Pitfalls of Choosing a Pest Control Software Provider

Looking for a new pest control software solution can feel confusing and sometimes intense.

If you don’t know what to look for, you can quickly run into pitfalls. Good news! It doesn’t have to be this way. Go into your search armed with what you should expect from a software provider and know what to ask and listen for, so you come out with the best software for your business.  

Cheap isn't always better ... you get what you pay for. You’ve probably heard this expression before. A cheap pair of sunglasses, a phone charger, 1-ply toilet paper … you get the idea. They fall apart way too fast and there you are, hung out to dry and needing more. This can be true with software too, but it’s way more critical when it affects your business. Don’t fall victim to what seems to be a good deal up front.

Feature paralysis – Stay focused on your business objectives and figure out what features you really need before you start shopping. Some companies will dangle shiny bells and whistles to distract you from your purchasing goal. Their software may look slick and cool, but if the functionality isn’t really what you need, then you’re just wasting money.

Pricing – If your company is small right now, you may be tempted to go with a “one price fits all” type of plan. But what happens when your operations start to grow and you need to add additional employees? Unfortunately, many business owners don’t think about this and before they know it, they’ve quickly outgrown their system and it needs to be replaced. Think about your long-term needs when formulating your purchase plan. You want pricing that grows with you, not against you.

Contract Length – Sometimes things just happen in life and you shouldn’t have to give up your first born to get out of a contract. Before you sign a lengthy and complex contract, carefully review it to determine if there are any legal ramifications if you need to terminate the contract early.

Support – Many software providers will sacrifice the quality of care by outsourcing their customer service because it saves them money.  Just like the commercial, “just ok” customer service is “not ok”. In addition, some pest control software providers will nickel and dime you every time you call in to customer support, and that can get expensive.

Implementations – Implementing a new software is never easy and don’t be fooled by companies who tell you differently. Depending on the complexity, it could easily take up to 6 months to be fully up and running. Also, don’t make the mistake of cutting employee training just to save costs. Make sure formal training or a “train-the-trainer” type of instruction is included with your purchase.

Conclusion

Implementing new or updating your current pest control software is a big investment for any company. It requires careful planning and research but knowing what to avoid will help you with your decision.