Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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App launch aims to improve industry standards
HSG UK has launched what it believes is the UK's first fully integrated management tool and review app to help venues and washroom services providers address issues and raise standards.
HSG UK in Derby, has developed the Cleen App which is free to download and enables customers and visitors to log reviews of washrooms in any type of venue from restaurants and shopping centres to sports stadia and airports.
Businesses and washroom services providers can then sign up to their own Cleen Dashboard which is a complete washroom management tool.
This enables venues to have immediate access to the Cleen App reviews so that they can take action and directly respond to customer feedback.
Washroom service providers can also use the Cleen Dashboard to manage their portfolio of washroom clients.
With the Cleen App, users can either compliment accessible and clean washrooms or post complaints and issues they have faced such as dirty basins, no soap or toilet paper, access problems for people with disabilities and lack of baby changing facilities.
The reviews are fun and easy to post by clicking different icons and users can even upload photographs to support their review. These can then be viewed by other Cleen App users so that they can see which venues have good - and poor - washroom facilities and make a choice to visit accordingly.
HSG UK managing director Simon Rice has drawn on his company's expertise as a market leader in washroom water conservation and services and worked with digital marketing agency Subism in Derby and London to develop the cutting-edge technology.
He is confident that the app would be embraced by a wide range of businesses and venues that share his passion for raising industry standards.
"Cleen App gives the public a voice on washroom facilities and cleanliness and the Cleen Dashboard enables businesses and service providers to have instant access to reviews - good and bad - and take the required action.
"A positive review is a good advertisement and marketing tool for a business. When feedback is negative, the business has the information available immediately to address the situation or take their washroom services provider to task.
"First impressions definitely count and our aim is to improve the world one washroom at a time. It has long been a bugbear of mine that, in this day and age, we are still faced with washrooms that are dirty, smell, with no toilet paper and overflowing nappy and sanitary bins.
"It's a particular issue for the hospitality industry. How many times have we gone to a restaurant and walked out after visiting the washroom - presuming that a grotty loo means a dirty kitchen?
"If a washroom is not fit for purpose, it is not just an inconvenience but can badly affect the quality of life for a large part of our community and particularly for people with disabilities and parents needing baby changing facilities."
This sentiment is echoed by Martin Austin, managing director of Nimbus Disability.
The not for profit company is one of the country's leading providers of disability related advice and support to businesses including managing the now widely-recognised Access Card for many major venues across the UK to provide a more efficient and dignified way to communicate needs and evidence disability.
He says: "The accessibility and standard of washrooms is a major consideration for disabled people when they are deciding where to visit - whether that be a shopping centre, theatre or restaurant. Cleen App is therefore a simple and engaging way of giving disabled people a voice to share their experiences - good and bad - to help other people make those decisions.
"I hope that it will be embraced by businesses in all sectors as there is a growing understanding amongst businesses that disability, simply put, is good for business. Disabled people themselves have spending power in the UK of around £80 billion but this is heavily influenced by their perception of a business's ability and willingness to work with disabled customers and employees.
"Access to washrooms is sometimes governed by the physical make-up of a building but there is no excuse for sub-standard facilities and cleanliness and Cleen app addresses this, which is very welcome."
The Cleen App is available from the App store for Apple devices and the Google Play Store for Android.
8th February 2018