Simplifying Complexity: A New Era for Trimble’s Product Naming

Their Story

Since its founding in 1978, Trimble Inc. has been at the forefront of innovation, revolutionizing industries with cutting-edge technology. From geospatial tools to construction solutions, their global leadership in GNSS receivers, scanners, and software has made a lasting impact worldwide. However, Trimble’s rapid growth brought challenges. A fragmented patchwork of product names across their hardware and software lines created confusion for customers and inefficiencies for internal teams. Trimble needed a cohesive naming strategy that reflected their innovative spirit, clarified their offerings, and streamlined internal processes.

The Challenge / Our Solution 

To address these challenges, we partnered with Trimble to design a comprehensive naming strategy that delivered clarity, consistency, and relevance. Our process began with in-depth discovery, including interviews with Trimble executives, a deep dive into their product architecture, and an analysis of their future roadmap. These insights guided the development of a unified framework for hardware and software naming.

For hardware, we proposed several approaches, ultimately aligning on a hybrid strategy that balanced simplicity and scalability with the unique needs of each hardware group. This resulted in a clear, structured set of naming guidelines. For software, we recognized the need for more creative flexibility. We developed a decision tree and detailed guidelines to help teams determine when to name a product, choose the appropriate type of name, and craft benefit-driven names that resonate with customers.

To ensure smooth adoption, we conducted team workshops, created comprehensive documentation, and provided on-demand video walkthroughs. These tools empowered Trimble’s teams with the knowledge and confidence to implement the new system effectively.

The Results

Launched in late 2024, the new naming guidelines have transformed Trimble’s product development process. Hardware teams now enjoy a streamlined, efficient approach to naming and versioning, while software teams benefit from creative freedom within clear, structured guardrails. The cohesive system enhances customer understanding, strengthens brand recognition, and positions Trimble for sustained innovation and growth. By bringing clarity and cohesion to their product naming strategy, Trimble has reaffirmed its position as a global leader, ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

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