Artificial Intelligence (AI): Is Your Janitorial Company Ready?
It's important to embrace new technology to keep cleaning your janitorial company moving forward. Today, it seems like you can't look at emerging trends in cleaning or business in general without seeing something about artificial intelligence (AI).
First, it's important to define AI. You may have images of futuristic robots and sentient computers, but the reality is you're probably already using AI to keep your business running. AI is an umbrella term that describes computers able to perform tasks typically requiring human effort to complete. This includes everything from translation apps to email scheduling tools. Slowly, however, AI is becoming more complex and tackling even more difficult tasks.
Artificial Intelligence is booming in the cleaning industry
Every year, manufacturers develop new technologies and the cost of implementing AI continues to drop. We saw a lot of amazing AI products at last year's ISSA trade show, such as automated floor scrubbers that can navigate themselves around a building. They use a combination of cameras, sensors, and sonar technology to map the floor space and scrub floors without the need for a human operator.
These types of machines are able to “sense” upcoming messes on floors and can adjust their water and detergent use—cutting operational costs by up to 70%. These labor savings can allow business owners to hire fewer staff members or take on additional clients.
For cleaning companies with large budgets, window cleaning can be a great way to expand service offerings. In the past, this was a specialized service that required specialized equipment and employees. AI is changing things. Now, we're seeing high-tech, remote-controlled robots take the place of technicians. These machines can climb up the side of any high rise—spraying, brushing, and rinsing as they go.
Investments in these large AI equipment don't make sense for all businesses. But that doesn't mean smaller cleaning companies can't benefit from emerging AI technologies.
We were also very impressed by Zan Compute's Smart Facility Management Platform. It lets you remotely monitor everything from paper towel levels to garbage can odors. This level of monitoring ensures that you can track any cleaning incidents in real-time and your technicians could change their fixed-route cleaning schedule to an on-demand service.
Of course, Zan Compute isn't the first to make this type of program. “Smart home” products have been around for many years in the residential setting, and are now becoming affordable enough to be line the shelves of big-box retailers.
An AI system like Zan Compute's allows cleaning company owners to truly analyze and respond to real data. Ask your technicians how often they restock toilet paper in each restroom they service and you may hear, “once or twice a week” or “about every other day.” With AI, you can see exactly how many people use the restrooms and tell technicians to restock after 120 people use the space. This type of AI technology allows you to optimize your cleaning schedule—keeping your clients happy and maximizing your labor hours.
Perhaps you're among the cleaning company owners who aren't ready to implement AI technology until you see proof it's here to stay. You aren't alone. Most business owners don't want to dive headfirst into a trend; your business could suffer if things don't work out.
Rushing into AI won't work for all cleaning businesses. To determine if it's a good fit for you, keep these questions in mind:
- Does it make sense to replace any of my current equipment?
- Can I afford to try something new?
- Do the clients I have now provide enough work to justify the added expensive of automation?
- If I were to purchase this equipment, what could I do with my extra staff time?
- Will new AI equipment keep my business growing?
For smaller businesses without the capital to purchase new equipment, traditional cleaning methods are proven and will keep your business running smoothly until you're financially ready to explore AI.
If you do make the switch, be prepared to for this common question from technicians: “Am I being replaced by a machine?” For now, there's no way to fully automate cleaning and completely eliminate employees. So, thankfully, you and your team don't have to worry about mass firings.
The best way to handle employee fears is to explain the reasons for automation. If the goal is to better optimize staff time, assure your employees that their jobs are safe and that the new systems are there to help them. If your main goal is keeping costs down, point out to employees that you'll be able to take on additional clients without asking more of your employees.
Staff members who aren't worried about losing their job are less stressed and more likely to embrace the training they receive on the new technology.
Artificial intelligence brings an entirely new range of products to the cleaning industry. How will you use them?
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