Adopting Robotic Solutions

The global cleaning industry is currently in a constant state of change as Artificial Intelligence, automation and robotic technologies bring the promise of increased efficiency. As technologies evolve they become better and more affordable, changing the way we live in our day-to-day lives. The benefits we can obtain from implementing advanced technologies in the cleaning industry can have an immense impact on all areas of service provision. The Covid-19 pandemic did lead to a short-term increased demand for robotic cleaning services, but the cleaning industry has remained steady. In 2019, Beroe Inc valued the cleaning market at $660.25 billion and expects it to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 6.3% to $88.9 billion by 2025 (Beroe Inc, 2021). Robotics alone in the cleaning industry on the other hand have a forecasted CAGR of 23.3% between 2018 and 2028 (Mordor Intelligence, 2022). As the fascination with automation and AI capabilities grow, it is inevitable that smart technology will only become more integrated into our daily lives.

Benefits of Robotics The benefits of using robotics in the cleaning industry have been a hot topic for the last few years. It gives companies the opportunity to free up staff from monotonous, repetitive tasks that usually cause strain and fatigue, and instead allows them to focus on more high-level tasks. Robotics can also perform tasks to a more standardized level if properly maintained compared to the potential differences in service with human input.

With the current labour shortage crisis, robotic solutions can fill in the labour gaps and increase efficiency by cleaning large areas quickly and effectively. Due to the efficiency they can bring over time, robotic solutions can also bring cost savings which can then be passed on to the customer. Not only do robotics bring benefits to the work performed but they also collect and provide immense amounts of data that can be used and analyzed to improve processes. With the constantly evolving economy and industry competitiveness, cleaning companies will need to continue looking to robotic solutions to stay competitive and viable in the long term. Not only are cleaning companies staying up to date with the latest cutting-edge technology but so are customers who are very open to embracing new technology and innovations.

Goals of Implementing Robotics Ultra Shine had two main goals when we decided to implement robotic solutions into our service offerings:

Goal #1 - To save on labour This is not to take away jobs but to alleviate the strain of labour shortages we sometimes face. This allows us to continue to operate and serve our customers when we face these challenges. We don’t want to have to ask our staff to work long hours to get the job done. We want them to have a good work-life balance, feeling refreshed and ready every single time they walk into work. Robotic solutions also allows our staff to focus on more high-level tasks like customer service and leadership development so we can focus on creating future leaders within the company.

Goal #2 - Stay true to Commercial Cleaning Done Smarter Ultra Shine continues to strive to be an industry leader when it comes to innovation and technology in the commercial cleaning industry. We take pride in being one of the first adopters of new technologies and robotic solutions as part of our service offerings, testing the benefits it can bring to our customers.

Challenges of Robotics When first implementing robotic solutions at Ultra Shine we ran into a few challenges: Challenge #1 - Apprehension around innovation and potential job loss It’s normal to be unsure about change, you often don't know how that change will impact you. Getting all staff on board and excited about change is a hurdle we often have to overcome when implementing new technology big or small.

Challenge #2 - The learning curve Learning how to use and get comfortable with new equipment or technology can take upwards of a month. There is extensive training in operating robotics that our team must go through to implement a robotic solution into a new facility.

Challenge #3 - Costs around maintenance and repairs for technology It’s crucial to keep robotics well-maintained and running smoothly for them to work effectively. Extensive maintenance training is extremely important to ensure all staff working alongside robotic equipment are able to identify and replace attachments properly and recognize when the equipment needs adjustments, etc.

Challenge #4 - Canadian Winters This one may be a little niche to us in Canada, but robotics don’t always operate the best in -30°C weather or may not have been designed with slush or salt-stained floors in mind.

Addressing Those Challenges

Find the Right Technology Fit Not every robotic solution is going to be the right fit for every facility. The key to a smooth adoption process is to find technology that is a good fit for each location and its needs. If the robotic equipment selected is not the best choice for a facility, it’s likely to lead to frustrations and create additional obstacles to overcome. Our robotic vacuum cleaner Joy is best suited to facilities that have large carpeted areas such as casinos, airports or convention centres and our robotic autoscrubber Bob is better suited for facilities that have large areas of hard surface flooring such as malls and recreation centres.

Empower a Tech Champion Utilize someone who is gung-ho and excited about the implementation of new technologies. They will become the company's go-to tech experts and will be able to help in the field when something goes wrong.

Showcase the Many Benefits There is likely to be hesitation with something so advanced and new. To counter this, it’s important to consistently highlight the benefits that will come from implementing this new technology. Always frame it in a positive light and remind all staff why the decision was made to implement this new technology. By implementing robotic technologies at our customers’ facilities, we can assist our front-line staff by freeing them up from the monotonous tasks that cause strain and alleviates labour shortage concerns.

Robotics in the cleaning industry are here to stay and are only likely to become more prominent. You may have seen Ultra Shine’s robotic floor scrubber Bob rolling around. Bob has cleaned 38 million sqft and has worked for more than 10,000 hours bringing immense time savings to our team and cost savings to our customers. Implementing new technology doesn’t come without its challenges however and it’s important to have a plan in place to find ways to address those challenges.