Pushing the boundaries of cleaning
Carl Robinson, Marketing Manager for cleaning and FM specialist Nviro draws focus away from technological advancements in cleaning, to offer his thoughts on his belief that innovation doesn’t always have to be restricted to the latest cleaning gadget.
hen you think of innovation and advancements in technology, let’s be honest, cleaning isn’t the first industry to come to mind. On the surface you could be fooled into thinking there’s not much in the way of progression that cleaning can achieve. However, innovation doesn’t always have to come in the form of new products, and technology needn’t have to mean replacing cleaning operatives with robotic equipment to achieve better results. New advancements don’t necessarily have to be the best thing since sliced bread, which in itself wasn’t the most groundbreaking of inventions when you consider its simplicity. There’s
W
is partly down to how we look across to other sectors and industries to embrace new ideas, which can be applied on many levels to cleaning.
no point
holding your breath for
a repeat of the founding of The
Hoover Company in 1908, but the cleaning industry has, and continues to make great strides within innovation and technology. It was in 1932 that the first germicide and disinfectant was invented for use in cleaning. But who could have ever imagined back then that in 2013 the cleaning industry would be looking at innovative ways and processes that replace the use of chemicals. This is a much needed, but radical move to turn back on the very thing that completely changed the face of the cleaning industry during the 20th century. One example of the industries recent surge in progression is how it has begun to fully embrace and drive the use of software and IT. The Overall Winner Award at this year’s Innovation Awards at The Cleaning Show 2013 was a free training application program for mobile phones and tablet computers. It’s so refreshing to see how the scope for developments has become so broad within our industry. This
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Cutting out chemicals With a huge drive for green and environmentally conscious cleaning, Nviro is constantly pushing for innovation within the way we clean without the use of chemicals. One key factor in the development of chemical-free cleaning is most certainly microfibre. The history of the fibre itself is quite unclear; some say it was invented by the Japanese in the mid-1970s, while others claim it was first introduced into England in 1986. But what we do know is that it wasn’t until 2007 that the first major line was introduced to cleaning. It has no doubt revolutionised the cleaning industry and is now used in cloths, mop heads, floor buffing equipment and a huge range of other products. The introduction of microfibre has meant that cleaning companies like Nviro have been able to instigate the removal of chemicals from large parts of the cleaning regime. This is a considerable step for the industry to move further and further towards a more green and sustainable future. However, the introduction of techniques that require little to no chemicals can be hard to implement. It’s not always easy to persuade a client to switch after so many years of chemical usage.
Innovation through communication It may have been the advancements in technology which lead to the invention and use of microfibre. Yet, a large part of its introduction relies on the innovative approaches to the way cleaning contracts
are run, managed and communicated. The definition of the word innovation means the application of new solutions that meet new requirements, whether that is for freshly established or existing market needs. This means that for the cleaning industry, innovation often comes in the form of new approaches to traditional applications. More often than not in the way equipment and time is used, rather than the invention of new equipment itself. To a client, innovation means commitment, from not just the supplier but the customer themselves. No one likes stagnation of service and in this day and age focus is very much placed on more bang for your buck. It’s important to remember that although new gadgets can be exciting, time and time again it’s the introduction of novel ways of working that improves service delivery. This can be in the form of daytime cleaning, specially tailored services and bespoke methodologies of cleaning within varying environments, which rely heavily on communication between the client and supplier. When vehicles utilised the invention of the wheel, they didn’t tinker with its shape or form. Instead they concentrated on ways of getting it to move faster and more efficiently, with less fuel for a more green and sustainable product. The cleaning industry needs to continue to use this approach within its development and progression through the 21st century. Cleaning may not be pushing the boundaries of technology. But by inventing new ways of using equipment faster, efficiently and more effectively, it is providing a different type of innovation that is driving the industry in the right direction. For more information about Nviro please contact 0800 032 1334, email
info@nviro.co.uk or visit the newly revamped website
www.nviro.co.uk
Building & Facilities Management – October 2013
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