Significant increases in technology and digital communication appear to be cleaning industry trends expected for 2022, according to a survey by cleaning product distributor Afflink.

“[Our members] believe technology has been ‘recharged’ due to the pandemic with more technological advances expected right around the corner,” said Michael Wilson, vice president of marketing and packaging at Afflink. 

Other takeaways from the survey of Afflink members include:

A new reality in workspaces: After many workers traveled less work remotely, and used video conferencing during the pandemic, it is now unrealistic that businesspeople will willingly return to working in office settings as often as they did before.

A shift from physical to virtual: although interactions between cleaning industry businesses and their customers will still be crucial, whenever possible more will shift from in-person meetings to virtual meetings.

An increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI): AI technologies that can perform many human tasks will allow cleaning businesses to identify customer purchasing patterns and recommend products as well as reduce inventory waste, optimize inventory, and enhance supply chain management.

A realization of global impacts: The pandemic has proven that what happens in one part of the world can impact everyone and every business anywhere in the world. 

A switch from the “new normal” to the “great pivot”: Most businesses realize that COVID-19 has changed everything, with even more changes in our lives and business operations coming.