WASHROOM


The world is becoming “smarter’ all the time. Products that incorporate digital solutions and sensor technology are revolutionising the world in which we live. Meanwhile, Smartphone apps and robots are increasingly being incorporated into everyday working environments.


The smart revolution has even extended to the washroom and technology is increasingly playing a role in publicly- used facilities everywhere. For example, many flush systems, dispensers and taps now operate automatically via sensors to minimise the number of surfaces that washroom visitors need to touch.


Air freshening systems also often use sensors to deliver controlled shots of fragrance only when the washrooms are in use. And systems such as Tork EasyCube – which “connects” washroom via sensors and uploads data to the internet - are appearing in washrooms all over the world. But how far are these high-tech systems relevant to today’s facility services manager?


To answer this, we must first consider the FM’s main priorities when equipping the washrooms of a building. Firstly, it is important that the washrooms operate efficiently and function properly. They also need to deliver good hygiene outcomes to avoid problems such as cross-contamination, the spread of infections and consequent staff absenteeism. But above all FMs need to offer good value for the client.


Washrooms tend to come fairly low on the list of the facility manager’s priorities. But a badly-run washroom could result in long queues, messy units, unsanitary cubicles and dissatisfied end-users.


This is where “smart” solutions such as Tork EasyCube come into their own. The system uses sensors in washroom dispensers and on doors to gather information on visitor numbers and refill levels and relay this data via the internet. This allows the cleaner to ascertain in advance how much soap, hand towels and toilet paper to bring with them on their trolley and how many packs of hand towels they will need.


The system is improving the washrooms of airports, amusement parks, offices and shopping centres throughout Europe. After its installation at Unilever’s office headquarters in Hamburg, for example, the company managed to cut the number of cleaning rounds from 90 to 68 per day. The system has also made the cleaners’ lives less stressful since they now have the assurance that supplies of soap, towels and toilet paper will be available 100% of the time.


When Tork EasyCube was installed in the washrooms of Bern’s Welle7 shopping and dining complex, too, washroom complaints became non-existent and unnecessary inspections were avoided because staff suddenly knew where and when they were needed.


This is a clear example of technology being used to make life easier for the cleaner and facilities manager. But there are plenty of other high-tech washroom systems that appear to have different goals.


For example, Japan is renowned for its high-tech www.tomorrowsfm.com


washrooms and many of the nation’s upmarket hotels and offices feature toilets that offer an array of smart functions. The latest smart Japanese toilet was showcased at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show in January. Made by Kohler, this model can be activated by voice command and comes with its own smartphone app that allows the user to ask Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri to heat the seat or raise or lower it for them.


These types of system appear to be more of a gimmick designed to impress than a useful addition to the washroom. The same could be said of a new breed of video games. Designed by Captive Media, these allow users to operate a tank, drive a car or play virtual football, cricket or rugby in the washroom. Such games are appearing in the gents’ washrooms of bars all over the world and are turning them into talking points. They also add value for the establishment in the form of on-screen advertisements for menus, events and offers.


Another high-tech washroom system that recently made its debut in China is the “magic mirror”. A row of these mirrors have appeared on the wall of the ladies’ loos at a shopping centre in Hangzhou City where they enable women to virtually try on lipstick, blusher, eyeliner and eyeshadow. Claimed to be the world’s first “Smart Ladies’ Room”, the washroom also features vending machines that allow visitors to buy the products after they try them, potentially providing an extra profit stream for the centre. And since the trying-on process takes place while the women are queueing, the mirrors can make the wait more bearable and improve the user experience.


Most of us use smart technology as a matter of course in our daily lives every time we take out our mobile phone, and the smartphone is having its own impact on the washroom.


According to studies at least 75% of us in the UK now take our phones into the toilet with us. Some of us upload images of unhygienic toilets or empty dispensers to the internet either as a talking point or to name and shame those establishments with low standards. And facilities managers cannot afford for unsightly images of the washrooms they operate to appear on social media since the consequent bad publicity could blacken their name and lose them contracts.


But on the upside, this transparency is ensuring that washrooms everywhere are becoming cleaner, more hygienic and better-equipped. And at the same time, the addition of magic mirrors and video screens are making the washroom experience more fun for the user.


However, it is the introduction of data-driven systems such as Tork EasyCube that are providing real benefits to the facilities manager since they make the washroom easier to operate and more economical to run.


Everyone can benefit from a high-tech washroom - the cleaner, the FM, the property owner and the end-user. And as technology develops it will be exciting to see what new developments lie around the corner. One thing is certain: a trip to the toilet will never be the same again.


www.tork.co.uk/easycube TOMORROW’S FM | 45


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