IoT 2 mins read

Hunting big creepy crawlies using IoT

WAINS GmbH developed a digital monitoring system for pests to support exterminators; Software AG’s Cumulocity IoT connects smart pest traps and the IoT.

Alwin Schauer Alwin Schauer
Uses for IoT Infographic

They travel by air, land and sea, in containers or hidden in raw materials, contaminating food and other goods. Once they arrive at their destination, insects can cause a great deal of damage.

Insect pests currently destroy between five and 20 percent of the global harvest—and the trend is rising. Likewise, industrial companies are always facing the risk of insect and rodent infestations that can quickly lead to production losses, which in turn can lead to substantial costs.

These days, innovative technology can help businesses get on the trail of the big creepy crawlies faster than ever to prevent something much worse from happening.

So, digital pest monitoring company WAINS GmbH developed a digital monitoring system for insects to support exterminators in their work. A joint venture between WAINS, Frowein GmbH & Co. KG and MeetNow! GmbH used Software AG’s Cumulocity IoT  solution to connect smart pest traps and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Digital solutions for exterminators

The solution is called traptice®. It enables users to detect a pest infestation early on so they can implement countermeasures accordingly. Exterminators simply use a dashboard to check online whether there is a pest infestation or not, saving time on making routine inspections that involve a lot of effort and may not find anything. 

Two cameras are used to monitor the current status at regular intervals, and users can see which pests get caught in the traps. Sensors capture additional environmental variables that could favor an infestation, such as temperature, humidity or other factors where necessary. 

The traptice traps transmit all the information to the Cumulocity IoT cloud platform. WAINS’ customers can access the data in their traps through their own dashboard to be able to draw important conclusions for any potential action they need to take, and to be proactive if necessary.

Exchanging information with the traps is just the beginning. In the future, artificial intelligence will help recognize which pests are caught in the traps and trigger an alarm immediately in case of a critical infestation.

Today, WAINS, with Cumulocity IoT, can help its customers take action faster and more effectively, which in the end reduces their costs and above all prevents downtime or even losses from a pest infestation. Creepy crawlies gone!