area.

• Data Integration and Multi-Sensor Support: Seamlessly process survey data from GNSS receivers, total stations, laser scanners, drones, and mobile mapping systems in a single software environment.
• Advanced Data Processing: Leverage AI-powered point cloud classification, dynamic surface creation, and precise GNSS post-processing to transform raw field data into actionable insights.
• Industry-Standard Collaboration: Export data to multiple formats, integrate with leading design software like Autodesk and ESRI, and create comprehensive reports for seamless team communication.
• Specialized Workflow Modules: Access dedicated tools for aerial photogrammetry, cadastral surveying, mobile mapping, infrastructure design, and project monitoring.
• Connected Workspace Technology: Automatically synchronize data between field and office software, eliminating manual transfers and reducing potential errors.
• Continuous Innovation: Benefit from machine learning enhancements, regular software updates, and cutting-edge geospatial technology designed to improve productivity.
• Flexible Project Management: Support diverse project types across construction, agriculture, transportation, and geospatial industries with comprehensive, adaptable software solutions.

• Personal Plan offers free access with 1 project creation, invitation of up to 5 project members, 10 GB storage, ability to join 5 projects, and read-only access to workflow extension data.
• Business Plan costs $12.99 monthly or $9.99 per user annually, providing unlimited project creation, unlimited project members, unlimited data upload, and enhanced project management features.
• Business Premium Plan ranges from $23.95 per user monthly for under 5 seats, with custom pricing for over 5 seats, offering advanced BIM tools, enriched 3D workflows, and full access to workflow extensions.
• Pricing may vary by region, and users are advised to contact local Trimble distributors for specific regional pricing details.

Trimble Business Center 1.1 includes several updates that improve workflow efficiency. The biggest change is the enhanced point cloud classification using AI technology, which works faster and more accurately than previous versions. This update also features improved integration with Trimble Access field software through the Connected Workspace feature, eliminating manual data transfers. Users will also find better support for processing drone imagery and updated export options for compatibility with common design software.

The update policy depends on your current license arrangement. If you have an active software maintenance agreement with Trimble, you'll likely get the 1.1 update at no extra cost. Without a maintenance plan, you might need to purchase the update. I suggest checking with your Trimble dealer or account manager for specifics about your situation. They can explain your options based on your current license type.

Yes, TBC 1.1 maintains backward compatibility with data files from earlier versions. You won't lose access to your previous projects when upgrading. The software still supports all the same data formats including files from GNSS receivers, total stations, laser scanners, and drone systems. If you're switching from another platform altogether, TBC 1.1 accepts common industry formats, making the transition smoother.

The new AI classification system in version 1.1 uses machine learning to automatically identify and categorize objects in your point cloud data. It can tell the difference between buildings, vegetation, ground points, and other features with less manual input than before. The system works across various data types including aerial, terrestrial, mobile mapping, and tunnel scans. This saves hours of manual classification work, especially on large projects with millions of points. You can still manually adjust the classifications if needed.

For basic surveying tasks, you'll need at least 8GB of RAM, an i5 processor or equivalent, and a dedicated graphics card with 2GB of memory. However, if you're working with large point clouds or processing drone imagery, I strongly recommend 16-32GB of RAM, an i7 or better processor, and a graphics card with at least 4GB of memory. The software runs on Windows 10 or 11 and needs about 10GB of free disk space for installation. Performance improves significantly with better hardware, especially when handling complex 3D datasets.