Innovative Iron Award: Software Update Boosts Speed and Productivity for Cat’s 303.5 CR Mini Excavator

Compact Equipment’s annual Innovative Iron Awards spotlight the year’s most game-changing compact machines, attachments and technologies. The 2025 class showcases major leaps in electrification, smarter control systems, automation, telematics and operator comfort. From battery-powered loaders and ultra-efficient mini excavators to intelligent hydraulic systems, self-leveling booms and climate-controlled cabs, these award winners reflect how innovation is reshaping performance, safety and sustainability across jobsites. Each honoree delivers measurable improvements — longer runtimes, faster cycles, lower emissions and better visibility — proving that compact equipment is evolving faster than ever. The future of earthmoving is here, and it’s smarter, cleaner and more connected. Here’s one of our 2025 Innovative Iron Award winners. Congrats!

Caterpillar is always on the forefront of cool mini excavator tech. Need we mention stick steer? Or what about Cat’s entry level grade control system Ease of Use? Still not convinced? Check out Cat’s now obscure Xtra Tool Carrier (XTC) model. Here’s more techy mini ex coolness from Cat: The company announced at Utility Expo in September that its next generation compact radius 303.5 CR mini hydraulic excavator can get a notable performance bump with no wrench required. A new software update improves the machine’s transient travel speed by up to 25 percent, helping operators reposition faster and boost productivity by as much as 35 percent depending on the application.

Cat’s focus on digital innovation — using software optimization to increase productivity, fuel efficiency and return on investment — makes it an Innovative Iron Award winner. And, this winner is proof that innovations can come in small, smart, economical upgrades.

“We brought the 303.5 out, put it on the market and it worked like any other 3.5-ton machine, but we always felt we could get more out of it,” said Greg Worley, market professional for Cat mini excavators, in our recent Machines Heads video. “We took our 3.5-ton machine. We looked at it and said, ‘How can we improve it?’ Well, at the beginning of this year, I sat in this machine for weeks on end thinking I was Lewis Hamilton because the engineers typed away on their laptops and I tried different things. At the end of the day, we redid the complete software tuning package on this machine with software.”

Faster Acceleration, Same Top Speed

While the excavator’s maximum travel speed remains unchanged, the new code refines how the machine accelerates and responds to operator input. The 303.5 CR now reaches its top travel pace more quickly, shortening the time between dig zones or repositioning maneuvers. Caterpillar says the result is a more dynamic and responsive feel, cutting the amount of time the machine sits idle or is busy being repositioned. The software can be retrofitted to all next generation 303.5 CR excavators dating back to the first production units in 2021. Owners can check their software version on the machine’s operating monitor and schedule an update through their Cat dealer.

“Our top speed is still 3.2 miles an hour or whatever it is,” said Worley. “Our transient speed, how you get from 0 to 60, we improved that by 25 percent. And in doing that, when we reposition, when we move around, when we go to work, when you’re moving, you’re not trenching. So, by doing that software change, we actually managed to improve our productivity by 35 percent against the previous version of the Next Gen 3.5-ton machine.”

A Look at the Cat 303.5 CR

The 303.5 CR continues to be a standout in the 3.5-ton class with strong lift performance and tight-tail-swing versatility. Key specs include:

• Net Power: 23.6 hp
• Operating Weight: 9,239 lbs
• Dig Depth: 122.4 in. (10.2 ft)

Its compact radius design minimizes overhang when working beside walls or obstacles, allowing the excavator to deliver big performance in confined spaces. The 303.5 CR can lift, swing and carry a standard 2,450-lb street plate, making it a capable choice for utility, landscape and residential work. Caterpillar outfits the 303.5 CR with operator-focused features such as a sealed and pressurized cab, adjustable wrist rests and optional air conditioning. The company’s exclusive stick steer system lets operators toggle between traditional lever travel and joystick travel controls for smoother movement and easier blade work. Service access is another strong point. Routine checkpoints are accessible from ground level, and the cab tilts up for deeper maintenance tasks. Extended service intervals and VisionLink telematics help minimize downtime and simplify fleet management.

The Power of Smart Updates

Software upgrades like this highlight how compact machines are evolving beyond mechanical improvements. Modern excavators now run on data and digital calibration as much as diesel and hydraulics. Engineers can fine-tune responsiveness, travel dynamics and efficiency through software alone — updates that can be rolled out to existing fleets without a new machine purchase. It’s a sign of how construction equipment is becoming more like consumer tech — smarter, connected and continually improving. Want to learn more? Because Cat released a metric ton of cool new tech to their compact excavator units in 2025. Watch the video above. Then subscribe to our YouTube page.

Keith Gribbins is publisher of Compact Equipment.

Explore more Cat equipment updates and compact excavator coverage in our Mini Excavator Archive.