Frequently Asked Questions

1. My state requires detailed record-keeping for all my pesticide applications - down to where in a structure I make an application. Can PestClick handle that kind of detail?
    
2. Is PestClick™ a complete package? Will I be "double entering" my clients?
    
3. I'm just starting to use a termite bait system. Should I just try to collect the service results on paper?
    
4. Do I need to use a scanner to collect and track my services?
    
5. Are scanners reliable? And quick?
    
6. What's the difference between other "software" and PestClick?
    
7. What else can the scanner be used to accomplish?
    
8. My customer information is in another software program, can you convert the data?
    
9. Does PestClick automatically handle changes in monitoring intervals?
    
10. Does PestClick have recurring scheduling capabilities?
     
11. If I am out in the field and I just sold a termite bait system or I need to service a property, do I have to go back to the office to load the property on the scanner to service it?

    Have a different question? Contact Us here

My state requires detailed record-keeping for all my pesticide applications - down to where in a residence I make an application. Can PestClick handle that kind of detail?

This is exactly what PestClick was designed to do from the start. PestClick makes this kind of record keeping child's play. It can quickly and easily record pesticide applications, inspection observations, and infestation details in as much detail as you need and/or are required to keep. PestClick does it just as easily as it tracks the status of tens of thousands of termite bait stations. You can easily keep one record for the entire property or record details for every location at the property and within the structure. The choice is your's.

Many states are moving to require this type record-keeping to track pesticide usage. With PestClick it's so easy to comply.  Progressive companies are making this move on their own. Why? Because this information is critical to an IPM approach to pest management.  These records can be invaluable to your business for purposes of increasing the effectiveness of your treatments, providing professional customer communications, and reducing liability. And it really doesn't add significant administrative expenses. It can actually reduce the time office personnel need to finalize services and collections.  PestClick makes it so easy to distinguish your company from the rest.

Back to Top

Is PestClick™ a complete package? Will I be "double entering" my clients?

PestClick now has a unique, direct interface with Intuit’s QuickBooks accounting software. QuickBooks is the de facto standard for accounting software and the most widely used accounting tool. The capabilities of easy-to-use QuickBooks for accounting purposes are far beyond any pest management software package offered today. In our opinion, we believe it is futile to attempt to recreate what QuickBooks does so extremely well. The synergistic combination of PestClick and QuickBooks creates an unparalleled pest management solution.

Using QuickBooks with PestClick means you only enter your client information once and both applications share the information for all activities including accounting, service scheduling, service tracking, invoicing, service ticket generation, property layout creation, structural inspections, report generation, etc. This new interface allows you to utilize your current customer information in QuickBooks should you already be a QuickBooks user.  PestClick adds it’s unmatched capabilities on the service side in performing drag-and-drop scheduling, service tracking, monitoring, service ticket generation, service reports, and structural inspections. This synergistic duo creates a complete, easy-to-use business management package with features far beyond anything else available.

Our newest version of PestClick used without QuickBooks provides many new capabilities our customers have requested. Capabilities such as service job task definitions, service notes, service ticket generation, tracking the completion of a service's job tasks, tracking pesticide applications without barcode use, and accounts receivable status.  We listen to our customers to provide solutions to their needs and our new version of PestClick is an example of our commitment to you and your business. No other business software solution provides so many capabilities to do business on your terms and at such a reasonable cost.

Back to Top

I'm just starting to use a termite bait system. Should I just try to collect the service results on paper?

For a number of reasons it is important to properly collect the results of your services from the very beginning. Critical reasons for doing so are compliance with regulator's record keeping requirements and reducing litigation liability risks. Some states require detailed monitoring records. Several states are also requiring detailed pesticide application records for all applications - down to where the pesticides are applied within rooms of multi-unit apartments. PestClick is fully capable of recording any of this information and very easily. Other reasons for recording detailed information from the beginning include keeping your customers properly updated with your efforts and to reduce your cost in using your treatment tools effectively. Customers like to be kept informed on the progress of their services, PestClick makes this easy. Baiting is a process and understanding where a property is in that process can also save you money.

The information you collect should be in a format in which you will be able to use in the future. Our experience is that the information collected strictly on paper doesn't usually make it to the system you will finally choose and may be lost.  This leaves a "hole" in your records which could result in questions later.

We provide a paper method of station tracking also. Before you purchase a scanner or in times when you may have more of a workload than scanners available, you can easily create monitoring forms with PestClick to take to the site. The results are then input into PestClick for future needs.

Some pest management treatments are also less demanding in data collection.  For example you may want to use a scanner to track your bait systems but just record residential/commercial pesticide applications directly on your paper service tickets, PestClick does this. PestClick accommodates your needs that why we say "PestClick is Service Management On Your Terms".

Termite Bait System Monitoring

Our goal is to make service tracking and termite bait system monitoring a valuable tool for your business and as user-friendly as possible.  As we mentioned, PestClick now has features which create and print monitoring worksheets which can be taken to the property and completed. The information collected can then be input into the database in PestClick back at the office. This allows you to start service tracking immediately for those who initially can't justify the cost of a bar code scanner.  You'll find that once your business grows to servicing  approximately 50 to 70 properties using a bar code scanner makes business sense for lots of reasons.  We also allow the use of PestClick in a trial mode for 90 days. The version you receive on the CD or by download is the full working version. We don't disable any of the capabilities of PestClick during the trial period.  PestClick is Service Management On Your Terms.

Residential and Commercial Pest Management

For residential and commercial type pest management services a scanner is not as critical. Our newest version of PestClick creates a two part service ticket which includes a service tasks portion and also a portion used as a receipt for collection from the customer. The service tasks portion will provide job tasks and any service notes along with customer contact information for the technician. Job tasks are service items you define for the service that you are providing to the customer. For example, a Fall Quarterly Pest Elimination Service may include special tasks not performed at other times of the year during the quarterly pest service such as using a Webster brush to remove webs, inspect for rodent access, etc. These items along with job tasks that are usually conducted during a quarterly service define the Fall Quarterly Pest Elimination Service.  Each quarterly service may have specific tasks needed at that time of the year. The service ticket would therefore provide to the technician a checklist of job tasks they are being asked to perform for the customer. On the paper service ticket they would check-off the completion of the tasks and record use of any pesticides. If they were using a Pocket PC scanner they would indicate completion of the job tasks and record application of pesticides electronically by clicking on choices already defined. This electronic information would be shown on the service ticket when viewed back at the office in PestClick after uploading the scanner information.  Service questions in the future would of course be easier to answer by finding them electronically versus looking for a paper filing. Plus, you'd be missing out on much of the incredible reporting capabilities of PestClick and the power PestClick provides as a customer communication tools. Easily differentiate yourself from your competitors. With PestClick you can provide information others can't.

A Pocket PC scanner is not absolutely necessary to use PestClick but a Pocket PC scanner will make data collection much easier and also much more accurate.  Scanners pay for themselves in time savings and error elimination but they aren't required to use PestClick.

One of the important features Pocket PC use will enable is to easily print a Service Report on site which details the applications and services you performed. This report complies with known pesticide regulations for states requiring that the property owner must be provided with detailed application information immediately after service completion.

Back to Top

Do I need to use a scanner to collect and track my services?

PestClick does not require the use of a scanner to track services.  PestClick now has a unique capability to create and print monitoring worksheets which can be taken to the property and completed. The information collected can then be input into the database in PestClick. This allows you to start service tracking immediately for those who initially can't justify the cost of a bar code scanner.  You'll find that once your business grows to servicing  approximately 50 properties, using a bar code scanner makes business sense for lots of reasons.

A Pocket PC scanner such as the Symbol 8800 will simplify data collection by making the process much easier and also much more accurate.  Scanners pay for themselves in time savings and error elimination but they aren't required for use with PestClick.  You'll find that the Pocket PC scanners we recommend are extremely reliable and can be used for other valuable purposes you may not have even imagined at this point.  They run on  Microsoft Window Pocket PC so they are compatible with all Windows software intended to be run on a Pocket PC.  This includes many map programs such as Microsoft's Streets and Trips or Delorme's Street Atlas, Microsoft Office Applications such as Word and Excel, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and many other programs.  We believe that you'll value the use of a scanner to streamline the data collection process and realize many other valuable business uses for this tool. They are simply a smart and professional way to conduct business and eliminate administrative time and errors.

Back to Top

Are scanners reliable? And quick?

We fully understand the critical nature of equipment reliability and the past experiences of some.  We have worked with many type scanners including all of those used with the termite baiting systems. Because of that experience we understand the critical importance of a reliable scanner. We would not recommend anything that would jeopardize accomplishing your job. Your technicians can't afford downtime and neither can you. Spending a day (or more) scanning your clients stations only to have a scanner die or lose data is not acceptable.  Skimping on good, reliable equipment always costs more in the end.

Save money now. Several critically important factors in choosing a portable bar code scanner are:

1. Drop Rating - this rating determines the units ability to withstand a drop on to a hard surface. While we don't recommend trying the test yourself, the Symbol 8800 has a drop rating of four feet and the MC50 has a drop rating of 3 feet. Compare these ratings to most "PDA" units that are being offered as a cheap alternative and you will find that most of them don't even have a drop rating because they can not withstand any drop without breakage. Are those units then really cheaper if you replace them frequently? Also consider the potentially loss in data from breakage of those "cheaper" units.
2. Sealed Against Moisture Infiltration - most inexpensive "PDA" units do not have any endurance rating for moisture because they aren't sealed, that's one reason why they cost less. If you use those devices in a rainy drizzle or even in high humidity you are likely to find the screens clouded or worse, the unit shorted. The Symbol 8800 units are design for use in a service type environment and will withstand high moisture.
3. Operating System - there are two major operating systems in use today with several additional proprietary Operating Systems (OS) also in use. The two main OS systems are Microsoft's Pocket PC Window, also referred to as Windows Mobile, and the Palm operating system. The Windows OS offers the most flexible compatibility with an abundance of additional uses including many of the Microsoft Office applications and thousands of other applications. The Palm offers the next most available application uses but not nearly as many as the Windows OS. The proprietary OS of course will limit the unit's ability for additional uses to mostly custom software applications.

The scanners we recommend for use with PestClick are the service industry's standard for usage. They are rugged devices which are designed for the "service-use" environment.  They utilize non-volatile memory which means that even if the batteries should die the data will remain in the scanner and our system packages include chargers for both your vehicle and office to further eliminate any problems. Our scanners have integrated (built-in) bar code scanning ports, not "add on" cards hanging precariously out of a PDA which can lead to costly damage and downtime. There are tens of thousands of scanners such as we recommend in use today accomplishing similar tasks, using anything less can't be justified in what you do and its critical importance.

We hear from many pest management companies that they have tried handheld scanners with competitive software and found them to be so painfully slow that they couldn't even use them.  RSA Education's software products have been built on over fifteen years of experience with handheld use. Many solution providers today are just now entering the handheld scanner market. It can be a very expensive trial to purchase the wrong software solution which won't perform in the field and won't provide the service tracking that you need. Our software has been developed from the technicians' work routine. We simply make it easier and faster for them to perform their job more professionally and for the manager to collect the information they need to provide superior customer service and streamline office administrative tasks.

Back to Top

What's the difference between other "software" and PestClick?

There is a fundamental difference between PestClick and other software. Service tracking data collection is performed by the technician and the data collection system should fully take the technicians' method of accomplishing tasks into account.  It can't hinder their routine.  It has to be technician friendly. PestClick was developed from the technician's viewpoint and works along with them in how they perform their services.  PestClick actually goes beyond technician friendly, it enhances their work.  Most other available software was designed as an "office oriented" solution to perform customer billing and scheduling.  That software was not designed to capture the complex nature of what the technician does and it will not have the ability to record critical information. PestClick is the most comprehensive data collection system on the market for managing commercial or residential pest management services including all termite baiting systems, such as Whitmire Micro-Gen's Advance Termite Baiting System.  PestClick is brought to you from a company who has used bar coding for over ten years to track pest management services.  They were one of the first companies to utilize bar coding in this industry to collect information.   PestClick is fully capable of collecting very comprehensive information but the level of detail you actually collect is up to you.

Back to Top

What else can the scanner be used to accomplish?

One of the most important benefits to using a scanner is in utilizing what your customers consider to be one of the best PestClick features they see. We are told that feature is invaluable to your customers. That feature is the PestClick Service Summary Report. This report is created by the Pocket PC scanner and provides a professional report summarizing your service. It is created "on site" before leaving the job and provides immediate communication between your company and your customer. The report is automatically created by PestClick from your technician's actions and observations on the job site. Keeping customers updated with your efforts increases customer satisfaction with your service and also increases customer retention.  It enhances your professionalism. Not keeping them up to date could mean you'll be spending more time finding new customers than performing services for them.

Here's another use ..... we mentioned earlier that Adobe Acrobat Reader can be run on these scanners. We know your technicians have to carry many documents such as labels and MSDSs. These documents are often updated and you may be carrying around and distributing old, outdated information. These documents are readily available in Adobe Acrobat file formats or can easily be converted to Adobe Acrobat PDF files which can easily be stored on our scanners.  With a portable printer, as easily as pointing the scanner at the printer, you can  make your customer a copy of any of these documents on demand.  This eliminates carrying around a supply of all your MSDSs and labels in your vehicles which get quickly soiled. It also makes it a lot easier to have up-to-date information available for all your customers.

There are many more additional uses for which the Pocket PC scanner can be used such as map software for directions, etc.

Back to Top

My customer information is in another software program, can you convert the data?

The answer to this question depends on whether you can supply us with your data and/or whether it can be extracted in a usable form. Upgrading your service management system to the outstanding features of the PestClick - QuickBooks System is well worth the effort. We will make every attempt to help make your conversion an easy one.

Back to Top

Does PestClick automatically handle changes in monitoring intervals?

PestClick has been designed to automate termite bait system monitoring. Baiting can require intensive administrative oversight but not with PestClick. With our Auto-Compute™ feature  which is built into PestClick, properties due for monitoring will be shown when they need to be visited. Auto-Compute takes into account changes in termite presence at a property, seasonal weather conditions, etc. to automate the monitoring process. PestClick Auto-Compute has advanced algorithms designed to automatically adjust your monitoring schedule to comply with the label for the bait system you use. Your company may have more stringent company policies than the label requires so our algorithms also allow you to customize Auto Compute to deal with your company's policies. If you don't feel comfortable with the labeled interval for the bait system you use, you can easily change the frequency within PestClick to fit your company's needs. No other software solution comes close to the advanced features of PestClick for termite bait system monitoring or pest management service tracking.

Back to Top

Does PestClick have recurring scheduling?

PestClick has very capable features to handle recurring scheduling of services for all pest and termite management services. PestClick can also adjust recurring appointments on the "fly". For example, should you need to postpone a recurring scheduled service such as monitoring a termite bait system for a client to a later date, you can choose to automatically move all remaining scheduled services for that customer back also.  PestClick is Service Management on Your Terms.

Back to Top

If I am out in the field and I just sold a termite bait system or I need to service a property, do I have to go back to the office to load the property on the scanner to service it?

Remember ....  PestClick is Service Management on YOUR Terms!  PestClick can easily handle emergency situations like calls from a termite bait system customer that just has to be seen immediately but you don't have them in your Pocket PC. That doesn't stop you when you use PestClick. And PestClick enables you to also install a termite bait system immediately after a sale.  As you are probably fully aware, one of the major benefits of using a baiting system is that they don't require scheduling of service techs with special termite rigs and take hours to complete. The beauty of using a baiting system is that you can sell and service the property "on the spot" without having the customer wait. This is especially valuable during the swarm season when backlogs can cause you to lose jobs, lose revenue and upset potential customers.  PestClick helps you do more and make more.

Back to Top

Copyright © 2004 [RSA Education]. All rights reserved.