The cleaning industry continues to face high rates of employee turnover and an ongoing labour shortage. In fact, Canada’s cleaning industry saw an almost 145 per cent increase in job vacancies by the end of 2021. Today, prospective employees are searching for companies that value their skills and offer more fulfilling work. For cleaning companies, using innovative solutions to stay ahead of these challenges and encourage employee loyalty has never been more important – and one way to do this is by incorporating autonomous equipment into facility cleaning programs.

By embracing today’s technology, companies establish themselves as industry leaders, attract more specialized and dedicated cleaning professionals, and demonstrate their commitment to employee well-being.

Pioneering in the cleaning industry

Outdated technology and equipment are costing businesses their budget, productivity, and perception.

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The maintenance and upkeep of outdated equipment such as manual floor cleaners can take up a significant portion of the cleaning budget through frequent repairs and excessive consumption of cleaning products and chemistries – not to mention the time and labour that any maintenance requires.

Outdated equipment can also impede cleaning staff efficiency. Tasks like sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming, which can all be automated and made more efficient with modern technology, take time away from more technical and essential cleaning duties.

Investing in autonomous cleaning equipment not only improves productivity but appeals to potential customers and employees who value convenience, efficiency, and a comfortable work environment. For example, would you want to work with a company that still relied on floppy disks? Just as technology has found more efficient solutions to floppy disks, cleaning processes have also significantly advanced and improved, increasing productivity and efficiency. Embracing new technology to improve both the employee and customer experience positions a cleaning business as a true industry leader.

Attracting cleaning professionals

In today’s competitive job market, skilled and dedicated cleaning professionals are in high demand. More and more, prospective employees are aligning themselves with companies that value their expertise, care about their health and well-being, and provide them with the tools to succeed and grow.

Highly skilled cleaning professionals understand the benefits that equipment innovation can bring to their work. Equipment like autonomous floor scrubbers can significantly reduce the physical strain often associated with manual cleaning. Mundane and physically demanding cleaning tasks that don’t require expert oversight can be handed off to the autonomous equipment while cleaning professionals can apply their skills and expertise in more effective ways. That translates to a more efficient and satisfying work experience, also making your company more attractive to skilled candidates.

Autonomous floor care equipment can also reduce the margin of error and increase the effectiveness of cleaning tasks, providing an overall better experience for your customers. These machines are designed to consistently deliver high-quality results, appealing to cleaning professionals who take pride in their work and strive for quality.

Investing in employee well-being

The use of autonomous equipment not only demonstrates the company’s commitment to effective innovation but also to the health, safety, and overall well-being of current and prospective employees. Investing in these types of innovation shows current and prospective employees a willingness to invest in the betterment of the workforce and the processes they follow.

One of the most significant contributors to workplace dissatisfaction is stress. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety lists workload, pace, and meaningfulness of work as the most common stressors in the workplace. To alleviate these, autonomous floor cleaning equipment is designed to significantly reduce the workload associated with manual cleaning tasks, such as floor care. Autonomous equipment also allows cleaning professionals to focus on more technical and specialized work, leading to a healthier working environment, increased loyalty, and reduced employee burnout and turnover.

As the cleaning industry continues to experience high rates of employee churn, it’s crucial to embrace innovation. Autonomous cleaning equipment provides the opportunity to position yourself as an innovative industry leader, focusing on better quality on behalf of both customers and employees. That in turn positions an employer to better attract specialized and dedicated cleaning professionals and retain them for longer periods of time.

Not familiar with what’s available in autonomous cleaning innovation? For more information on autonomous cleaning equipment options and the best ways to integrate this new technology into existing cleaning programs, it’s important to speak with a technical professional. Choose a company that has a background in facility cleaning so that they can assist in selecting the right equipment solution for your scope and facility cleaning requirements. In addition, look for onsite training and support to help effectively integrate new technology into your cleaning program.

With today’s labour shortage, cleaning companies need to employ innovative solutions to stand out in the market, attract new talent, and retain the talent they’ve already acquired. Using autonomous cleaning equipment to embrace innovation, focus on efficiency, and prioritize loyalty will help cleaning companies continue to thrive through these persistent challenges.