- About Anticimex
- Challenges associated with growth at Anticimex
- Anticimex’s measures to solve problems ~Advanced services using IoT and IFS~
- Expand the possibilities of IoT utilization!
About Anticimex
The IoT usage examples introduced in this article are from Anticimex. The company was founded in Sweden in 1934 as a bed bug extermination company, and has achieved sustained growth for over 85 years. Today, we are a leading specialist in pest control, with approximately 5,500 employees in 17 countries around the world, providing products and services for pest control. Another feature of the company is that its sales have increased significantly every year through the acquisition of over 80 companies.
Anticimex’s sustained growth is not only due to its corporate efforts, but also due to the rapid expansion of the pest control market. With the development of transportation methods that connect countries and regions, more people and goods are moving back and forth, and as urbanization progresses in various places, the amount of garbage is increasing. According to a report released by the World Bank in September 2018, global waste will increase by 70% from current levels by 2050. The cause is, after all, rapid urbanization and growth in the world’s population.
As garbage increases, it is natural that pests and vermin such as cockroaches and rats that feed on it will also breed. In other words, the development of society is a great business opportunity for Anticimex, and at the same time it is expanding the field in which it can fulfill its responsibility to contribute to society. However, it is true that this industry faces major challenges for sustainable growth due to strict regulations regarding chemical substances such as pesticides.
Challenges associated with growth at Anticimex
Anticimex’s products and services are provided not only to government offices and local governments, but also to private companies and households. In Japan, many people are not familiar with pest control companies, but in Western countries, it is a business that is closely connected to ordinary households, and it is common to use the services of pest control companies.
Anticimex’s pest control business targets a variety of organisms, most commonly rodents such as mice and insects. In addition, we regularly exterminate exotic dangerous species such as cobras in East Asia. Furthermore, the company is developing a wide range of businesses, including conducting inspections necessary when buying and selling real estate, such as fire prevention equipment inspections, dehumidification measures, and current condition surveys required for purchasing defect insurance, as well as providing hygiene management services such as toilets. I am. These service businesses provide and operate vehicles and field engineers separately from the pest control business.
Anticimex was faced with a fragmented IT system resulting from rapid growth and acquisitions. We also face challenges unique to the pest control industry, as well as the universal challenge of maintaining high quality service while experiencing rapid growth. The issue is that there is a need to use more environmentally friendly pesticides. This is not only from a legal and regulatory perspective, but also a customer requirement. Another issue is that pests and pests have become increasingly resistant to pesticides over time.
Anticimex’s measures to solve problems ~Advanced services using IoT and IFS~
Within the Anticimex Group, Sweden’s most advanced team has been using IFS Applications, an integrated ERP solution, for over 10 years, mastering IFS services and IFS Applications modules. I am. Additionally, at our Finland location, we utilize IFS Field Service Management and the accounting management module of IFS Applications.
Anticimex, which is active in IT utilization, chose “Anticimex SM AR” next. to develop theThe company developed it to control rat activity while addressing the issue of pesticides, and uses it as a high-performance rat trap with IoT-powered sensors and cameras.
In the “Anticimex SMART” system, each trapping device is connected to the network, so there is no need for field engineers to go to the site to check whether rats have been captured. IFS Applications centrally manages data on mouse traps across Finland and automatically provides field engineers with the devices they need to work with and the best route to move them. Eliminating unnecessary movement also has the effect of reducing environmental impact such as exhaust gas. This trapping device is also humane and environmentally friendly.
The Anticimex SMART system utilizes the IFS IoT Business Connector, which not only makes Anticimex more efficient, but also allows them to analyze data in a completely different way. I did. This is the solution to the problem of “How to charge IoT devices in remote locations?” By connecting the equipment to the internet, engineers are automatically notified when the capture device’s battery is low and needs to be recharged. Additionally, by analyzing trends in when and how often batteries run out, we were able to extend the time between charging the capture device, reducing costs and improving customer service.
In response, Anticimex Finland’s CEO said: “Field engineers now no longer have to painstakingly search for the rat traps they need to work on, and they know exactly which traps to go to and when. I understand. It not only allows our engineers to act faster, but it also gives us the ability to be more responsive as a company, allowing us to solve our customers’ problems faster.” .
Expand the possibilities of IoT utilization!
What do you think? Utilizing IoT is also very effective for pest control companies, and Anticimex has actually achieved great results. First, let’s actively think about how IoT can be used in your company.
