Alastair Scott, Sales Director at cleaning manufacturer and distributor, Robert Scott, reports.
Advancements in technology and automation have the potential to make significant changes to the way cleaning regimes are managed. What has traditionally been a predominantly manual role is fast adopting automotive solutions, and their potential for revolutionising cleaning regimes is vast.
What we mean by automation in cleaning
Automation essentially means using technology to reduce or support human effort. When it comes to cleaning, automation can refer to anything from robotics to data tracking. Different technologies are at different stages of adoption – for example, robotic vacuum cleaners have crossed the threshold between domestic and commercial are now a relatively commonplace solution.
Software that automates the entire process of planning cleaning is also available, adding huge value to cleaning businesses and facilities managers.
Technology is advancing and automated solutions can be found in everything from window cleaning to landscaping. At Robert Scott, we’re exploring automated solutions that also deliver on reducing environmental impact, for example. It’s an exciting prospect – the idea that repetitive, time-consuming tasks can be completed automatically, or indeed more sustainably, freeing up human capacity to deal with the more complex parts of the job. Importantly, this doesn’t mean a reduction in cleaning teams, job losses or redundancies. The role automation can play is not about replacing people – it’s about giving them tools to help them do more in the time they have.
How the human touch fits in
Human labour will always be a vital part of cleaning. While automation can help plan cleaning regimes and support with the roll out of tasks, it cannot replace critical thought and therefore the presence of a human being will always be necessary to ensure it’s running as it should be, and to deliver the higher-impact cleaning tasks that require a human touch.
What’s interesting about automation in cleaning is its potential to supercharge your cleaning team by freeing up time. Robotic aids that manage tasks like vacuuming, window cleaning, floor polishing and so on can work in partnership with human cleaning teams who then have increased time at their disposal to deliver quality cleaning plans.
Using automation in cleaning
The global robotic cleaning market is predicted to reach $26bn by 2026. Household-name brands have helped boost this section’s growth into the consumer sector, but the commercial cleaning sector remains a significant driver of progress.
While vacuum cleaning may be one of the better know automatic cleaning areas, it’s far from the only one. Sweepers, floor polishers and air decontamination systems are becoming more commonly seen, and specialised tools like swimming pool cleaners are also growing in popularity.
Cleaning businesses can and should take steps to understand how automation can be incorporated into their operating model in order to maximise their teams’ impact on the ground. Effective use of automation in cleaning can be a secret weapon allowing cleaning businesses to do far more.
www.robert-scott.co.uk