[Copesan Supplement] ‘Field Labs’ Test and Refine Protocols, Technology

Wil-Kil Pest Control, based in Sun Prairie, Wis., and Holder’s Pest Control in Houston are more than Copesan Partners. They’re wholly owned operations and unique field labs that let Copesan refine technology and service protocols before applying them organization-wide.

Wil-Kil’s involvement in the development of the RapidTrax™ hand-held electronic data collection system and its recent alliance with Marathon Data Systems to consolidate the best features of RapidTrax™ into Marathon’s PestPacTM Mobile hand-held software application demonstrate the value of this unique relationship to Copesan and its Partners.

Early in the development of the RapidTrax™ system, Wil-Kil was involved in software brainstorming meetings to determine how electronic data collection could better serve clients, recalled General Manager Dale Bauerkemper. Once the software was developed, “we worked out a lot of the kinks in the field, fine-tuned it to make it more user-friendly for technicians, and made sure it was recording data important to the client.”

Processes were developed to help office and field specialists go from paper to electronic record keeping. The company determined how to convert geographical maps of facilities containing pest management devices into computer language, Bauerkemper explained. The resulting computer “tree map” system allows technicians to find and scan devices and report pest activity and control measures in a timely and effective manner.

Wil-Kil helped identify costs and hardware needs, explored the practicality of printing hard-copy reports from vehicles, and developed training modules. “Wil-Kil personnel worked with Copesan’s corporate staff and provided valuable feedback on RapidTrax™,” said Mike Ruland, director of IT. Today, RapidTrax™ is an important and critical part of Copesan technicians’ daily routine that provides clients with meaningful information verifying Integrated Pest Management services performed and noting outstanding deficiencies.

“New Partners embrace the opportunity to move into hand-held technology, a key requirement of our national account clients,” said Copesan President Deni Naumann. With PestPac and Marathon Data now onboard to manage the data collection aspect of RapidTrax™ and oversee all future software development, Partners have an extensive support system to get them up and running, and train them on new applications.

“With Marathon Data Systems’ expertise in the software arena, and the personnel resources they can utilize for further development of the software, we see such positive benefits of this alliance that will provide for even further enhancements and maintenance of the software application,” Naumann said.

“By consolidating the best features of Copesan’s proprietary data collection application, RapidTrax™, with our PestPac Mobile hand-held software application, everyone benefits,” added Mike Ayars, president, Marathon Data Systems, Tinton Falls, N.J. “We already have gained some valuable new insights about the pest control market through our association with Copesan, which will allow us to continue to improve our PestPac Mobile product offering, so it’s a win-win-win for Copesan, the rest of the PestPac community and the industry as a whole.”

“We had the opportunity to show the rest of the partnership how it could be done,” added Bauerkemper. “The luxury of having an operational company within the umbrella of Copesan is to share ideas and expertise.”

Other programs Holder’s and Wil-Kil have been involved with bringing to fruition — and have modified for national accounts — include programs on quality and sanitation, ants, bed bugs, and organic pest management for food processing and warehousing facilities.

“Holder’s developed an emergency response program that was utilized following Hurricane Katrina by a number of Partners. Our Technical Director J.B. Howell integrated his expertise working with field-based U.S. military to design the program and this provided Partners needing to service those geographies impacted (by the storm) a proven program and approach,” commented Ed Knight, general manager of Holder’s.

And, both Holder’s and Wil-Kil have been involved with the initial introduction of Copesan University and have Web portals for company personnel to access. Every Partner has the opportunity to add training modules to Copesan University, said Bauerkemper.

“This type of activity occurs throughout the Partner network to provide training and track the training in order to develop and enhance our employees’ skills,” Bauerkemper said.