Are Floor Cleaning Robots Right for Your Facility?

If you’re a frequent reader of our blog, you’ll know it’s no secret that we’re passionate about the potential of autonomous floor cleaning robots, IoT sensors, and their related software integrations to not only transform the Jan-San industry, but the entire realm of facilities management as well. That’s because we’re seeing this impressive synergy first-hand at client sites across the country, leading to improved efficiency, vastly enhanced cleaning results, and streamlined operations. But we also know that delving into automation isn’t something most facilities can undertake at the drop of a hat. Ramping up to automated cleaning should be a careful process, full of thoughtful questions, considerations, and ideally, guided by the right robotics partner. 

 

In that vein, here’s a look at some key steps and considerations when determining whether autonomous floor cleaning robots are right for your facility.

 

While cleaning robots are a good fit for many facilities, it’s smart to take a clear-eyed look at whether your facility can functionally accommodate them and whether current or ideal cleaning needs warrant their use. 

 

Facilities with large areas of unobstructed flooring are generally an easy “yes.” The consistency and efficiency with which autonomous robots can clean large areas of flooring makes their incorporation into these types of facilities a no-brainer. And the time and labor savings custodial teams get back allows them to more effectively clean and maintain other important aspects of these larger facilities. Industrial grade autonomous floor scrubbers like the CC3 and CC5 are a particularly good fit for facilities with large amounts of hard flooring. 

 

Smaller facilities or those with complex layouts may take a bit more thought and planning, but given the diverse sizing and functionality of today’s autonomous floor cleaning robots, there are very few facilities for which some type of cleaning automation would be impossible. For instance, the CC1 is a compact 4-in-1 commercial floor cleaning robot suitable for both carpet and hard floors. Its smaller size, zero turning radius and precise edge cleaning make it capable of navigating tight spaces with ease. We have successfully deployed this model in both large and small footprint facilities with fairly complex floor plans, including commercial kitchens, convenience stores, elementary and high schools, and fast casual restaurants.

 

If this sounds simple, that’s because it is! In order for floor cleaning robots to enhance efficiency and level of clean, the need for cleaning needs to actually be there. Some great questions to ask as you consider:

 

- How many square feet of flooring needs to be cleaned regularly?

- How much foot traffic does the facility/certain areas see daily?

- How quickly do clean floors become dirty again?

- What’s the external climate like, and does it have an impact on floor soiling (rain, snow, mud, etc.)?

- Are consistently clean floors important to public perception (i.e., healthcare facilities, hospitality settings, educational facilities, retail stores)?

- Are clean floors a matter of safety (i.e., manufacturing facilities, warehouses, hospitals, schools)?

- Ideally, how often would the floors be cleaned, and does this differ from current capabilities? 

 

Ultimately, if consistently clean floors are important to your facility, floor cleaning robots are almost certainly worth a look. Even if the frequency and quality of cleaning is something you’re currently able to achieve with manual methods, it’s worth considering whether those custodial man hours could be put to better use elsewhere in the facility once floor cleaning is automated. 

 

While autonomous floor cleaning robots offer great potential for long-term cost savings through reduced labor expenses and increased efficiency, the initial investment can be daunting. But consider this: floor cleaning is one of facility management’s most time consuming tasks. It takes a person approximately 20 minutes to vacuum 1,000 sq ft of carpeting, and over an hour to sweep, vacuum and scrub the same amount of hard flooring using machines. With the average size of a commercial building now at 12,000 sq ft, an entire day’s worth of custodial labor could easily be spent just cleaning floors.

 

Autonomous floor cleaning robots clean anywhere from 8,000 - 40,000 sq ft per hour, depending on the model, and do so with very little human intervention or oversight. This represents an exponential gain in both efficiency and labor savings, allowing facilities to not only improve floor cleanliness overall, but make better use of existing human resources. A streamlined custodial team with the bandwidth to tackle more complex and detailed cleaning and maintenance tasks is just one of the happy side effects of floor cleaning automation. And despite their upfront cost, floor cleaning robots tend to pay for themselves within a year or two of use, compared to the costs involved in hiring, training and employing additional custodial workers. 

 

Facilities interested in dipping a toe in the water without making an outright purchase might also consider leasing floor cleaning robots on RaaS (robots as a service) model. This subscription-based payment model offers greater flexibility and scalability, allowing facilities to access cutting-edge cleaning technology without the upfront CapEx costs.

 

Any new technology introduced into the workplace takes time, training, and a bit of patience to ramp up to peak usage. Luckily, autonomous floor cleaning robots are inherently “smart,” and learning to program, operate and maintain them isn’t as daunting as it might seem. In fact, Pringle Robotics is passionate about the opportunities these robots offer custodial workers in terms of upskilling and career growth. That said, it’s smart for facility managers to take a look at their team and identify a few key people who might have the skills and interest to become expert-level users of the robots and their associated software. Even basic-level operators of the robots (who might simply initiate a cleaning run by tapping a button) will require initial training and a period of adjustment to become comfortable with the new technology. 

 

This is where partnering with a comprehensive robotic solutions provider is so important. Ensure that you choose a provider who isn’t going to just sell a robot and walk away, leaving your facility with an expensive piece of technology you don’t know how to operate or maintain. A good robotic solutions provider will provide not only best-in-class robotic technology, but will back it with thorough training, continuing education, and ongoing support.  

 

Floor cleaning robots can be a big investment and considerable change of pace for facility management teams. A great way to ensure that it’s the right move for your facility is to engage with a robotic solutions provider who offers in-depth demos and pilot programs prior to purchase. While virtual demos are typically free of charge, comprehensive on-site demos may incur a small fee to account for asset shipping and the provider’s time. However, for facilities seriously considering automation, it’s often worth this small outlay to get an in-depth look at how these robots work, and how they might fit into their facility landscape. 

 

A step beyond this is the pilot program. Also paid, this highly involved program lasts for a mutually agreed upon number of weeks wherein provider-side robotics experts collaborate extensively with on-site facility management teams to evaluate the space, program and deploy the robots, and provide comprehensive training and asset monitoring. Due to its thoroughness, a paid pilot program is the ideal way for facilities to evaluate the feasibility and value of adding floor cleaning robots to their operations. 

 

While floor cleaning robots are valuable assets on their own, their usefulness is enhanced by thoughtful and deliberate integration into a comprehensive facility management system that allows for monitoring, tracking, evaluation, and task management. A software integration like Pringle NOC ensures that a facility’s robots are not merely standalone assets, but actively monitored and managed components of a unified system. This type of holistic integration offers benefits such as:

 

- Real-time tracking and control: monitor robot location, status, and performance data in real-time, optimizing deployments and resource allocation

- Data analytics and reporting: gain valuable insights into robot performance, cleaning effectiveness and resource utilization, driving continuous improvement

- Scheduling and task management: create and assign cleaning and maintenance tasks efficiently, ensuring seamless operation and maximum productivity (Pringle Pristine)

 

A comprehensive facility management system ensures your facility gets the most out of your robotics investment, and allows for flexibility and scalability as needs evolve.

 

What was once a pipe dream is now a reality, and facilities across the country are experiencing the numerous benefits of autonomous floor cleaning robots. If you’re interested in a conversation about whether automation is the right step for your facility, get in touch with our robotics experts!