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How Mobile Robots Are Helping Facilities Stay Clean Post‑Pandemic

Michel Spruijt, GM and VP of Brain Corp Europe, discusses the future of facilities cleaning and how autonomous mobile robots will have an even greater role to play in maintaining hygiene standards.

With the constant flow of customers and employees in shops and warehouses, businesses have always had to maintain a high standard of hygiene. But this was made even more crucial over the last year and a half as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe and brought with it an immediate need for a verifiable level of cleanliness.

During this time, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have taken centre stage to showcase what they can offer. And, because of the spotlight on cleaning, interest in machines such as self-driving floor scrubbers, delivery tugs, and shelf scanners has dramatically risen. According to a recent study conducted by RetailWire and Brain Corp, 73% of supply chain managers have stated that robotics will be essential for businesses in the future. The study also shows that nearly half of all retailers plan to have an in-store robotics automation project underway in the next 18 months.

Covid As A Catalyst

Prior to the pandemic, AMRs were increasingly deployed in facilities as the need for upgraded and more efficient operations was prioritised. They were, however, still considered more of a novelty than a necessity in some quarters. Thanks to AI-powered navigation systems and advancements in safety, privacy and ease of use, mobile robots have made their way out of tightly controlled environments and into more dynamic, public environments. The ability to safely interact with humans in unpredictable environments offers new value to managers, offering a new standard of trackable, 24/7 cleaning in the facilities management sector.

But the ability to clean around the clock is not the only tangible benefit brought by AMRs. By giving facilities managers the flexibility to move team members from low-value, repetitive, and unsafe tasks like manning manual floor scrubbers or hauling heavy delivery carts, to higher-value responsibilities, such as deep cleaning, restocking empty shelves or supporting customers, robots help increase employee productivity. According to Brain Corp data, throughout 2020, its cleaning robots gave back a total of 3.3 million hours to workers in various high-traffic public locations. Furthermore, AMRs enable facility operators to automate the movement of up to 1,000 pounds of materials and goods at any time, reducing the physical strain felt by workers and potential associated injury.

In addition, thanks to the reliable automation of floor sanitisation, cleaning operations have experienced a more meaningful division of labour, leading to different responsibilities being carried out with more efficiency than previously. A greater depth of task specialisation has meant that staff members cross paths less often, thus reducing the risk of COVID-19 exposure whilst at work.

Robots Verifying And Improving Operational Performance

State-of-the-art technology in robotics has raised expectations in the post-Covid world we are now entering. With a sharp focus on hygiene, cleanliness is a top priority for facilities managers and the public. According to a recent report from Accenture, in the fallout from COVID-19, 64% of those surveyed are fearful of their health, while 82 per cent fear for the health of others.

To combat this issue, AMRs are constantly updated with improved software via the cloud to include features that allow them to operate more effectively and efficiently. Being able to capture rich cleaning data while in operation allows performance and utilization metrics to be closely tracked and to inform better process management. AMRs provide verifiable cleaning, ensuring compliance, and safeguarding facilities and health. This data is difficult to glean via traditional, manual methods, and it allows operations and facilities managers to prove and optimize daily cleaning performance, as well as better achieve corporate compliance goals. Additionally, because AMRs serve as a visible indicator of a commitment to elevated cleaning standards, when these machines are seen working hard in facilities, consumers and staff alike can appreciate a company’s commitment to operational sophistication, cleanliness and general innovation.

2020 has been a watershed year for robotics due to an unprecedented health crisis in modern times. Within a very short period, robots have become essential partners in successfully sanitizing high-traffic public spaces. As we continue to move forward, it is important to understand that the increasing deployment of AMRs can improve cleaning performance and fundamentally transform the way facilities can operate safely and sustainably.