CASE STUDY

Revolutionizing Pest Control using IoT: Zepta's Smart Solution

Client :

BASF

Client & Project Background Information

Zepta is an innovative pest control company that emerged as a spin-off from BASF AG (world’s largest chemical producer in the world with a 160-year history and 100.000+ employees). The company is revolutionizing pest protection by leveraging the power of IoT to make pest control more sustainable and efficient. Their mission is to disrupt the industry, ensuring a safer, healthier future for all by developing intelligent hardware-powered IoT devices designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of pest control operations.

VT Netzwelt impressed us with their efficiency and clear communication at every stage of the project. They delivered a solution that went beyond our expectations, both in terms of performance and user experience. As our company continues to grow, having such a reliable partner has been essential to meeting our demanding objectives. VT Netzwelt has truly contributed to our success.

Martin Cirillo-Schmidt

Co-Founder & Managing Director, Zepta GmbH

The Challenge

Zepta’s innovative approach involved creating IoT-enabled bait stations equipped with precision scales to monitor bait consumption. These devices detect when bait has been consumed, triggering the release of poison only when necessary and notifying personnel for refilling. This method aims to reduce poison usage by up to 80% and decrease maintenance efforts by up to 80%, offering significant cost-saving opportunities for pest control companies.

Developing this solution required overcoming several challenges:

  1. Comprehensive System Development: The project involved creating:
    • A Mobile Application for pest control operators to install, monitor, and manage bait stations remotely.
    • A Web Application providing a centralized platform for data analysis and operational oversight.
    • Web Services to facilitate seamless communication between hardware devices, mobile applications, and backend systems.
    • SIM-Powered Device Management to ensure robust identification and backend management of SIM-card-powered bait devices.
  2. Hardware-Software Integration: We worked closely with Zepta's hardware engineers to ensure seamless communication between the IoT devices and the software ecosystem. This enabled real-time data transmission and remote monitoring.
  3. Scalability and Efficiency: The solution needed to support large-scale deployments while maintaining high performance, significantly reducing maintenance efforts through remote monitoring and precise infestation tracking.
  4. Regulatory Compliance: Comprehensive digital documentation features were incorporated to simplify compliance with regulatory standards and minimize administrative burdens.

Our Contribution

We embarked on developing an initial Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for Zepta, focusing on:

  • Cross-Platform Mobile Application: Utilizing React Native, we created a user-friendly mobile app compatible with both iOS and Android platforms, enabling pest control operators to monitor bait activity from their phones, 24/7.
  • Backend Development: Employing Node.js, we built a robust backend system to handle data processing, device communication, and user management.
  • Hardware Integration: Collaborating closely with Zepta's hardware team, we ensured seamless interaction between the IoT devices and the software applications, facilitating real-time data transmission and remote monitoring.
  • SIM-Powered Device Management: Developing systems to identify and manage SIM-card-powered bait devices, ensuring reliable connectivity and accurate data collection.

Achievements

The development of Zepta's MVP has been a significant success, leading to:

  • Award Recognition: The innovative solution has received multiple awards, acknowledging its potential to revolutionize the pest control industry.
  • Major Funding Round: Following the MVP's success, Zepta secured substantial funding, propelling further development and market penetration.
  • Industry Impact: The solution is poised to transform the pest control market by offering a more sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective approach to pest management.

Conclusion

Our collaboration with Zepta underscores our capability to develop cutting-edge, cross-platform solutions that integrate seamlessly with IoT hardware. By leveraging advanced technologies and innovative thinking, we have contributed to a product set to redefine industry standards, offering significant efficiency gains and environmental benefits in pest control.

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