New Technologies for the Cleaning Industry

The following article will be published in the January issue of InClean Australia

The professional cleaning industry will be changing and changing a lot in the next few years due to new technologies and artificial intelligence.

A global mega-retailer announced on LinkedIn that they are conducting tests of an “autonomous” floor scrubber. By autonomous, they are referring to a scrubber that does not require anyone to operate the machine.

The system is being tested in five of their stores in the late evening hours when the stores are either closed or have the fewest customers and staff members. While the tests will continue for a while before a final decision is reached whether to invest in more machines or not, initial reports indicate the systems are working out well.

So how does this thing work? According to the report, an employee with the store first drives the machine over the floor areas to be cleaned. The machine is equipped with cameras, sensors, a navigational mapping system, and a storage device, similar to what we have in our smartphones and computers. These all help tell the machine what floor areas are to be cleaned, but even more crucial, they help the machine remember them.

In most cases, what the machine is to remember are “repeatable” cleaning tasks, performing the same cleaning tasks in the same areas every time the machine is used. Should there be an unexpected change in the pathway, for instance, a person is in the path or an unknown object is now on the floor, the machine stops and adjusts course.

Being able to remember these repeatable tasks is all the result of what is known as IT.

Enter IT

IT, and it is always capitalized and pronounced as separate letters, refers to “information technology.” At one time, it referred mostly to mainframe computers operated by some giant bank or airline. But today, the term has a much broader reference; It is now used to describe computers, networks, and computer-related systems and equipment. It also encompasses the hardware, operating systems, software, and storage devices used in these computer and computer-related systems.

Without information technology, the scrubber we just discussed would have no idea which floors are to be cleaned. In fact, without IT, it would not even know where the floor is.

IT is just beginning to find its way into the professional cleaning industry. A decade or more ago, IT was probably not even considered. But things have changed a lot in the past few years, and the success of this floor machine has undoubtedly caught the eye of other manufacturers in the industry, also making floorcare equipment.

So, not only are we likely to find more of these manufacturers introducing floor machines that can think, remember, and work autonomously, we can expect other types of cleaning equipment and devices made for the professional cleaning industry to enter the market, all equipped with IT.

IT: What’s Here and What’s in the Pipeline

The best way to find out what new technologies are available or are in developmental stages is to attend the major cleaning tradeshows around the globe. While this is not necessarily true in all cases, many cleaning manufacturers have a tradition of introducing new equipment and products at these tradeshows, and this is likely to include devices powered by IT.

The following are examples of some of the cleaning systems now available or coming online in the next three to five years specifically designed for the professional cleaning industry:

  • Devices are being introduced for restrooms that monitor the cleanliness of toilets and other restroom fixtures and can send real-time alerts, either by email or text to smartphones, to notify cleaning professionals or managers when the restroom needs attention. These systems are also designed to check for restroom odors and if floors or counters are wet. And it keeps a count of how many people use the restroom and when the restroom is used the most. All of this information helps cleaning professionals keep restrooms cleaner, healthier, and ensure they are appropriately supplied throughout the day, especially before busy periods.
  • Also for restrooms, devices are being developed that tell cleaning workers and managers, by again sending real-time alerts, when paper supplies are running low in restrooms. Designed for many types of commercial spaces, from schools to offices, these devices can be instructed at what point supplies are needed for different restrooms. For a busy restroom, for instance, once a toilet paper roll is half used, it can be set to call an attendant. In a less frequently used restroom, it may be configured to wait until only a quarter of the roll is left.
  • Systems that monitor cleaning workers are also available or coming online. These systems can tell when a cleaning worker enters a room to clean, how long they are in the room, and when they leave. It can also monitor what surfaces and which areas of the room were cleaned.
  • And not only can cleaning workers be monitored, so can cleaning equipment. Equipment tracking devices help locate any cleaning equipment used in a facility, when it was used, how long it was used, as well as monitor the system to see if service or repairs are necessary.
  • What if a light needs to be changed or there are fixture problems in a restroom? Systems are being introduced that help custodial workers and managers conduct “audits” of their facilities. Data, along with pictures of any room or any area of a room to be cleaned, are stored. The cleanliness of the room can be rated at any time. The device reminds cleaning workers when to check specific areas for cleaning such as HVAC registers, light fixtures, etc., and provides them with information as to how many and where these registers or lamp fixtures are located, so none are overlooked.

We can also expect more robots developed specifically for the professional cleaning industry. Some, for instance robots that vacuum floors, are already available for residential cleaning. Expect more to be introduced for commercial cleaning along with robots designed to perform other types of tasks that are repeatable, such as the automatic scrubber discussed earlier.

Drawbacks

While all these technologies appear promising, and many will certainly help cleaning professionals and building managers ensure their facilities are better cleaned and maintained, there are some drawbacks we need to explore.

For instance, the IT-powered floor machine we discussed may be able to repeat the same floor cleaning tasks every day, but it may not be able to tell if the floor needs to be refinished or if there are marks, spills, chewing gum, or soiling in corners and edges of the floor that are not being removed with cleaning. In most cases, it takes the human eye to see this and decide what further steps are necessary.

Another drawback is costs. IT does not come cheap, at least when it is first introduced. While these technologies will likely be able to lower labor costs over time, providing a significant return on the investment, it’s that initial “sticker shock” that may take many contractors a little time to overcome and jump on the IT bandwagon.

And finally, there may be worker morale issues. For instance, the mega-store discussed earlier admitted some employees are already concerned the IT-powered floor machines will replace them. However, the retailer said these machines are designed not to replace workers, but give their staff “more time to focus on higher-value work like customer service and selling.”

My advice to cleaning contractors and building managers is to make sure you convey a similar message to your cleaning crew as well. They likely will be concerned about their jobs. Getting them involved with the new equipment from the start helps them “own” the machines and feel less threatened by them. We need to keep morale up all the time in the cleaning industry, and especially when IT systems are being introduced.

Ron Segura is president of Segura Associates. His company works with organizations and cleaning contractors to help them streamline their operations as well as promote sustainability and healthier cleaning strategies. This allows them to function more effectively and efficiently and realize a cost savings. He can be reached through his company website at https://www.seguraassociates.com.