RETAIL & DAYTIME CLEANING


A number of American companies now offer a virtual fitting room experience which is powered by artificial intelligence (AI). These use algorithms and machine learning to take the customer’s body measurements, allowing them to create a 3D model of the shopper as he or she stands in front of a camera.


The system then overlays the person’s body with a scanned image of the chosen garment so that they can see how it would look without actually having to put it on themselves. Some experts predict that the global virtual fitting room market could grow from $6.86bn in 2025 to $24.30bn by 2032.


Such headline-grabbing moves signal a new revolution in smarter shopping, but the truth is that we have all been quietly heading in this high-tech retail direction for years. Security tags that trigger an alarm when a tagged item is moved past a detection point have been helping to prevent thefts in stores since the 1960s, for example, with early versions using radio frequency technology. Self-service tills where people scan the items they wish to purchase and then pay via a screen have become increasingly commonplace in shops worldwide.


Technology has also been improving efficiency and speeding up traffic in the retail washroom, too. Automatic taps and flush systems avoid the need for visitors to touch potentially-contaminated surfaces, while also making the facilities more accessible for the less abled.


Traffic light systems that light up green when a cubicle is empty and turn red when it is engaged are helping to speed up queues in busy shopping centre toilets because they prevent the need for people to have to try each door in turn.


Many large retail washrooms now incorporate ‘smiley’ feedback panels that allow visitors to rate their washroom experience by pressing a red, amber or green button. Such systems provide valuable data for washroom managers and enable them to respond swiftly to any cleaning need.


Meanwhile, the advent of the internet has made it possible for us all to shop from home – and online retail has become an increasingly prevalent option over recent years as a result.


This means physical shopping centres have had to raise their game and offer better and more enticing facilities in order to attract people back to the shops. Here again, technology has come into play. Some retail managers have reacted to the online challenge by introducing high-tech options such as virtual reality gaming zones, for example.


In our post-COVID world, shoppers expect the malls they visit to be spotless – from the escalator handrails to the shopfronts and, of course, the toilets. It can be hard for a retail manager to ensure that their premises remain clean at all times when footfall varies from day to day – and once again, technology can help.


An increasing number of shopping centres are using robots to carry out floor cleaning and scrubbing tasks, for example. Today’s robot cleaners are increasingly able to operate safely around shoppers and cover large floor areas, freeing up human staff to concentrate on more detailed work.


Smart bins are increasingly being installed to alert staff members when they need emptying. Technology is also


38 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING


being used in the washrooms to ensure that dispensers are being topped up and that all cleaning issues are swiftly addressed.


For example, Tork Vision Cleaning allows cleaners to monitor washroom usage and check on dispenser refill levels via a smartphone or tablet. Using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and people-counters, Tork Vision Cleaning notifies cleaners when soap and paper dispensers require refills while also keeping tabs on washroom traffic so that operatives can assess when it's time to carry out a clean.


This means cleaners are no longer obliged to make multiple journeys to the facility to carry out random checks, saving them time and improving their working life while also reducing labour costs. Businesses using the technology report that their washroom dispensers are now full 99% of the time.


“Today’s robot cleaners are increasingly able to operate safely around


shoppers and cover large floor areas.”


There are other ways in which today’s shopping centres are becoming smarter. For example, some precincts in China now feature augmented reality screens in the ladies’ washrooms that allow women to virtually try on make-up. The screens act as intelligent mirrors, enabling female visitors to tell how they would look if they applied a particular lipstick, blusher, eyeliner or eyeshadow. This enables the store to sell more products and extends the shopping experience into the washroom queue.


Sensors are being used in the car park, too, to help customers to quickly locate an available space. Meanwhile, click-and-collect services are allowing customers to order online and collect their products either from a counter or a pick-up station.


Smart lighting that’s capable of adapting to natural light is increasingly being used to reduce power consumption, while heating and air conditioning units are now able to control the temperature of the shopping precinct based on real time occupancy. Static posters are being replaced with dynamic digital signage and interactive kiosks. These offer real-time promotions and show new offers, events and announcements.


The use of robots in shopping centres – as is occurring in Dubai – may currently be grabbing headlines around the world, but soon these automated systems will become commonplace. At the same time, shopping centres everywhere are using technology in many other ways to enhance the customer experience, and this will ultimately be of benefit to everyone.


www.tork.co.uk x.com/TomoCleaning


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