Your clients demand effective pest management and low prices–delivering both is tough work.
Traditional pest monitoring methods make delivering cost-effective solutions to your clients difficult since they require multiple site visits and costly monitoring. A new crop of cell cameras, however, can radically reduce your pest monitoring costs and deliver high ROI. Let’s look at the costs of traditional pest monitoring services and how they compare to inspections conducted remotely using cellular cameras.
What Are Cell Cams?
Cell cams are compact cameras equipped with cellular connectivity. Durable and roughly the size of a paperback book, they have motion-activated high-resolution cameras that can snap photos or videos of wildlife or pests and send them directly to your smartphone or computer through a mobile app or online portal. Advanced cameras like the AwareX have long-lasting rechargeable batteries and options for solar power. Cell cams can be placed in areas prone to pest activity, from fields and orchards to basements and attics, and they work around the clock to provide real-time data without the need for manual inspections.
Cost of Cell Cams
The initial cost of a high-quality cell cam can be as low as $100. Professionals may also want to secure backup rechargeable batteries and a solar panel, which will raise the price slightly. There is also a nominal monthly account fee to access the cellular data.
When comparing the cost of cell cams to traditional pest monitoring methods, there’s a noticeable difference. Manual inspections may not cost anything when it comes to equipment, but they require labor, time, and sometimes the use of specialized tools, which can add up quickly. For larger areas, frequent manual inspections can become expensive in terms of labor costs.
ROI of Cell Cams
The return on investment (ROI) for cell cams in pest monitoring depends on several factors, including the size of the area being monitored, the severity of the pest problem, and how often inspections are conducted.
One major advantage of cell cams is their ability to provide 24/7 monitoring, which can result in the early detection of pest activity. This early intervention can prevent pest populations from becoming unmanageable and reduce the need for expensive pest control methods like pesticides. Plus, cell cams can help identify patterns in pest behavior, such as the time of day or season when pests are most active, which can lead to targeted pest management strategies and position you as an expert in pest activity and management.
For large agricultural operations, the ability to monitor large tracts of land remotely can save a significant amount of time and money. Forget sending staff to check different parts of a property–with a cell cam you can check the live footage or images from your phone or computer and decide whether further action is needed. This can also help you develop more targeted pest control strategies.
Effectiveness of Cell Cams vs. Manual Inspections
When looking at the effectiveness of different strategies, cell cams have several advantages over manual inspections. Topping the list is their ability to provide real-time, 24/7 monitoring without the need for constant human presence. This is particularly valuable in situations where pests are active during the night or in remote areas that are hard to reach. The ability to get instant alerts when pests are detected via motion activation means you can act quickly and prevent significant damage before it happens or simply provide your clients with peace of mind.
Meanwhile, manual inspections can be labor-intensive, and the results can be less consistent. They depend on the availability and skills of the inspector, who might still miss detecting pests that are active outside of inspection hours. Additionally, if the area under surveillance is large, it may be difficult or prohibitively expensive to get to every section, leaving areas vulnerable to undetected pest activity.
Cell cams that relay information over cellular networks can be much more effective than those that use a local Wi-Fi system. In some cases, clients may not want contractors tying into Wi-Fi networks due to bandwidth limitations and concerns about confidentiality. Moreover, some areas of a client’s property may be out of range of Wi-Fi signals, or be in areas like a basement where the reception is poor.
Are Cell Cams Worth It?
Cell cams offer a modern solution for pest monitoring and can balance cost efficiency, ease of use, and effectiveness, particularly for large-scale operations. Their ability to provide constant, real-time monitoring and early pest detection, which can win points with clients who desperately want to solve pest problems.
Ultimately, the decision of whether cell cams are worth it comes down to the scale of your operation, the frequency of pest problems, and your ability to invest in the initial setup costs. For those managing large, remote, or high-risk areas, the convenience and efficiency of cell cams can easily justify the investment and offer substantial ROI in the long run.