RETAIL & DAYTIME CLEANING
Going cobotic
Gavin Holmes, New Product Development Manager at Robert Scott, explains the role of cobotics in the retail customer experience.
Cleanliness is one of the most immediate signals of quality in retail. Shoppers often notice it subconsciously, but its influence is powerful: spotless, well-maintained stores make a strong first impression, protect merchandise and support a brand’s reputation. For retailers, the challenge is achieving consistently high standards while managing heavy footfall, without interrupting the shopping experience.
Increasingly, retailers are adopting cobotics – collaborative cleaning robots designed to work alongside human teams. These machines maintain rigorous standards while freeing staff to focus on more detailed or customer-facing tasks, such as sanitising high-touch areas or responding quickly to spills. With multiple sensors, cobots can move safely through busy stores, operating to programmed schedules for deep cleans before opening and lighter maintenance during trading hours.
Innovation in practice
Floor cleaning is one of the most resource-heavy tasks for retail and facilities teams, and it is here that cobots are delivering clear gains. The META-SCRUB 60 (MS60) has shown it can clean a 554m² sports hall in just over 33 minutes – a job which would take around 95 minutes with a standard 36cm machine scrubber, or up to five hours with a smaller unit. Even in tighter, irregular spaces such as narrow corridors, it achieved a 97% success rate while maintaining a rate of 440m² per hour.
The MS60 is designed to simplify the wider cleaning process, too. Its integrated docking station automatically disposes of wastewater and refills clean water, while onboard controls and remote connectivity give managers flexible oversight. It also generates detailed performance data, supporting scheduling decisions and giving full visibility of standards without the need for manual checks.
Through our market research and customer feedback, we recognised demand for a more compact, agile option for confined environments. The result is the META-SCRUB 45 (MS45). Offering the same performance advantages as the MS60, it is built to manoeuvre precisely in smaller, busier areas. Its advanced navigation makes it well-suited to
42 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING
sectors such as healthcare, leisure, education and transport hubs, where narrow layouts are common. For offices and retail stores, the MS45 provides a standalone solution, while in larger venues it complements the MS60 to deliver consistent cleaning even in intricate spaces.
More than a functional tool
The value of cobots extends beyond efficiency. Their presence supports a modern, innovative brand image. Shoppers often stop to watch how the machines glide around displays and people, creating small but memorable moments of engagement. This blend of technology and practicality enhances the shopping experience subtly yet meaningfully – keeping spaces clean, while projecting an impression of forward-thinking professionalism.
For retailers, investing in cobotics is about more than automating cleaning tasks. It signals a commitment to innovation, customer experience and operational excellence – qualities that resonate with both shoppers and staff.
www.robertscottrobotics.co.uk x.com/TomoCleaning
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