5 Questions with Mike Hanson, Sponsored by Dow AgroSciences

1. Why is remote monitoring important?

We see remote monitoring becoming a must-have in the battle to protect human health, prevent damage to foods and properties and protect company reputations. Third-party research tells us that. For example, nearly half of food retailers polled for us by a third-party research firm, said they would consider switching pest management service if their current service provider did not offer remote monitoring like the ActiveSense™ system for rodents. As customers increasingly understand the benefits of remote monitoring it will become an expectation.

2. What are the benefits to pest management professional (PMP) companies?

Remote monitoring in real time can speed service response, eliminate the need to routinely inspect difficult-to-access areas, document service in detail, and by knowing the exact time and location of activity generate data to uncover the root cause of a rodent problem. This can move service from reactive trap checking to a proactive service with the ultimate goal being prevention of a pest problem through prediction. To make adoption easier we have developed an easy-to-use system and to speed the learning curve for service technicians we employ virtual reality training.

3. What is important for a PMP when considering remote monitoring?

Does the technology fit the way you do rodent service now? With the ActiveSense system we involved 60 leading companies in a pilot program. They used it at a variety of sites — universities, museums, restaurants, stadiums, food manufacturing plants, food warehouses and more. The value of remote monitoring becomes evident when used with different rodent species for multiple customers.

4. How would I best approach potential clients with this new technology?

They want proof of performance. To help, we are creating a series of case studies based on real-world use by PMPs. These case studies highlight benefits like finding mouse harborage where it was totally not expected, discovering that an exterior rodent station was being used every night by custodians to prop open a door while trash was being removed, and being able to minimize service on a rooftop where access to snap traps for mice was extremely labor-intensive.

5. What is the potential of remote monitoring technology?

Ultimately, remote monitoring can empower PMPs with the artificial intelligence capabilities needed to prevent many pest problems. As a manufacturer, the path forward requires a strategic focus of our resources and talent. If you consider the array of pest challenges our industry faces, then the potential to monitor for pests using an array of senses — sound, sight, smell and touch — plus contributing environmental conditions like heat and humidity begins to give you an idea of how broad and transformative this technology can become.

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