Why It’s Time To Talk Tech In The Cleaning Industry
By Heather Downes, Cleaning Services Manager, Mitie.
As with the rest of the facilities management (FM) industry, the cleaning and hygiene sector is harnessing the latest technology to deliver exceptional services. Heather Downes, Cleaning Services Manager at Mitie, discusses how more FMs should be embracing tech to support their cleaning colleagues.
Embrace The Future
Many sectors are implementing technology to automate long, repetitive, manual tasks and the cleaning industry is no different. Sweeping and mopping floors are prime examples of a laborious activity that isn’t making the best use of a colleague’s time, which is why some FMs are deploying cleaning robots to alleviate colleagues of this duty. This is especially effective in large spaces like airports, for example at Heathrow Airport, we have one of the UK’s largest fleet of robotic scrubber dryers. The benefit of programming the robots to clean floors are clear, as it means we can free up more time for co-workers to complete the activities that require a human, such as focusing on minimising the risk of cross infection and cleaning intricate touchpoints. Robots also help in reducing environmental impact, as they recycle water and are extremely energy efficient, in particular those that are battery-operated.
Follow The Science
Taking a scientific approach to cleaning is enabling FMs to better demonstrate the benefits of their services. As a result of the COVID pandemic, businesses are more conscious of the importance of cleaning and hygiene, and increasingly wanting their FMs to use the latest research to inform the approach to cleaning.
A key example of this is the use of ultraviolet (UV) technology in our sector. UVC is a specific range of ultraviolet light which can significantly reduce bacteria, viruses and other pathogens from air, surfaces, and water. With the wealth of research behind the effectiveness of UVC tech, FMs are now able to use it to clean the air and disinfect a wide variety of commonly used and high-risk areas, from public toilets to hospital wards.
Data Driven Decisions
Sensor technology and data analytics are changing the way FMs track building usage and manage their services. By monitoring the number of people entering and exiting a building, how the population occupies different floors, and the use of washrooms, accurately and in real time, FMs can use these insights to deliver more effective cleaning services. For example, by installing sensors on dispensers that provide cleaners with an alert when restocks are needed, colleagues are empowered to focus their time where it is needed most rather than spending time manually checking. Over the longer term, this data can be used to inform shift patterns, understand which areas of the site require more cleaning colleagues, and ensure that time and resource is focused on areas that need it most – all of which results in a better service for our customers.
Safety First
Not only does the latest technology support our colleagues in their activities, but it also helps us to keep them safe. Like all FM services, safety of colleagues, customers and members of the public is a top priority, particularly in more challenging or regulated environments, such as healthcare or manufacturing services. Historically, cleaners may have had to work with potentially harmful chemical products to clean areas such as restrooms. However, there are alternatives coming to the market that solve this issue. For example, we’re working with specialist suppliers to rollout a new generation of biological cleaning products that contain microbes, enzymes and plant extracts that are not toxic to humans but still highly effective, making it far safer for our cleaners. This means that the quality of cleaning services isn’t compromised, and most importantly, colleagues are kept safe.
From reducing environmental impact to ensuring colleagues are able to focus on specialist tasks, technology is already revolutionising the cleaning industry. By embracing this tech, FMs can be a driving force for innovation in their organisation.
