Experts predict 2020’s top pest control topic

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We asked Pest Management Professional’s columnists and editorial board members to share their predictions for what the biggest topic in the pest control industry will be in 2020. Here are some of their responses — including a few extra that didn’t make it into our December 2019 print edition.
 

PMP’s Regular Contributors

Stuart Aust: “The continued consolidation through mergers and acquisitions, as it’s an incredible time to sell your business.”

Dan Gordon: “Can a traditional pest management company compete for customers against well-organized summer sales companies?”

Paul Hardy: “Based on what we are seeing in our industry, acquisitions. The Top 10 big names will be buying up the next Top 10 names in the industry. This is being fed by the evolution of second- through fifth-generation owners, hard work, education of offspring, and family business growth. The U.S. economy has never been this good. The Top 5 companies are in a war to become the name in the world of pest control.”

Frank Meek, BCE: “Our role in public health. With the mosquito issues that are occurring worldwide, and the continued death and illness associated with them, the focus on control, management and prevention will remain in the spotlight. Our role in protecting people from this pest should continue to increase and be recognized for the value it brings to the world.”

Kurt Scherzinger: “Remote monitoring. A large wave of manufactures has come out with different devices for rodent control. But as they move to other pests, the devices will allow us to utilize them in more ways so we can ‘be at’ accounts 24/7.”

Pete Schopen: “The growing divide among small, medium and large companies as the ‘big boys’ continue to buy out the medium-sized companies.”

Dr. Stephen Vantassel: “The presidential election’s impact on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations and business.”
 

PMP’s Editorial Advisory Board

Ryan Bradbury: “Industry consolidation. Is this a great opportunity for private companies to take market share organically?”

Michael Broder: “Getting and keeping quality entry-level technical staff. As minimum wages increase, especially in urban markets, salaries will need to rise. We will have to balance how much we can pass on to customers, or adjust service rates without compromising service.”

Doug Foster: “The continuing battle to ban second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides in California and other states throughout the U.S. There is a huge push to ban these and other rodenticides — or severely limit their use — and rely on pest-proofing, trapping, repellents and natural predators to effectively control rodents. The bans will take tools from our toolbox, and hamper our efforts to protect food supplies and public health. If it happens in California, other states will follow their lead. Hopefully, National Pest Management Association leadership, state associations and regulators can continue to bring some reason to the discussions.”

Dr. Faith Oi: “The projected change in the industry culture due to mergers, acquisitions and technology. There always will be room for companies that are customer-centric. The biggest change will be due to some unexpected innovation or public health event, because it is something that we are not prepared for as an industry. It doesn’t fit current business models, and the companies that can respond will capitalize on it.”

Mary Vongas: “Attracting talent. Our success is our people. Our industry, and business in general, are getting much more sophisticated. We are all raising the bar, and finding the right people is not getting any easier. Spoiler alert: 2021’s biggest topic will be developing and maintaining talent.”

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2019/12/11/experts-predict-2020s-top-pest-control-topic/
Sacramento CA