FEATURE
Nina Wyers, Marketing & Brand Director at The Floorbrite Group, looks at the trends set to dominate the cleaning industry over the next 12 months.
FUTURE FOCUS
In many ways, the key areas of focus for the cleaning industry this year remain the same – however, the evolution of these areas continues to march forward and facilities managers are looking for contractors able to keep pace with new developments.
Green and sustainable The last few years has seen a keen increase in the interest of sustainable and ‘green’ products. With Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) an increasing focus across the board, there is far greater awareness of goals and expectations from contractors and customers alike, which extends to their supply chains, manufacturers and distributors. Even as costs have risen due to the price of raw materials, the appetite for investment here is steady with suppliers looking to reduce chemicals, VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) and plastic usage in their products.
Net Zero Following the Climate Change Committee’s progress report presented to parliament in June 2023 outlining concerns that the government will meet their proposed 68% reduction in emissions by 2030, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the UK’s commitment with a September update on Net Zero. This included a string of further policies and developments to insist that targets are met in order to reach the ultimate goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The public sector will have to meet these targets within their operations and services, and we as private sector businesses will continue to feel the trickle effect of these policy changes into our own sectors, as the government encourages private businesses to adopt net zero strategies too. Many businesses are already on board with these plans which is positive news, however those businesses not making this a focus may soon find barriers to winning partnerships or tenders if they don’t understand and manage their own scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. For those companies who can handle this for prospective customers, this could be a massive differentiator in the market.
Robotics A robotic cleaning solution will not be appropriate for every site: the initial investment required for a long-term return on investment (ROI) still remains a barrier for
some. However, the technology continues to advance through AI and advanced navigation. Smart facility integration software allows users to control and schedule cleaning tasks using voice commands or mobile apps.
Multi-functional cleaning robots can perform multiple cleaning tasks, and improved battery life increases the operating time between charges. Innovations in robotic window cleaning have been designed specifically for cleaning windows in both residential and commercial use locations, while UV-C disinfection, which is the integration of UV-C light technology for disinfection purposes, is targeting bacteria and germs on surfaces.
Technology It’s all about the data. Customers today are keen to track data-driven, real-time reporting. There has been a clear shift since 2000 with an emphasis on quality, moving from products to services. Increasingly, we are moving to daytime cleaning to pick-up issues throughout the day. Using innovations in technology helps us to achieve improvements in quality by increasing productivity and creating improved reporting systems and processes.
These can be tracked via sensors placed in meeting rooms and washrooms. Wireless sensors or QR codes provide flexibility for usage anywhere and can track trends for the busiest times of the day in specific areas. Over time, the information can be used to predict and plan for when a presence is required in washrooms, for example, ensuring teams are focused in the right areas at the right times.
Staffing Staff shortages are an ongoing issue in the cleaning industry due to the number of positions available and not enough people to fill them. However, recent data shows there may be a slow reversal of this trend.
There is also good news in the form of another increase in the National Living Wage (NLW), which is coming this April, and The British Cleaning Council announced The Level 2 Cleaning Hygiene Operative Apprenticeship launch on 1 January 2024. This apprenticeship will enable industry businesses to invest in their staff, providing
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