Envisioning your future toolbox

Illustration: Leo Michael

It’s no secret that the products and equipment on your truck today look quite different from a generation ago, or even 10 years ago. There are more precise placement tools, smaller packaging (to still cover the same amount of square footage), and at the very least a leave-behind brochure (or 20) explaining what you need the customer to do before your next visit.

But while we can draw some conclusions about how the industry’s tools have changed, and continue to advance, we want to bring readers insight from the front lines — the manufacturers and formulators of pest control chemicals.

We were pleasantly surprised at the varied responses to our “industry predictions” prompt. There were a few common trends that emerged, too, specifically:

1. A combination approach will continue to be fine-tuned for optimizing control — which products, when, where and how much.
2. As alluded to in our February 2018 issue, smart devices, currently focused on rodent control, will continue to gain prominence in our industry.
3. Dovetailing with the findings of the National Pest Management Association’s Professional Pest Management Alliance study, which is detailed in our article 5 generational marketing tips, green products will continue to be important to consumers.

Now it’s your turn: What are your predictions for our industry’s future toolbox? Drop me a line at hgooch@northcoastmedia.net.