Technology for PMPs evolves

Software service providers reveal their latest developments and forecast what’s next.

We spoke with eight industry suppliers to find out what software and cloud computing solutions currently are available and soon to be unveiled to pest management professionals (PMPs). Read on for their announcements and expectations for future innovations. We also want to know more about the technology you’re using and plan to implement in the near future. Drop us a line at pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net.

Donnie Shelton

COALMARCH

Donnie Shelton
CEO

Coalmarch offers PMPs the ability to hire, train and retain employees in a way that works for them, saving them time and money. With the new release of our software coming later this year, we’re changing the way owners and managers gain insight into employee performance, even before they are hired. By knowing and understanding company goals from the very beginning, PMPs are able to easily turn the right candidates into great employees and leaders within their companies.

Predictions: The next five years will be an exciting time for PMPs. They will see many more integrations among the software they already rely on, and essentially this will result in more efficient, more automated, and more streamlined operations, sales, training and hiring abilities. We expect to see software companies evolving their products into platforms to provide PMPs with the ability to manage all aspects of their business from one place.

Steve Wells

ClearPathGPS

Steve Wells
Founder and Chief Marketing Officer

PMPs don’t stay at their desks all day, so the new ClearPathGPS mobile apps available in the App Store and on Google Play provide owners and managers with reliable telematics data to run their businesses in the field. Managers can keep tabs on current vehicle location, breadcrumb trails, real-time vehicle behavior, geozone arrivals/departures, and virtual timecard reports for proof of service.

Predictions: Looking to the future, we are focused on enabling PMPs to spend more time tackling their core businesses and generating reliable business insights that increase profitability. We want them to spend less time consumed with tedious data entry, paperwork, locating equipment and other administrative tasks.

This means not just moving from manual to automated reporting, but also using open application programming interfaces (APIs) to stitch various back office systems together — for instance, telematics with accounts payable and accounts receivable (AP/AR) and field service management systems.

Bo Stewart

KEY 7 SOFTWARE

Bo Stewart
Chief Technology Officer

Key 7 Software provides software designed to help run and grow your pest control business. Features such as automated customer communication, mobile servicing tools and reporting insights allow your company to provide a better overall customer experience.
Predictions: As technology advances, consumers want to make service purchases instantly and then get back to their busy lives. From making the initial purchase, to scheduling and tracking the arrival of the technician — tomorrow’s customers will be able to manage their pest services through technology.

To grow and compete in an automated world, your company also must be able to utilize the data from your software system. Tomorrow’s software will be able to provide deeper insights into your business. Predicting a callback or the optimal time to cross-sell a service are just a couple of examples. With better access to your data and the expertise of your software provider, you will be able to analyze new customer targets and grow your business.

Shelby Anderson

LABELSDS.com

Shelby Anderson
VP, Operations

The LabelSDS.com website has more than 4,000 product labels and safety data sheets (SDS) for users to find, manage, share or print their company’s product labels and SDS. The site allows you to create a customized database that automatically updates when label revisions and supplemental labels are added. You now can have all your company’s labels and SDS available to all your staff on nearly any device 24/7.

We recently added a customer portal link that can be added to the PMP’s website to allow customers to view the company’s product labels and SDS. We also are working on a direct portal for emergency responders in the event of a vehicle accident or fire.

Predictions: We believe the role of software and online technologies will continue to become increasingly more important. It will help PMPs become more knowledgeable regarding solving pest issues, more efficient in routing and planning, and more interactive with their customers.

Beth Berry

REAL GREEN SYSTEMS

Beth Berry
VP, Business Development

Consistently rated best in class for Android and iOS mobile solutions and routing, Real Green pioneered the digital transformation of the service industry with its flagship customer-relationship management (CRM) program, Service Assistant. Developed specifically for the lawn care and pest control industries, our integrated and automated marketing solutions and self-serve portals are truly a “business in a box” — freeing up labor resources for the important challenges your business faces.

Predictions: Real Green partners with iconic industry brands to see well into the future of the pest control industry by developing equipment tracking solutions that will provide quality assurance and asset tracking. Also on the technology roadmap are potential wearable applications to track and record transactions onsite, and to revolutionize the customer experience.

Andy Deering

SERVICEPRO

Andy Deering
CEO

ServicePro offers a full, cutting-edge enterprise pest control software system to help automate the needs of the pest management industry. We are always developing bigger and better features, but most recently, our new ServSales native app will now work independently without the need of internet access — yet still sync seamlessly with the core program. We also are releasing an Intelligent Routing Module designed with advanced algorithms for easy scheduling. This will save time and money for all our customers.

Predictions: Our team believes the industry will continue to use mobile features in many ways in the years to come. This would include an increased use of sensors in all aspects of the actual service the PMP provides, from detecting activity to identifying and removing the pest altogether.

Taylor Olson

SLINGSHOT SOFTWARE

Taylor Olson
CEO

Slingshot offers PMPs a 24/7 sales and service team. You provide us your pricing, service procedures and plans, and we represent your brand and convert new customers around the clock. We can instantly engage customers via phone, email, text, live chat and social media.

We’re excited about some new features we’ve added to our software. Our Multi-channel Inbox allows users to see all their new sales and customer interactions in one place. We’ve also developed integrations that import any new sales we make directly into your CRM. Lastly, we’ve seen great success with our Emergency Dispatch tool, as it now allows you to automatically notify on-call techs as soon as an emergency call comes in.

Predictions: Customers will increasingly look for PMPs that can provide a fast, convenient shopping experience they can access anytime, on any device. PMPs that embrace technologies that improve the customer experiences will thrive; those that don’t will struggle.

Rick Agajanian

WORKWAVE PESTPAC

Rick Agajanian
Director, Product Management

WorkWave PestPac is pest control software with powerful functionality that solves three key pain points for its users: visibility into the field, insight into marketing and sales activity, and efficiency inside the office. WorkWave also acts as a strategic partner, enabling businesses to grow and scale, whether it be for a one-person business or a multimillion-dollar enterprise.

We have some new and exciting updates to look forward to, including a new version of Mobile Sketch that introduces sophisticated tools, allowing a technician flexibility and creativity when representing a location. We also will be making updates to our Route Op feature, including a new visual optimization tool.

Predictions: Technology can help foster seamless customer interactions through mobile apps, with the ability to provide real-time estimated times of arrival to customers, paperless payment options, online customer portals, and more.

PMPs must ensure they are providing a level of service expected by today’s consumers, who have the potential to be their main source of new growth.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2019/07/09/technology-for-pmps-evolves/
Sacramento CA