Smart Moves

In a quest to improve productivity and efficiency, pest control companies are always looking for the best software, technology and apps. And with the influx of artificial intelligence (AI) available to do everything from answering phone calls to optimizing routes, PCOs are investigating and researching what AI technology is available — and which is best suited for their business needs.

Some companies, such as Rose Pest Solutions, Northfield, Ill., have implemented AI-based software at their offices. Curtis Rand, vice president of operations, says it’s all about finding the AI solutions that work best for your company. For example, Rose Pest Solutions is testing how AI software may benefit its phone system by tracking incoming customer leads and vital information such as what time of the year a customer calls and what pests they have.

“It helps to really isolate our marketing spend and focus on different times of the year based on what calls are coming in,” said Rand.

Rand said it can take time to see results, which Rose Pest Solutions has learned with an experiment using AI-based texting software designed to communicate with former customers. Rand said they’ve had a few successes but are still monitoring its potential.

Like Rand, other PMPs are dipping their toes into the AI world. But it seems many companies are finding ways to help with office tasks, as opposed to field work.

For example, Meredith Shaw Miller, business manager at Pest-X Exterminating in Winston-Salem, N.C., said she’s used ChatGPT to help create email campaigns and call scripts. While Erin Richardson, president of All-American Pest Control, Nashville, Tenn., said her company is working with their current technology providers to see what AI-based offerings they may have to enhance current services.

Overall, PMPs view AI as a tool that has the potential to help streamline a variety of business processes. In fact, 68 percent of PMPs say using or promoting the use of new technology attracts potential employees to the pest control industry, according to the PCT survey.

“AI is definitely the future, so we’re trying to learn as much as we can and see how we can use it to our advantage,” said Wendy Lund, administrative director at Accel Pest & Termite Control in Virginia, who is just starting to research solutions. “AI is not about replacing employees. It’s about working with AI to make us more efficient, more productive.”

Do your homework and be prepared for some trial and error — and don’t be afraid of using AI technology, especially if it makes sense for your company.

“Remember, some options are going to work, and they might work for one company and not for another,” said Rand. “But I think we’ve got to continue to look at ways we can improve, because if we’re not improving, then we’re going backwards.”