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How would you disrupt the pest control industry?

• ph0rque 13y ago
  Here's a crazy idea: come up with a method for getting rid of pests forever (say, 10 years) in a given house.
  • Casseres 13y ago
    That generaly means using stronger chemicals. Bugs eventually develop immunities, so then even stronger chemicals will be required in the future. I think there are ways houses can be built that help prevent bugs from getting in. I know there is a device that can go around pipes before being cemented in a foundation which prevents bugs from getting into houses that way. Perhaps prevention is the new way to stop bugs?
    • ph0rque 13y ago
      Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Also, can't houses be built 'bug-tight', so that the bugs can't get in?
      • iancarroll 13y ago
        Didn't he just say that? `I think there are ways houses can be built that help prevent bugs from getting in. I know there is a device that can go around pipes before being cemented in a foundation which prevents bugs from getting into houses that way. Perhaps prevention is the new way to stop bugs?`
• DanBC 13y ago
  1) Appeal to the hippies. Remove pests without using "chemicals".[1] 2) Subscription plans and home-owner training. EG: bedbugs are tricky to kill in one visit, so do a visit, and train the home-owner how to coax bedbugs out to kill them. And then do a follow up visit a week later. The subscription plan is for "social housing" - in the UK we have a bunch of low cost semi-emergency bed&breakfast accommodation. They have problems with bedbugs, maybe cockroaches, and other vermin. Quarterly visits would help keep those down.
  • notahacker 13y ago
    Two very solid ideas. Looks like "subscription plans" are already used in the industry, but I can see two ways you might take them to the next level, especially if nobody else is doing it: (i) team up with other service industries like plumbers/electricians offering subscription plans for services that might be required on a more regular basis and get pest control as part of the package (my father has a subscription plan for on-call plumbers for a single buy-to-let property. He'd never need an individual pest control plan but if it was a small add-on to an existing bundle...) As well as outsourcing a large part of your sales effort you also reach homeowners with low risks of infestations who wouldn't contract individually with an independent pest control contractor: rates would be lower but so would the actuarial risk. (ii) go direct to the general home insurance companies - dealing with you direct is more efficient for them than rebating their policyholders for pest control contractors they've called out. Again, allows you to generate revenue from (and spread costs across) homes that would be unlikely to ever call you out.
    • MotivatedPen 13y ago
      Can you elaborate on point 2? Are you talking about how some insurance providers want you to have proof of a termite treatment before insuring the home?
      • notahacker 13y ago
        I figure if people are claiming for individually purchased termite treatments or bug extermination on their insurance (which I assume they can and do on some policies) it's more cost-effective for the insurer to buy direct, and in bulk, for all the bug treatments their policyholders are likely to claim for. The insurer adds "same day bug treatment service included" to their insurance product offering, you get paid for xxx callouts per year without having to market your services direct to the homeowner, and potentially can ask for some of that revenue up front to help you expand you team.
• Casseres 13y ago
  I've never dealt with pest companies. Are they generally on time? Are their prices fair? Are they selling stuff that breaks often or constantly needs to be refilled? Is it something that home-owners can do themselves with just a simple kit (different kits depending on the terrain, geographic location)? Can the "middle man" be cut out?
• orangethirty 13y ago
  Pick a region, talk to the customers. See if they want online booking. See if they want to pay with PayPal. See if they want to buy products from you. Simply, try and find out how software can remove steps to purchase. It's fairly easy to do so. I did it with a simple iOS app. People just wanted to book the exterminator through their iPhone. Sales up 20%.
• MotivatedPen 13y ago
  A few year ago a group called home team worked with the largest home builders and installed tubes in the walls. The idea was that since your home already was built with the tubes you would automatically sign up with home team for your pest control. Even though the tubes weren't as effective as advertised it did create quite a stir in the business. They did eventually sell but not before going from nothing to 100 mega per year in revenue. I have always grown from being a sales company. I specialize in door to door sales teams (recruiting, training, etc) this can be extremely effective (look no further than blackstone's acquisition of vivant, who built their company going door to door).. I guess what I'm really wondering is if there is something insane that could be done to get customers faster than this method.
• venomsnake 13y ago
  Create army of small robots that take on the cockroaches one by one - as a bonus revenue stream you can sell the video feed as a Warhammer 40k movie. This is almost a joke - I do think that in few years time we will have tech, batteries and software for that - and I think that the mechanical solution of extermination will appeal to a lot of people.
• helen842000 13y ago
  This depends on which angle you're looking to improve. Which route would make the larger companies take notice faster? a) Customers picking your 'brand' over theirs. This could be done by addressing the embarrassment side of having to call pest control in, especially with the target customer of first time parents with young children. Are there preventative services you could offer, which is where you get into selling a 'peace of mind' service. Alternatively maybe you opt to have no branded vehicles - is being discreet of value to your customers? b) Generating unprecedented sales numbers - This could be done by targeting residences around a home you're currently working at, or partnering with food service chains or offering a service to home buyers to do a full report. Even targeting pet owners (I'm sure there are some pests that are harmful to domesticated animals) If you educate a new market then it's a whole lot easier than fighting over one that knows your competitors well. c) Automate the business side for efficiency - set up systems that remind you to follow up with dormant enquiries, schedule visits on a linear route for operatives, auto-contact your previous customers to remind them of an annual check. This would be changing the industry from the inside out. d) Could you productise the industry - same as weedkiller & tools are a huge seller for the lawncare industry. Brainstorm on your customers pain points - what stops them picking up the phone - high cost, too busy, inconvenient process and so on. The best way to disrupt the industry is by doing something that isn't just a 'better offer' as that can be copied - it has to be fundamental to your way of operating. Good luck with your improvements!
  • MotivatedPen 13y ago
    Biggest pain points -contracts. customers hate them but they seem like a must have. For example I sold my old company to terminix. I would go from 5 million to nothing if they weren't contracted customers. -the customer service experience hasn't really changed in 20 years. I am even guilty of this. It's just the same crap. -customers expect to see ZERO pests, which is impossible at this point.
    • helen842000 13y ago
      When you say contracts, do you mean as in a repeat service agreement or more a paper contract? Customer service is really easy to improve & easy to forget to do. Look at what's stopping you from providing awesome customer service consistently. Can tech help with this in anyway? How do you define poor customer service? Is it a case that you promise you'll come on Monday but other jobs get in the way (schedule organisation) Is it not calling people back when they enquire (consider a voicemail to email service) or is it more that you just don't have time to form a friendly relationship with the customer e.g I'm done here's the invoice. (Look into delegating to a part-time assistant) If customers expectations are incorrect (zero pests) then that needs to be communicated more loudly & your controllers should educate the correct expectations & emphasise the importance of noting frequency/numbers of pests seen & when is the right time to call you back - by teaching the customer what to expect they'll be happier even if they do see 'some' they were forewarned.
• meerita 13y ago
  Men, I have dreamed of a device that is installed somewhere high in the room and it has a very precise sensor, which makes moving a laser cannon that kills mosquitoes instantly. It is quiet and accurate. Build it, shut up and take my money.