Page 19 - CIJ Jan 2025 - Digital edition

COVER STORY

machines, and take pride in their work. This shift designed to optimise resource usage — whether it is
enhances both productivity and morale. As a result, water, chemicals, or energy — help the industry reduce
a more motivated and highly skilled workforce leads its ecological footprint while still delivering high-
to better resource management — whether in terms quality results.
of time, energy consumption, or the use of cleaning The key to sustainability is also in the responsible
chemicals. use of chemicals. Many cleaning chemicals, if not
used properly, can be harmful to both the environment
Automation and Mechanisation and the cleaning staff. By monitoring chemical usage,
Automation in the cleaning industry is an inevitability ensuring proper training, and using eco-friendly
that offers a number of advantages. By adopting alternatives, the cleaning industry can improve its
mechanisation, businesses can reduce their reliance environmental reputation and contribute to a more
on human labour while increasing the consistency sustainable future.
and efficiency of cleaning operations. Automation
also drives higher wages by making cleaning a more Improving Cleaning Quality
skilled profession, which in turn attracts a more talented The challenge remains for businesses to shift
workforce. the perception of cleaning from a necessary but
As mechanisation takes hold, the focus will shift undervalued task to an essential service that adds value.
from labour hours to the actual results of cleaning. The While some customers may struggle to see the financial
days of pricing cleaning services based on the number return from cleaning services, the industry is working to
of workers or labour hours are numbered. Instead, the prove that automated and mechanised cleaning leads to
industry is moving toward an outcome-based pricing higher quality outcomes.
model where customers pay for the result — clean,
well-maintained spaces — rather than the input of time Ultimately, customers should focus less on the
and labour. number of people cleaning their space and more on the
results. Instead of negotiating based on labour costs
Cleaning Costs and Customer or the number of workers, businesses should look to
the quality of the cleaning service and the results it
Expectations delivers. The ultimate goal is a clean, well-maintained

One of the major hurdles the cleaning industry faces is environment, and the industry is transitioning to a
shifting how cleaning services are priced. Traditionally, model where cleaning services are priced based on the
cleaning contracts have been based on labour hours, results they provide, rather than the input costs.
with costs calculated by the number of workers and the
amount of time spent cleaning. As mechanisation takes Challenges and Investments
over, this pricing model will need to evolve. Instead of While the move toward mechanisation offers clear
negotiating based on the number of workers or the hours benefits, it requires a financial commitment. For
worked, customers will begin to pay for the outcome: the businesses to adopt automation, the investment must be
quality of cleanliness delivered. financially viable. Labour costs, training, and equipment
Moreover, as the industry embraces automation, the maintenance must all be factored into the decision to
expectation is that businesses will see a return on their switch to mechanised systems. However, with the right
investment. Automated systems are more efficient, investment, businesses can achieve significant long-
use fewer resources, and provide more consistent term savings, both in terms of operational costs and
results. The challenge for service providers will be to improved cleaning outcomes.
show customers the long-term value of automation — When implementing automation, it is also essential to
demonstrating that investing in mechanised cleaning choose the right equipment for the job. Over-spending
leads to both financial savings and improved cleanliness on equipment may lead to unrealistic expectations,
over time. while under-spending can result in poor outcomes.
Ensuring that the equipment is properly sized for the
Balancing People, Environment, application site is crucial. Additionally, regular training
and Responsibility and maintenance are necessary to keep equipment
Sustainability is at the heart of the cleaning industry’s running efficiently and to maximise its lifespan.
evolution. Mechanisation and automation are not only The article draws inference from the President &
about improving efficiency but also about minimising CEO, Tennant Company, Dave Huml’s, keynote address
environmental impact. Cleaning operations consume at the DigiFM Conference held during the Clean India
large amounts of water, electricity, and chemicals, and Show, sharing the practices implemented by the global
automation can help reduce this consumption. Machines player.

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