Dr. Ron Harrison, Global Technical Director at Orkin/Rollins, Inc., draws on nearly thirty years of experience and work across 75 countries to deliver a comprehensive overview of the pest control industry. Harrison covers the industry’s economic scale (12–13 billion U.S. / ~25 billion global), growth potential with only 25–30% of U.S. homeowners using pest control, and Orkin’s goal to double its $4 billion revenue in five years. He traces the industry’s public health roots to the Black Plague, identifies the top global pests from houseflies to ticks, and explores career pathways from technician to franchise owner. The presentation addresses major challenges including technology adoption (AI identification, electronic ticketing), competition from small operators and the Rentokil-Terminix merger, global labor shortages, regulatory differences between U.S. and international markets, and invasive species like the marmorated stink bug and needle ant. Harrison discusses the gap between technical and customer service skills, IPM adoption challenges, and concludes with a Q&A covering global termite distribution, the limitations of robotics in field service, and hospital pest management.
Presented as part of the GTBOP Structural Pest Control Webinar Series, hosted by the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture.
🔗 CEU Credit: Submit sign-in sheets to gtbop@uga.edu
0:00 Introduction and Welcome — Dan Suiter
1:25 Dr. Ron Harrison — Background and Global Experience
3:10 Orkin’s Global Operations: 75 Countries
4:00 Recurring Revenue Model and Industry Economics
6:00 U.S. and Global Market Size (12–13B / ~25B)
9:30 Talk Outline: Value, Opportunities, Challenges, Future
15:45 Paris Olympics Bed Bug Scare and Invasive Species
17:05 The Black Plague — Pest Control’s Historical Role
20:00 Cultural Factors: Pigeons in Saudi Arabia and Oman
22:30 COVID-19: Pest Control as Essential Service
24:30 Industry Professionalism and Public Perception
27:10 Top Global Pests and Public Health Impact
30:05 Termite History: Chlordane Ban and Its Consequences
33:00 Wildlife Challenges: Stray Dogs and Crows in Egypt
35:00 Houseflies as the #1 Global Pest
39:00 Competition: Rentokil-Terminix Merger and Small Operators
42:00 Technician Revenue Growth and Leadership Changes
46:00 The Bed Bug Monitoring Challenge
48:00 Government Regulation: U.S. vs. International
50:30 Industry Challenges Overview
53:00 Technology: Electronic Ticketing and AI Adoption
57:00 Competition and Low Barrier to Entry
1:00:50 Labor Market and Workforce Challenges
1:04:00 Government, Regulation, and IGR Registration
1:06:00 Invasive Species: Stink Bugs, Needle Ants, Bed Bugs
1:09:00 Customer Service Skills and Personal Interaction
1:12:35 Training Challenges and Learning Styles
1:15:00 Customer Service Gap: Walmart vs. Four Seasons
1:18:00 Professionalism, Label Compliance, and Retention
1:20:20 Future Outlook: IPM, Global Standards, Industry Health
1:23:30 Q&A: Houseflies, Sanitation, and Cultural Factors
1:28:00 Q&A: Termites Worldwide
1:30:05 Q&A: AI, Robotics, and Technology Economics
1:35:00 Q&A: Hospital Pest Management
1:37:00 Closing Remarks and Next Webinar Announcement
Q: What is the size of the pest control market and where is the growth?
A: The U.S. market is roughly 12–13 billion, with the global market approximately double that. Only 25–30% of U.S. homeowners currently use pest control, representing significant untapped demand. Orkin/Rollins, now a 4 billion company, has set a goal to double in five years.
Q: What are the top pests globally?
A: Houseflies rank number one globally due to sanitation issues in developing countries. Mosquitoes cause 1–2 million deaths annually. Cockroaches are a leading cause of inner-city asthma. Ticks are the top disease transmitter in the U.S. Fire ants have caused fatalities in nursing homes.
Q: How is AI changing pest control operations?
A: AI-powered identification is already in use — Orkin’s Egypt operation uses AI to identify rodent species from bait station photos, calculate bait consumption, and auto-order supplies. Call centers also use AI, though customers can request human agents. Robotics remains impractical for field work due to the variable conditions at each service point.
Q: Why is technician retention so critical?
A: The biggest trigger for customer cancellation is when their regular technician quits or leaves — more impactful than pest resolution or annual contract renewal. Technician turnover directly drives revenue loss.
GTBOP Structural Pest Control Webinar Series | UGA Center for Urban Agriculture
January 7, 2026 | Dr. Ron Harrison, Orkin/Rollins | Moderator: Dan Suiter, UGA