Clark Commercial Blog – February 2022
How clients affect a successful pest management program
The terms engagement and partnership seem overused in today’s business world. Everyone preaches the value of doing both, but when the rubber hits the road, does it really happen?
A strong relationship between pest management service provider and client is the foundation for successfully preventing and eliminating pests in commercial properties. Both parties must contribute and engage for a pest management program to deliver its intended results.
The role of the pest management professional
The pest management professional’s role is straightforward: prevent and/or eliminate pests from entering a commercial property, so they won’t threaten the products and people that work, visit, or live there. Another aspect to the relationship is to provide clients with expert consultation on how to continually improve their pest management programs.
Pest management programs in commercial facilities do not all follow the same script. Each property has its own unique set of conditions that can promote pest activity, from poor sanitation and maintenance issues to what products are produced there. Each commercial property presents a different challenge or opportunity to the professional tasked with servicing it.
Pest professionals provide an extra set of eyes and ears in a commercial property. They will collect and analyze pest trend data that can spot potential pest issues before they get too large. They can review your internal training programs and sanitation/cleaning, maintenance, and production protocols to identify weak links and make recommendations for improvement. Your pest management service provider is your partner in success.
A pest management professional will identify the root cause(s) of the pest problem and what conditions contributed to the problem, and can make recommendations on how they will take care of the problem. They will also explain the importance and the impact, both economic and on brand perception – of investing in – or not investing in – pest management services.
The client’s role
The client’s point of contact (e.g., quality assurance, property manager, business owner) must function as an advocate for the pest management professional with upper management, procurement, and the production staff. It’s this person’s job to rally the troops in support of what the pest management professional is doing and make sure the resources – money and people – are available.
Explaining exactly what your commercial property’s pest management needs are, and what internal and external standards must be met regarding service, is critical. If your company’s requirements are either too vague or overly prescriptive, it could hinder your pest management service provider’s ability to do their job, and your property will suffer.
A client should have a general understanding of what their pest management service partner can bring to the table. Conversely, a pest management professional must be able to demonstrate added value to the client, which isn’t merely paying someone to monitor rodent and insect stations and provide a service ticket. That is a waste of resources.
Getting to know the technician(s) that service your commercial property, and understanding exactly what they do and what your program covers, is important. Don’t hesitate to teach the technician about your business: The more they know about your operation, the better they can serve your business’ objectives.
Clark Pest Control’s commitment to safety
Clark Pest Control is committed to safeguarding your business or commercial property from pests during these challenging times. Our service technicians use such personal protective equipment as gloves, masks, and respirators, they practice social distancing, and they adhere strictly to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when servicing inside or outside your facility.
If your commercial property demands innovative pest management solutions and a pest management partner that understands your business, call Clark Pest Control at (800) 936-3339.