Many of our clients are now asking us about the Internet of Things (IoT) and how it will impact their facilities and professional cleaning. One of the first things we should all know is that IoT is not new. It dates back to the late 1960s. That’s when “things” were first connected to other “things,” conveying information between themselves and with people using wires and cords.
Today, these objects have been replaced with smart or connected devices. Often, they use sensors to help collect data and then transfer that data wirelessly to information centers, or in our case, to Facility Managers and cleaning professionals. Further, this communication is no longer a one-way street. Managers and cleaning professionals can communicate with these smart devices when and as necessary.
Another thing we should know is that IoT will not only play a growing role in facility operations, it is already starting to play a very significant role in the professional cleaning industry. The good thing about this is that it has the potential to bring with it benefits that can help improve cleaning effectiveness, increase worker productivity, and help reduce costs.
Here’s a simple but straightforward example of IoT.
A multitenant office building was having problems with trash collection on certain days and on certain floors in the building. Trash would begin to overflow in these areas, becoming unsightly, causing odors, and resulting in ongoing calls to the management office asking for help.
An IoT system was installed to monitor the situation. The system could detect and then project when trash cans would become full and on which days, giving managers and day porters in the building a “heads-up” long before the tenants called the management office for assistance.
Here are some more advanced examples of IoT in the professional cleaning industry, which Service by Medallion is now taking advantage of:
Monitoring run times. One of the ways we are working to keep our costs competitive is to be more proactive when it comes to equipment maintenance and IoT helps us do this. Along with helping our staff located where cleaning equipment is being used in a facility, it monitors how many hours these machines have been used. This helps us predict and prevent more serious maintenance issues. Predictive maintenance is invariably less costly than a service repair bill and helps eliminate downtime.
Robotic floorcare. Floorcare equipment that can clean and scrub floors on its own may prove
to be one of the most labor- and cost-saving benefits of IoT, and fortunately, it’s
here. These floor machines can be “taught” how to clean floors. In addition to
its programming capabilities, the machine has sensors, so if one day, for
instance, there is a box or a table in a floor area that was not there before, the
machine can clean around the object.
Putting IoT floor machines to work allows Service by Medallion staff to spend
more time performing other cleaning tasks. This helps keep our clients’ facilities
cleaner and healthier.
IoT and smart restrooms. IoT has already given us smart homes with systems that can control thermostats, lights, security systems, and appliances. Now it can provide Facility Managers cleaning professionals with smart restrooms. For instance, IoT systems are being used to monitor restroom supplies of paper, soap, and other products. This is referred to as their “fullness status.” Not only can some of these systems communicate when supplies are running low, but they can also help provide insight as to when supplies are most likely to run short and in which restrooms, so they can be refilled long before that happens. Systems can also indicate if dispensers are broken or not working properly.
Furthermore, IoT systems can provide information as to the busiest times for different restrooms. This way, day porters know when certain restrooms need cleaning attention after, for instance, 10 a.m., while others don’t need service until after 2 p.m.
We mentioned earlier that IoT and similar new technologies are likely to prove very beneficial to both managers and cleaning professionals and I trust our discussion here points that out. The big benefits to cleaning contractors is that IoT has the potential to improve efficiencies, reduce risks, and help ensure cleaning consistencies, all of which will help Facility Managers as well.
For more information on IoT and how it will impact cleaning and building management, contact Ron at contact@seguraassociates.com
