CLEANING & HYGIENE
STRATEGIC CLEANING: A DIFFERENT APPROACH
Facilities management businesses have long been integral in supporting other organisations' objectives. However, with increasing pressure to reduce costs across industries, including FM, it is crucial to assess the evolving market and explore how businesses can strategically leverage cleaning solutions to navigate upcoming challenges, explains BioHygiene.
Market overview: Why many are
trying to cut costs in cleaning A 2024 study showed that 5.4m SMEs are implementing cost-cutting measures, not to drive financial growth, but to remain in operation. To put this into context, in 2023, the Department for Business and Trade reported there were 5.6m private sector SMEs in the UK, meaning that nearly all businesses are working to cut down on costs.
But this cost-cutting is not just exclusive to SMEs. Another study conducted at the end of 2024 showed that CFOs of some of the biggest UK companies are primarily focusing on cost control.
Why? In the last few years, businesses have witnessed rising costs from various factors, including changes induced by Brexit, which increased import costs by 11.5% (National Statistics 2022). New budgets, like the expected increase in NICs in April, rising wages, and increased prices throughout the value chain—from raw materials to energy—are also contributing factors. Additionally, geopolitical tensions have created an uncertain business landscape, prompting nearly all businesses to look for ways to cut costs.
Domino effect: How can cost cutting
affect FM businesses? Businesses in FM are central to the success of many modern business operations, working with each site to protect assets, wellbeing, and safety. Although an important industry that helps businesses achieve a wide range of objectives, added pressures to reduce costs will have a knock-on effect on FM stakeholders.
Suppliers:With increased costs for supplies, materials, and operations on their end of the value chain, many manufacturers or suppliers will pass some of these added expenses onto their products. This can increase the operational spend for FM providers before even reaching their customers.
FM businesses: Under the pressures of legislation and wider budget changes, FM businesses may add pressures on their cleaning teams, cutting times for operations and resources while still expecting an elevated standard of cleaning to maintain customer relations. Many might look to change manufacturers to further reduce or at least keep costs the same, seeking cheaper alternatives that require more intensive labour, have higher hazard classifications, and could lead to increased illness in an already stretched team. These changes might not align with current business commitments like net-zero or Scope 3 reductions.
24 | TOMORROW’S FM
Customers: FM Customers are looking to reduce costs, so they will seek more cost-effective cleaning operations. When reviewing these operations, businesses will analyse service quality, staffing, frequency of maintenance, a proactive rather than reactive cleaning routine, how they fit into their wider objectives, and general satisfaction. Without excelling in these areas, FM businesses could be at a competitive disadvantage, leading customers to seek other more cost-effective FM services or even consider in-house services
Tips for strategic cleaning: Costs,
operations and customer satisfaction In FM, balancing cost reduction with operational efficiency can be challenging. A strategic approach to cleaning can help achieve this balance without compromising standards or customer satisfaction. Cost- cutting measures that involve lower-quality chemicals or products may hurt cleanliness, safety, and brand reputation, overall putting that business at a competitive disadvantage.
Rather than solely focusing on cheap, harsh chemicals, the key lies in adopting strategic technologies that provide long-term value.
Evaluate cleaning technologies: Effective cleaning products do more than just clean—they offer lasting benefits. Some products with residual cleaning capabilities reduce the frequency of cleaning needed, maintaining high cleanliness standards without overburdening cleaning teams. Biotech cleaning products, such as BioHygiene, create a natural biofilm formation and offer proven long-term benefits by breaking down organic matter over time, ultimately reducing the need for frequent reapplications.
Cost and operational efficiency: Cost management involves more than just the upfront price. Consider the entire cost structure, from product per-use costs to labour time and waste. Ready-to-use (RTU) products tend to be more expensive on a per-use basis, while concentrated formulas—though pricier upfront—can be more cost-effective in the long term. These products often have higher dilution rates, which reduce consumption and costs, especially with proper staff training. Another way to save costs is by rationalising the cleaning product portfolio. Adopting multi-purpose products can simplify inventory management and reduce the number of specialised products needed. For example, BioHygiene’s core cleaning products are designed to cover up to 80% of cleaning needs, helping to reduce both costs and operational complexity for cleaning staff.
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