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Smarter Cleaning Means Standardized Cleaning

31 January 2023
smart cleaning interface individual functions
As more and more companies focus on data driven cleaning, we take a look at how the digital transformation of the industry not only optimizes performance, but ensures the process is standardized, auditable and entirely outcome driven. Traditionally, cleaning has been an entirely manual process, and as a result, impossible to standardize. Conventional approaches to hygiene involved auditing via paper-based checklists, with score cards pinned to the backs of doors which team leaders had to validate on their rounds. Things began to improve with the introduction of basic digital capabilities, such as early online forms and workforce management tools. However, the act of auditing cleans still had to be done by physical inspections. Whilst this was a step in the right direction, it meant auditing was still inefficient, time-consuming, costly, and completely subjective. What appears clean to one person might not meet the standards of another.

The Digital Transformation of Commercial Cleaning

Over the last few years though, this has all changed. With massive technological leaps in the use of IoT and AI, buildings have become Smart. This shift has allowed FM teams to digitalize almost everything – cleaning included. Digital adoption within the hygiene space, and more crucially the data it produces, has allowed cleaning to become standardized, auditable and an overall outcome-driven process.

An Abundance of Touchpoints Means a Wealth of Data

With the development of sensor driven technology, any number of touchpoints within any given space can be measured. For example, within a washroom, everything from smells and spills to actual usage patterns and feedback from customers can be monitored, giving FM teams access to something that had been lacking before – real-time insights.

But digital cleaning doesn’t stop there.

AI modules have evolved, which can process and analyse the wealth of in-depth data the touchpoints provide, and as a result, can digitalize the entire process of auditing and inspection. The Smart systems can inform FM teams of what has been done, whether it was up to their pre-determined standards, and what needs to happen next.

The decisions are based entirely on actual parameters rather than subjective assessment.

Endless Cleaning Data Means Endless Opportunities

The potential that data-driven cleaning offers is endless when it comes to managing and reviewing cleaning performance.

Being able to measure just about anything in the cleaning lifecycle ensures manpower numbers are accurate based on actual footfall, and that hygiene levels are appropriate for the type of building being cleaned. User expectations can be matched with performance scores and as an outcome-based model, accountability can be introduced.

Standardizing the Process – a Case Study

Let’s look at SmartClean’s Matrix – the software used in VERTECO’s smart cleaning technology – as an example of the wealth of data that data-driven cleaning offers, and the vital role it plays in standardizing the auditing process. As the first AI smart cleaning management platform available, it can autonomously monitor, operate and manage the whole cleaning process from a single user-friendly dashboard.

Software functionality and the benefits

As seen in the user interface below, by simply uploading details of the space that requires cleaning, the platform can estimate cleaning and resource requirements, devise suitable schedules, and assign the cleaners. Crucially, a real-time ‘Cleanscore’ is allocated, allowing the entire process to be standardized.

smart cleaning interface individual functions
  • Grid: The simple ‘map building’ tool allows the user to digitize their entire building, so their unique footprint can inform management of all aspects of cleaning. From opening hours and accurate people numbers to the locations of washrooms and heavily used areas, this ensures expectations are managed on the actual, physical shape of any given space.
  • Workorder: With an exhaustive list of over 500+ activities, stakeholders can clearly define their requirements, automate work allocation, and manage escalations and incidents from a single touchpoint.
  • Workforce: FM teams can manage their workforce remotely, allocate responsibilities when needed, manage cleaning schedules, and monitor performance and attendance to improve accountability.
  • Optimus: Connecting all Smart IoT based sensors to the Matrix, this makes automated cleaning a reality. From real-time monitoring of cleanliness levels to sending alerts for dynamic cleans when needed, the Optimus analyses millions of data points to provide real-time, contextual information and reports to the user.
  • Reports: Allows the user to create high quality reports on a range of parameters on everything from operational performance to user feedback. The tool immediately flags if performance is not up to standard.
  • Audit: Streamlining the inspection process, the audit tool digitizes audits, checklists and inspections and allows the user to monitor them on an ongoing basis while also tailoring them to their specific needs.
  • Command Center: The heart of the matrix allows KPIs to be visualized as they happen throughout the entire property.
  • RealSense: Users can monitor cleanliness in an automated way, with intelligent sensors that measure multiple cleanliness and hygiene parameters 24×7, giving access to an abundance of data which can be managed in any way you like.

Just the Beginning

The developers of the technology reveal that this is just the beginning in the digital evolution of cleaning and its auditing processes. From ‘Progressive Wage’ models, which incentivize cleaners who are more skilled and efficient, to ‘Green Cleaning’ modules which promote sustainability by mapping resources used within any given space in efforts to reduce wastage, the future of the way we clean is going to drastically change and improve, very soon.

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