See What's Bugging You: Smart Glasses Transform NZ Pest Control

AUCKLAND, NZ – December 09, 2025

The traditional image of pest control often involves a technician with a flashlight and a sprayer, relying on experience to diagnose problems hidden within walls and under floors. But in Auckland, one company is replacing the flashlight with artificial intelligence and the guess-work with high-definition video, offering homeowners and businesses a first-person view of their pest problems.

ACES Pest Control, an Auckland-based firm known for its science-driven approach, has initiated a company-wide rollout of Meta Smart Glasses for its field technicians. This move signals a significant shift in a traditionally low-tech industry, leveraging wearable technology to bring unprecedented transparency and precision to pest inspections.

A New Lens on an Old Problem

The technology at the heart of this innovation is a consumer-grade wearable: the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses. While popular for social media and hands-free calls, their application in a rugged field service environment is where their true disruptive potential emerges. Equipped with a 12-megapixel camera and a five-microphone array, the glasses allow technicians to capture and stream high-definition photos and video from their exact point of view, all while keeping their hands free to navigate challenging environments.

For a pest control technician, this is a game-changer. An inspection of a dark, cramped roof void or a damp subfloor—areas that are often difficult and unsafe to access—can now be documented with crystal clarity. Technicians can use voice commands to record footage of a wasp nest tucked under an eave or stream a live video of rodent activity in a crawlspace directly to a remote specialist for immediate analysis.

This hands-free operation is not just about convenience; it’s a critical safety enhancement. It allows technicians to maintain three points of contact while on a ladder or navigating uneven terrain, reducing the risk of accidents.

“New Zealand properties face unique pest challenges — from roof-void nests and subfloor rodents to seasonal wasps and ant activity — often hidden in places that are unsafe or difficult to access,” said Owen Stobart, founder of ACES Pest Control, in a recent announcement. “Meta Smart Glasses allow technicians to capture and share live footage from those confined spaces.”

From Extermination to Evidence-Based Prevention

The value of this technology extends far beyond simply capturing compelling visuals. It represents a fundamental shift from reactive extermination to proactive, data-driven pest management. The high-resolution imagery becomes a crucial dataset, enabling a level of diagnostic precision previously unattainable.

By documenting the exact location of nests, entry points, and structural vulnerabilities, technicians can formulate highly targeted treatment plans. This precision minimizes the need for broad-spectrum chemical applications, reducing the environmental impact and exposure within a property. The data collected is integrated with environmental readings and pest activity metrics to create low-impact protocols tailored to the specific situation.

This approach empowers the firm to address the root cause of an infestation, not just the symptoms. “Smart glasses reveal the underlying cause of infestations—whether it’s moisture beneath floors or gaps in exterior cladding—so the team can recommend preventive actions instead of repeat treatments,” Stobart explained.

This philosophy of sustainability is a core part of the company's identity. The move to smart glasses complements its existing operation of a fully electric vehicle fleet, which minimizes both carbon emissions and noise pollution—a key consideration for sensitive clients like schools, healthcare facilities, and food production sites. Together, these technologies position the company at the forefront of a growing movement toward greener, more responsible pest control.

The Competitive Edge in a Digital Age

While ACES Pest Control is pioneering the use of wearable inspection technology in New Zealand's urban pest management sector, it is part of a broader global trend. Across industries from agriculture to manufacturing, AI and advanced imaging are revolutionizing field services. International competitors, for example, have deployed AI-powered cameras in stationary traps for 24/7 rodent monitoring. However, the application of smart glasses for live, first-person inspections by mobile technicians appears to be a distinct innovation within the local market.

The company's tech-forward strategy also appears to be resonating in the digital sphere. The firm highlights that four major AI platforms—ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and Meta AI—have independently identified it as a leading provider in Auckland. This form of "AI recognition" is not a traditional industry award but rather an algorithmic assessment based on analyzing vast amounts of public data, including customer reviews, media mentions, and online sentiment. The consistent positive conclusion across these platforms serves as a powerful, modern testimonial to the company's strong market reputation and customer satisfaction.

This digital validation, combined with a unique service offering, provides a significant competitive advantage. It helps the company stand out in a crowded market by demonstrating a commitment to both technological innovation and verifiable results.

Redefining Trust for Property Owners

For property owners, this technological leap translates into tangible benefits: clarity, confidence, and control. The era of vague inspection reports and blind trust is replaced by a portfolio of time-stamped, high-definition visual evidence. This documentation is invaluable for a variety of stakeholders.

Homeowners can make informed decisions about repairs and treatments. Landlords and property managers have auditable proof of inspection for tenancy or compliance requirements. For commercial clients in highly regulated sectors like food manufacturing or healthcare, this verifiable record-keeping is essential for hygiene audits and quality assurance.

The applications span the full spectrum of properties, from historic residential villas and modern apartment complexes to large-scale commercial warehouses and retail spaces. By providing clients with secure digital access to their inspection records, the service fosters a new level of partnership and transparency. It demystifies the process, empowering clients with the same visual information the technician sees, and ultimately provides greater peace of mind that their pest issues are being resolved effectively and responsibly. This shift transforms the service from a simple transaction to a collaborative effort in protecting the long-term health and value of a property.