Supporting commercial clients in a regulated world
Dr. Foo and her team focus on providing support to commercial customers, particularly those in the food and manufacturing industry, where meeting regulatory standards is increasingly challenging. Her research and fieldwork have established her as one of the country's most in-demand regulatory advisors when it comes to pest control.
Data as the foundation for better pest management
Her team uses data collected by Anticimex SMART devices to make recommendations and improvements regarding proofing, sanitation, and monitoring strategies. Dr. Foo acknowledges the challenge of educating customers about the importance of prevention and digital pest control.
“Customers are more knowledgeable today than ever before. They have numerous sources of information and are aware of the importance of integrated pest management to prevent pest issues. However, many of them are still skeptical about the effectiveness of prevention and digital pest control and believe that chemical treatments are always more effective. My job is to demonstrate that this is not always the case. With the right pest prevention strategy, treatments that are more aggressive are becoming less and less necessary”, she affirms.
Prevention is key
"Pest proofing is an investment. Experience has taught us time and time again that the ROI of a good pest-proofing strategy is well worth the investment."
Dr. Foo also emphasizes the importance of proper site proofing, which involves sealing and securing pest entry points.
Not only does a pest infestation mean direct economic loss in production time and materials, but it also damages brand image and can cause regulatory stoppages. Pest prevention is definitely more cost efficient and effective than reactive treatments.”
Collaborating with the industry to raise the bar
In some cases, chemical treatments are still necessary, and Dr. Foo often collaborates with chemical producers to test the effectiveness and environmental impact of new products.
"Our goal at Anticimex is to minimize the use of harmful chemicals and prioritize biocide-reduced treatments. I’m proud to work for a company that leads the way in digital pest control and minimizing the use of harmful substances. This is all thanks to the significant investments the Group allocates to R&D, expert training and talent development.”
Looking ahead
Dr. Foo has a clear view of the future of pest control. She believes in the power of data to combat pest-borne diseases and property damage, and the importance of integrated pest management in preventing pests and reducing the need for harmful biocides.
"People will be more aware of the dangers of pests and more knowledgeable about prevention methods, such as managing waste to avoid infestations and sealing entry points. I also believe that digital pest control will become more common in commercial spaces and homes. Anticimex was a pioneer in digital pest control and is now leading the way in data intelligence, which will be a major game changer in the coming years.”