The post 7 Essential Features You Need In Your Pest Control Software appeared first on UK Construction Blog.

Pest control companies often find themselves looking for creepy crawlies around people’s homes, or offices. Even though proven technology is a crucial part of eliminating pests, most companies miss out on potential software opportunities. Software is the best way to make the job easier and it also helps to increase overall efficiency. With the right software, it’s possible to earn more and save money, as paperwork can be digitised and critical business processes can be automated. To find out more about what features to look for, simply take a look below.

1.   Customer Relationship Management

Good pest control software will provide a complete view of every customer. This should span from when they are identified as a lead, to the date they signed up for the service. It should also document every touchpoint and call-out. The CRM part of pest control software should include contact and billing details, along with scheduled appointments and a history of any purchases that have been made. Pest control managers should be able to edit customer information, on both mobile and desktop.

2.   Job Scheduling

Scheduling jobs is essential, yet it’s also one of the more complex aspects of running a successful business. The best software will ensure that this is a seamless process, from creating work orders to confirming appointments. As work increases, having the option to schedule certain jobs depending on their urgency is a very useful feature.

3.   Routing and Dispatch Management

Pest control companies once relied on paperwork and gut instinct when creating routes. Thanks to modern software it’s now possible to manage and prioritise even the most complex schedules. If possible, try and make sure that there’s an option to send customer reminders about appointments, as this will ensure that people don’t forget that they’re booked in for a visit.

4.   Job Reporting

Work has to be documented to the highest level to ensure that treatments meet the proper standards. In addition, customers feel better knowing what treatment has been done, why the work was performed and if any other changes have to be made. Job report features offer the chance to share forms, written notes, videos and more, so customers can be kept in the loop.

5.   Billing and Invoicing

Timely payments are the foundation of every successful business. The right software will simplify billing, as well as offering the option for mobile payment processing. Technicians should be able to track the status of payments when in the field too, making it easier to gain a transparent view of how business is going. Billing and invoicing features also make filing a tax return much simpler, as it is evident which expenses have been paid, and how much income the business is making per year.

6.   Add-On Services

There is often an opportunity to provide additional services, especially in the pest control business. Whether it is for transporting bees, setting traps or even cleaning up mess, so you don’t want to be leaving revenue on the table. The option to add additional payments is critical, so technicians can charge customers through the mobile app. This saves them ringing up customer services, before sending the bill to the customer, which is a monumental waste of time, energy and money.

7.   Site Photos

The last feature to look for when choosing pest control software is site photos. A great app allows technicians to share photos so that they can detail the type of pest, the damage they have done and how effective treatment has been. Site photos can also be used to show field experience or to show customers different scenarios that could happen if the issue is not treated imminently. Customers are often fearful of pests, especially when in their home and at an invasive level. The opportunity to share photos of completed jobs, or show that no traces of pests remain, is a great feature that can translate to more customer confidence.

By choosing pest control software that contains the above features, it becomes easier to provide a better service to customers. Good software saves money, operates the business more efficiently and boosts customer confidence. The right software will also help you to streamline company operations, allowing technicians to do more jobs each day while ensuring that there is no loss of quality as work increases. Overall, it’s a critical part of your operation, and important features should not be overlooked as they could be the key to not only scaling your company but also stabilising your business during intense growth periods.