Anticimex Annual Report 2018

VISION & STRATEGY
STRATEGY — SMART
Leading the way into using
high-tech instead of biocides
Attractive environments are pest-free. They are also green. Based on this, Anticimex is
convinced that the future of pest control will be digital.
The pest control market is, in fact, going through a major technological shift towards more
sophisticated methods of prevention and protection enabled by new, digital technology. The
shift is accentuated by an increased demand for non-toxic, sustainable solutions as a result
of new laws and regulations, coupled with more focus on sustainability in society in general.
The shift towards using high technology favours Anticimex, as the company possesses
the necessary organisational and financial strength to develop, drive, standardise and
commercialise new, digitised solutions captured in the SMART offering. Since Anticimex
launched its first digital solution in 2014 – SMART – revenue from this segment has
climbed continuously.
SMART customers are found in sectors including food, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing,
hotels, restaurants, retailers, cities and municipalities.
Anticimex has established an Innovation Centre aimed at developing new digital solutions,
combining extensive knowledge of pests with digital competence. Product development
and training take place in Helsinge, Denmark.
Smart move to become Denmark’s first rat-free municipality
The rodent problem had come to the point in Danish
Gribskov where something had to be done in order for
the municipality to stay competitive. The answer was the
launch of an ambitious rat battle project based on
Anticimex SMART with the aim to create the first ratfree
municipality in the country.
– We want to take Gribskov into the future – becoming
a role model as a green municipality and creating a place
where more people want to live and work, says Bo Jul,
Deputy Mayor of Gribskov.
The number of rats was increasing. They were damaging
the sewers and the pipes. Even more alarming was the
damage they did to the electrical installations at the sewer
stations. Gribskov municipality, located in the northern
part of Zealand in Denmark, had to act swiftly. Spring
2018, the project “Rat free municipality” was launched in
cooperation between the municipality, the local waterworks
company Gribvand and Anticimex.
–This is a joint project. We have knowledge about the
pipes, the municipality is getting rat reports from the
citizens, while Anticimex are experts on rodents and
traps, says Mette Therkildsen, CEO of Gribvand.
– Our sewage system is the corridor. The rats live and
thrive in the pipes leading into the buildings. Anticimex
SMART was the only solution available, fighting the real
core of the problem where the rats live – underground,
she continues.
Green ambition
A key reason for choosing Anticimex SMART, says Mette
Therkildsen, is the fact that the system is based on
technology, not biocides.
– Rat poison infects the whole eco-system and is not
in line with our green ambition. We wanted to get rid of
the rats without the use of poison, and Anticimex SMART
offers that opportunity. As it is a non-toxic/no-chemicals
system, it will also help providing a better and healthier
climate for people, animals and the environment, she
explains.
Advantages of converting from traditional pest
control to the digital Anticimex SMART system also
include lowering call-out costs, as well as reducing
damages in the sewage system, sewer stations and
in homes.
18 ANTICIMEX GROUP — ANNUAL REPORT 2018