Leading-edge pest control technology isn’t only for nationally known brands anymore. Just ask Aaron and Leatrice Tate, the husband-and-wife team that owns Cleveland’s Vexrid Pest Management.
In a recent month’s cover story in the industry publication Pest Control Technology (PCT), Aaron Tate explained using the latest trends in pest management technology to streamline business.
By leveraging electronic reports and other recent developments in the industry, the couple has expanded their downtown Cleveland pest management business into surrounding counties.
He explained, “Our whole process is an integrated approach … There are ways to plan things out and make things efficient. That equates to less cost and more effective treatments.”
Less cost; more effective pest control treatments. These are advantages small pest control companies need to compete with national brands.
Like the Tates, you can take advantage of today’s pest control technology to save time and money.
The Types of Business Management Technology Used by Pest Control Companies
Pest control services can level the playing field by using technology. Here are the latest technologies you might need to take your pest control services to the next level.
Customer Management Technology
The best customer management technology tools help you:
- Attract new customers
- Keep track of regular pest control inspections
- Build customer loyalty
Some top time-saving tools are:
WorkWave PestPac
WorkWave’s PestPac offers a complete suite of customer management software. When used, it can take you from marketing to lead generation to customer retention.
Even better: Its developers designed it for the pest control industry. This makes it a great choice for helping you generate business.
It’s perfect for marketing and perfect for customer relationship management (CRM). If your budget can only spare one customer management tool, WorkWave PestPac would be it.
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Briostack Marketing Add-On
Briostack’s marketing add-on helps you attract new customers and measure your impact. It has pre-built templates that make emails and text messages easy to write.
Another perk is its user-friendly marketing analytics with colorful visuals. This allows you and your team to grasp how each campaign performs in minutes.
It’s designed for service businesses such as pest control companies. So, the Briostack tool helps you spend more time in the field and less time with routine marketing tasks.
In short, it gives you everything you need to communicate the benefits of choosing your pest control service.
Canva
Wyzowl’s State of Video Marketing 2023 report revealed that video marketing has driven more web traffic, leads, and sales than ever before. Of the marketers questioned, 92% said that video content yielded a good ROI.
For pest control services, video content is marketing gold. Allowing your customers to see the damage pests can do can drive them to schedule an inspection.
Canva allows you and your team to create and post videos for free, and their premium version is only $119.99 per year. This makes it a pest control technology tool well worth your investment.
Field Management Software
Field management software boosts your technicians’ productivity and reduces paperwork. Our top choices for these pest control technology tools are:
Briostack Pest Control Business Software
Dump the paperwork and manage your techs’ schedules online. Briostack’s comprehensive field management suite lets you:
- Manage cumbersome chemical tracking forms
- Create invoices
- Find the best fit for new work orders
- Manage job scheduling across various work units
The software also features a customer relationship management tool. This makes it a go-to choice for small businesses.
Fieldwork Pest Control Software
Fieldwork is another all-around software suite for pest control companies. It packs a lot of productivity into its various functions. With it, you can easily:
- Report chemical usage
- Manage work orders
- Schedule your techs
- Keep track of your techs’ progress on the job
Fieldwork also features a CRM tool and integrates with QuickBooks. This makes tax season less of a chore.
You can take advantage of Fieldwork’s two-week free trial to see if it’s a good fit for your pest control services.
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Equipment and Asset Management Technology
Keep track of your pest control equipment and materials with these software solutions. These pest control technology tools will help you streamline paperwork and get the most out of your investments:
WorkWave ServMan Inventory Management
WorkWave ServMan Inventory Management empowers you to automate your inventory management and track your materials in real time. This software suite features customizable fields to meet your exact needs.
For instance, allowing you to get rid of unnecessary orders while keeping needed materials always on hand.
PestPac Material Tracking
PestPac Material Tracking tracks and traces material at every point along the supply chain. With automated warnings when quantities run low, you never have to worry about shortages.
Employee Management Software
Hiring, onboarding, and training new employees is essential for pest control companies. Streamline the process and get the best people on your team with leading software:
VIVAHR Pest Control Hiring Software
VIVAHR helps you attract top candidates and find the best fit for your pest control business. This software uses organic search to attract the right candidates. It also has a company culture profile and free templates to create job descriptions.
VIVAHR’s rating system makes it easy to track and rank each applicant. This gives you the best chance to staff your teams with the best people.
Homebase Onboarding and Training Software
Homebase covers all post-hire needs for your business.
Once you’ve hired the perfect employee, Homebase makes it easy for them to sign all the required forms. You can also use it to message your new hires with dates and times of training sessions.
This tool offers a mobile app and can handle other HR tasks as well, such as:
- Scheduling
- Payroll
- Compliance
- Team communications
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The 5 Recent Developments in Pest Control Technology
Now that we’ve covered your pest control company’s management needs, let’s look at some of the most recent developments in pest control methods. Here are some of the latest advances in pest control science.
CRISPR Technology in Pest Population Control
One of the most exciting developments in pest control methods is CRISPR technology. CRISPR relies on gene editing to regulate pests’ fertility without killing individual insects. This means pest populations will be self-limiting.
The CRISPR technology targets a specific species. Because of this, it’s completely safe for humans, pets, and plants.
Using Drones Makes Pest Management More Efficient
Drones have become one of the latest trends in pest control. They can allow for more precise pesticide application, according to Citrus Industry magazine.
Drone technology also makes quick work of pest inspections. Similarly, drone technology helps pest control companies detect pest entry points. Combined with infrared technology, drones can even detect invasive pests in out-of-the-way areas.
Drones can also help scare off nuisance birds by resembling natural predators. In fact, they can emit noises that imitate those predators.
Receptor Interference Shows Promise in Controlling Insect Pests
One of the most annoying ground insects for homeowners is the fire ant. But, as the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service has discovered, the solution might lie within the ants’ cells themselves.
Receptor interference technology (RECEPTOR-i) “disrupts the vital processes” fire ants need to survive. These processes include feeding, digestion, and development.
The technology also shows promise in the battle against other insects, as well as slugs.
“The concept and procedure for RECEPTOR-i has been developed over years,” said Man-Yeon Choi, research entomologist at the ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon. “Now it is a proven technology that will serve as a model for other pest management strategies such as for spotted wing drosophila, thrips, and pest slugs.”
It’s also environmentally friendly, demonstrating no harm to animals or plants.
Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) Prevent Pest Maturity
Today’s pest control technology has evolved to even synthesize insect hormones.
An IntechOpen.com literature study says the hormones interfere with insects’ molting process. This then prevents them from maturing beyond a specific point.
Pest control specialists can combine IGRs with insecticides to manage adult pest populations.
Heat Treatments Provide a Strategic Alternative
A Virginia Tech study shows that constant exposure to certain temperatures kills bedbugs:
- A temperature of 113 F for 90 minutes or more will kill bedbugs by dehydrating them from the inside.
- Bedbugs will die within 20 minutes if you raise the temperature to 118 F.
- Keeping the temperature at 118 F for 90 minutes results in 100% of bedbug eggs dying.
These facts offer an alternative method to rid clients of hard-to-kill pests.
How You Can Get Started Today
- Research the best pest control technology that meets your business needs.
- Stay up to date on emerging pest control technology trends and developments.
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