TECHNOLOGY, AI & ROBOTICS TRANSFORMING THE CLEANINGINDUSTRY
Matt Kuwertz, Commercial Director at Principle Cleaning Services, discusses how the company is playing its part in changing the sector through the introduction of technology, AI and robotics.
It’s undeniable that technology is changing the face of many industries and this includes the cleaning sector.
With innovation, technology and sustainability being Principle’s three core values, they have played a major role in shaping the company’s strategies and, through the introduction of robotics along with trialling AI, this has led to us adopting new technologies to support our teams in their daily tasks.
We were early adopters of this technology when we introduced OSCAR, a platform that uses AI and machine learning to correctly dispose of waste via particular waste streams, thus helping to increase the level of recycling within an organisation.
Integrating robotics into cleaning schedules is another progressive approach we’ve introduced, designed to boost efficiency and consistency and promote cost-effectiveness - they have come a long way in the last 15 years or so. The advanced sensors, improved battery capabilities combined with AI, and machine learning algorithms are all part of modern cleaning robots, allowing them to navigate their way around complex environments, avoiding obstacles and being capable of adapting to different settings.
The consensus is that robotics need an element of human interaction to operate optimally and have now been rebranded as 'Co-botics' as a result. These ‘smart cleaning machines’ include motorised sweepers, vacuums and scrubber dryers, which support Principle’s on-site teams enabling them to focus their efforts on detail cleaning while the cobots take care of the routine floor work. Co-botics have been proven to increase productivity, whilst saving water and energy.
In 2023, we announced a partnership with Skyline Robotics to be the exclusive UK provider of Ozmo - a unique window cleaning robot. Ozmo can cover the same amount of windows three times faster than humans. It is operated manually and has been designed so people and technology can work together, creating smarter, faster and safer working spaces.
Principle also identified a gap in the market for monitoring the progress of cleaning schedules for organisations that have multiple properties within their portfolio; or manage large, mixed-use estates. This led to us developing 3D Mapping - an interactive 3D map, which enables property managers and estate owners to see the results and trends of cleaning activities in one place.
3D Mapping gives data and performance metrics such as washroom use and cleaning standards achieved - including waste management, estate cleanliness and the windows that have been cleaned.
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Drop Marking is another Principle innovation. It feeds into the 3D Mapping technology and enables window cleaning teams to record the time taken for each drop whilst providing real-time progress of planned window cleans. We also created a weather reporting form, which must be completed by each team before any work can begin. These reports, along with Drop Marking and 3D Mapping are uploaded into our online platform, PCS Hub.
PCS Hub was introduced to utilise the data collected through various on-site cleaning activities to optimise our cleaning teams and maximise their effectiveness, supporting needs-based cleaning in the provision of an efficient and flexible service. It is a secure, cloud-based platform, which was developed to provide contract information, along with cleaning and service updates for clients, in real time; and is accessible from tablets, smart phones, desktops and laptops. Clients and cleaning teams are able to access data such as KPIs, recycling rates and building defects, along with trends and summaries. Each client has its own bespoke portal with a dashboard-style interface, designed to create quick and informed decision making.
The cleaning industry, like many other sectors, is set to be transformed by technology. With advances in AI and machine learning continuing at pace, robotics will continue to grow in importance, helping cleaning companies to deliver service excellence. This technology is capable of creating solutions to many of the challenges the industry faces such as labour shortages, consistency in standards, operational efficiency and the management of skills.
www.principleclean.com
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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