Pest Control Operators Boost Tech Spending Amid Rising Cost Pressures
Event summary
- 53% of pest control operators expect market conditions to improve in 2026, up from prior years.
- Planned software investment doubled year-over-year, rising from 20% in 2025 to 44% in 2026.
- AI was identified as the top technology expected to deliver business value (40%), ahead of marketing automation and data analytics.
- Material costs remain the industry's biggest challenge, cited by 68% of operators.
The big picture
Pest control operators are doubling down on technology as a hedge against rising costs and tightening margins. The surge in software investment, particularly in AI, reflects broader industry trends toward automation and data-driven decision-making. ServiceTitan's FieldRoutes is positioning itself as a key enabler of this shift, with its cloud-based SaaS platform targeting operational efficiency gains.
What we're watching
- Cost Efficiency
- How rising material costs will pressure margins and drive further tech adoption.
- Tech Adoption Pace
- Whether pest control operators can overcome barriers to AI implementation, including cost and uncertainty.
- Market Differentiation
- The extent to which technology investments will separate high-growth operators from laggards.