Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 2nd May 2024 Issue no. 1112
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Smarter, dynamic cleaning using IoT and process management apps
By Konnor Baskaran, FM Lead at mpro5
“Facilities management continues to evolve with emerging workflow and process automation software and innovations in Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and cameras digitising the sector.
These technologies have a significant impact on facilities managers in the catering and hospitality sectors, who can achieve smarter, more dynamic cleaning rotas and workflows. Subsequently, many can clean restaurants, kitchens, toilets and buildings faster, better - and at reduced cost and with fewer resources.
When considering dynamic cleaning across facilities management, the latest process management apps and software, combined with IoT cameras and sensor hardware, are powering a revolution in digitised cleaning workflows.
An introduction to dynamic cleaning…
In 2024, leading facilities management operators are investing significant resources into developing innovative new approaches to cleaning, using real-time data, mobile 'process management' apps and IoT devices.
Dynamic cleaning utilises real-time data and intelligent automation, making cleaning operations more efficient. Cleaning companies can reduce costs and provide better value and higher standards. Moreover, cleaners are under less strain, having clear instructions on where to focus their efforts, maximising productivity. The real-time data is collected from apps on cleaners' smartphones or internet-connected cameras and sensors installed across restaurants, kitchens, toilets, or other points in any building that requires regular cleaning.
To fully embrace dynamic cleaning, organisations also require a process management app designed to help clean and improve service levels while cutting costs. It's vital that this app be user-friendly, giving cleaners or an FM supervisor clear and actionable instructions.
IoT sensor-driven cleaning workflows…
Combining IoT cameras and sensors with an established process management app enables cleaning teams to work to demand, cleaning rooms and spaces as and when they need it as opposed to sticking to rigid cleaning schedules, increasing cleaning productivity.
The installation of IoT technology allows reactive cleaning, whereby cleaning actions are triggered every time a particular room, zone, or prepping station is used more than once. This empowers cleaners to work in response to usage and demand, allowing for high service levels with increased efficiency.
Subsequently, cleaning to demand allows for more efficient cleaning teams and less spending, as FM companies or hospitality and catering businesses only pay for the resources they need.
The use of process management apps…
In previous years, the inflexible structures of process management apps have not met the needs of cleaning or facilities management teams that require unique workflows, specific tech stack integrations and distinct user interfaces, data visualisations and a high level of customisation and flexibility. However, today's best process management apps offer all these benefits and integrate easily with IoT cameras or sensors, enabling cleaning jobs to be triggered automatically.
Dynamic cleaning is achievable with the right process management app combined with a well-placed network of IoT sensors capable of fundamentally altering your entire approach to cleaning. Typical IoT sensors include PIR (person in the room), footfall, door open, or zone occupancy sensors, which identify areas that have seen heavy usage, triggering a process management app to direct cleaners. Additionally, IoT call buttons enable staff or a building's occupants to call the cleaning team immediately when they notice that cleaning is required.
Artificial cleaning intelligence in action …
Integrating AI, automation and IoT is more important than ever in the facilities management sector. Newly advanced technologies can increase operational efficiencies, ensure compliance, drive scalability and provide accurate data analysis to measure it all.
For the hospitality and catering sectors, leveraging AI as part of a digitalisation push is a simple process. Firstly, it is important to gather and use data to ensure operations are dynamically optimised. This may involve auditing individual locations and the cleaning input hours across the same areas. Secondly, it's about using a process management app to make sense of the data collected by extracting value from the raw data from remote IoT sensors or employees using the app in their day-to-day work.
AI-driven process management apps guide cleaning staff through essential tasks and direct them to ad hoc tasks as and when needed. The apps also act as an orchestrated hub where workflows, audits and sensor feeds are collected, and reports can be created.
Process management apps and the future of smart cleaning…
Process management apps and platforms host detailed reporting capabilities, making them the perfect solution for facilities managers in the catering and hospitality sectors. Over time, the software structures all data, providing valuable business information to enable FM managers to adapt and improve service levels offered, achieve new efficiencies and keep costs under control.
Dynamic cleaning presents a range of aspects, but to establish efficient cleaning teams that deliver a high quality of service, FM businesses need to invest in a digital platform that can help to automate and deliver real-time feedback to teams and gather the information enabling one to understand and improve their operations. Overall, cleaner restaurants, kitchens, toilets and buildings are a key factor for customers deciding whether they want to return or recommend your business to others.”
11th April 2024