From the ancient Babylonian method of soap making, cleaning technology has come a long long way. They have evolved in terms of design, relevance, efficiency, innovation and a lot more. Fast forward to 2022, cleaning cleaning products are the result of thoughtful design, experimentation, and safety testing. The last two years have catalysed the innovation and adoption of cleaning technologies, the products and equipment  we use to clean have also improved, becoming more sustainable and friendly for our environment. Every new technology today is focussed on sustainability and cleaning for health.

Ron Segura, President, Segura and Associates says, “Having had to deal with COVID-19, the cleaning industry has been introduced to technologies they may not have considered using pre-pandemic. Having clearly defined the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting, meant that we had to change the way we have cleaned for decades. Fir instance, anti-static sprayers were nowhere to be found in most company warehouses, we never used them. But now most companies have multiple units! 

Because of the great need for areas to be disinfected drones are now being used which can be used to navigate indoors and can cover up to 23,000 square feet in an hour.

Robotics, Ultra-Violet Cleaning Devices and data driven tools have found their place in the cleaning world. I truly believe that the new generation of leadership in the cleaning industry will continue to use the latest technologies and will be the drivers of new technologies.”

We second Ron’s thoughts. The usage of cleaning technologies is no longer reserved for the future.  It exists in the present. 

4 steps towards the  future of cleaning technology
1. Robots

Robots are not just here, they are here to stay. Robotic cleaning machines that can safely operate within complex, real-world environments are already making their way into our lives. They are rapidly gaining popularity and the number of ways they can help the facility they’re being employed in. These robots can address labor challenges, drive efficiencies, provide enhanced security and infection control, while also maintaining high standards of cleaning along with employees.

2. Multi-tasking technologies

In 2022, products that do more than one thing well are the most sought after. Let’s be honest, multi-tasking products were a dream a decade back. If a product could do one task efficiently, it was considered enough. Fast forward 2022, R&D teams and even clients are constantly asking one question while evaluating a product - “what else can it do”?

3. Smart everything

Everything, including cleaning operations of today, are smart. In fact, the Internet of Things (IoT) is a constant reminder that the future our industry has been contemplating for years, is finally here. 

It no surprise how smart buildings can be with the help of the IoT. Facility managers can easily monitor the cleaning operations and make important data driven decisions about it. There is a lot more to the benefits of IoT. One thing is certain - IoT is advancing day after day and will be an important part of cleaning technologies of the future. 

4. Greener cleaning
For centuries, people have cleaned. The only thing that mattered to people was getting stuff cleaned, even if it involved harsh chemicals. The world today is focussed on cleaner cleaning. Cleaning technology takes environmental impact into consideration. 

You’ll find green innovations in all kinds of cleaning products and equipment you never would’ve guessed could even be green. The trend of go-green in cleaning technologies is here to stay. 

Andrea Yoko, Head of Soft Services, Ejadah reiterates this further. She believes that cleaning technology is taking off in leaps and bounds since the pandemic brought cleaning into the spotlight as its first line of defence.

Green and sustainable cleaning is essential and systems such as Aqueous Ozone technology which infuses cold tap water with ozone gas eliminate the use of chemicals to produce a healthier sustainable way to clean and sanitize all hard surfaces and equipment. This is perhaps more pertinent now with the excessive use of chemicals and sanitisers used today allowing viruses to build up resistance to them.

IoT devices, QR codes, and management software offer many advantages to cleaning businesses including resource and cost savings, increased productivity, better cleaning results, and greater insights into their operations. The trick is to analyze and use the data to be effective.  “I have recently joined the Global Alliance of FM Innovators in the hopes to discover new innovations from start-up companies that support soft services & FM operations. Washroom occupancy sensors are widely used to monitor footfall, and send alerts when various dispensers require attention prior to becoming empty. They can be linked to the lighting and A/C functions and assist with manning levels and frequency schedules.  When some washrooms are required to be manned 24/7 then a washroom management system that eliminates the unsightly paper checklist which is open to abuse at the back of the door is a far better option. This is a touchless system used by both the cleaners and supervisors to evidence their time spent in the washrooms. It supports attendance management, incident management and satisfaction management with validation reports for client reviews. There are systems that support the tracking of inventories, and equipment regarding its use and productivity, manage work orders, conduct inspections, track employee hours, and communicate with teams and clients – the list is endless,” she says. 

Andrea further discusses how UV-C Cleaning has been used in healthcare since the late 1960s and is now seen used in schools, offices in various methods of delivery units, robotics and lightbulbs. Essential to ensure it is used correctly and the awareness that only the areas the light touches are clean.

“Robots have been around for some years and the takeup is slow here in the Middle East compared to Europe. This is mainly due to the lack of available manpower in Europe to carry out this mundane work and the mandatory government-stipulated minimum wage which makes a robot extremely cost-effective with a quick return on investment. They have been the driving force in seeing the continued growth and developments of robots we can witness today. Robotic machines are not suitable for every facility so you really need to consider layout and size – NOR will they completely replace your cleaning workforce. Until the robot can manoeuvre itself to the required work location, call lifts, open doors, fill and empty itself, it is there to complement, and enhance cleaners working conditions taking on repetitive labour-intensive cleaning tasks to support cleaners to attend and focus on other high-value tasks. Another consideration is the purchase during a 3-year contract if not already part of the bid submission,” she adds.

She further discusses how steam cleaning is a process that is still not used to its full potential but continues to grow since 2020.  It uses clean water heated in a boiler. It allows for cleaning, deodorizing, and sanitizing most surfaces without the use of chemicals. It saves time and money and again environmentally friendly.  

Resistance to change

With technology comes change and people are not always receptive to change. Traditional FM players in the market also resist change. Many find it hard to leave their comfort zone and find it overwhelming to completely change how they operate. However, it should be understood that those who resist change will also face a lot of new challenges that come with new time and situations, for example, the pandemic. During the pandemic, guest expectations from the cleaning staff increased ten folds. A higher standard of cleaning quality and frequency was required. So a lot of cleaning procedures had to be changed. This calls for more training and different solutions that what we were implementing earlier. You might have to clean more with the same costs or even less. There is also this expectation of showing evidence of cleaning. To need to show that you have adopted credible cleaning mechanisms to the government, customers and even auditors. This again calls for better reporting that technology alone can achieve. 

Facility Managers on the clients side are trying to reach the highest level of user experience. Technology helps to achieve this. It is key to understand that society in general is living a convenience revolution. As a society, we want to have access to any information or an answer to any of our requests in two or three clicks on our cell phone. We got used to that under the influence of e-commerce and search engines. This trend is also affecting cleaning activities. Building users want to reach the cleaning surface in two clicks too, especially during the pandemic. For example, they want to check if a specific desk has been cleaned. This holds even for the public sector. The customer expects to raise and resolve a request in two clicks. 

How do you respond to new technologies?