We live in a society where virtually every product and piece of equipment is becoming more intelligent. Smart technology has been integrated into everything from light switches to cars, establishing the Internet of Things (IoT) society that we live in today. So, it should be no surprise that cleaning equipment is now becoming more intelligent as well.
Traditional cleaning equipment, such as vacuums, scrubbers, and carpet extractors, has operated mechanically on electricity. A vacuum can remove particles from the floor, and a scrubber cleans dirty stains and contaminants from tile flooring and other smooth surfaces. All of which seemed pretty straightforward, that is until you consider the time, money, and resources involved in operating this equipment.
The Solution: Smart Cleaning Equipment
Many businesses and commercial cleaning companies are now using smart cleaning equipment to clean their carpets, tiles, air ducts, rugs, upholstery, furniture, and dryer vents. Traditional cleaning equipment operates independently, but smart cleaning equipment is all connected. From the moment a janitor or professional cleaner turns on their extractor, vacuum, or scrubber, its activities are monitored, recorded, and logged for others to see.
Smart cleaning equipment has joined the ranks of many other IoT devices and systems, which means it has its own embedded software and wireless internet connectivity to collect and transmit information over the internet in real time automatically. This intelligent equipment is built with sensors, computer chips, and Wi-Fi to give it the ability to detect, gather, and send all kinds of information, such as:
- Operating hours
- Battery condition
- Temperature
- Motor performance
- Usage patterns
- Power consumption
- Water levels
- Performance issues & diagnostics
Imagine what can be done with this kind of visibility if you own a cleaning business or manage several employees with cleaning responsibilities. You can track the activities of multiple cleaning crews and their cleaning equipment in several locations without having to be there in person to monitor them. Not only would you have the peace of mind in knowing the work is being done, but you can also see if any of the cleaning equipment needs maintenance or repairs.
Why Use IoT-enabled Cleaning Machines and Connected Equipment
Does using IoT-enabled cleaning machines and connected equipment really help improve the productivity and profitability of businesses and cleaning companies? Here are some of the main benefits and features of this advanced new intelligent cleaning equipment:
1) Predictive Maintenance
Most commercial cleaning machines are operated for several hours per day. With connected technology in them, they can create a historical log containing the number of hours of use for each day, week, or month. Knowing this information can help companies better predict when their cleaning equipment will need maintenance to stay functional and avoid downtime and disruptions to scheduled cleaning jobs.
Furthermore, modern IoT predictive maintenance technology uses sensor information and analytical models to predict potential failures before they occur, especially regarding failing or worn-out parts. That way, the necessary part repairs and replacements can be made before those parts die entirely.
As a result, companies and cleaning businesses now have a much better chance of maintaining the cleanliness of their buildings without any unexpected problems occurring.
2) Remote Diagnostics
Of course, there is never a 100% guarantee of preventing problems with any cleaning equipment. However, the great thing about connected equipment is that it comes with a remote diagnostics system to transmit information about its operational status remotely.
So, if there is ever a current problem with a piece of cleaning equipment, the diagnostics will immediately identify the problem and send the information to the technicians. From there, the technicians can quickly obtain the parts and tools necessary to repair the problem as fast as possible to reduce downtime.
3) Equipment Monitoring for Better Efficiency
Monitoring IoT-enabled cleaning machines and connected equipment is not just about conducting timely maintenance tasks and repairs. It is also about monitoring the efficiency of work and which cleaning machines are utilized the most.
For instance, a cleaning company might track which of their cleaning machines are heavily utilized and which ones remain idle more often. That can tell company managers two important pieces of information. First, it will tell them how well their employees are sticking to their cleaning schedules. Second, it will tell them whether they have cleaning machines that are obsolete or no longer needed as much.
Data-driven decisions can now be made from this information. Managers may decide to motivate or replace workers if they are not sticking to their schedules. And if they have underutilized equipment, they may decide to sell it off and replace it with more needed equipment for better efficiency.
Remember that the purchase price of equipment is only part of the investment for cleaning companies. They must also factor in the costs of repairs, downtime, and labor to maximize their investments. Equipment monitoring technology allows them to do that and more.
The Increase in the Number of Smart Cleaning Companies
Traditional cleaning company owners have nothing to worry about from the rise of smart cleaning equipment technology. They can still stay in business by simply replacing their traditional independent cleaning equipment with smart cleaning equipment. After all, even though this new innovative equipment has intelligence and autonomous technology, it still depends on human operators to oversee its activities. That is why businesses and organizations will still rely on cleaning companies to provide professional cleaning services.
Arik Zaken, the owner of DryMaster Systems, is seeing many traditional cleaning businesses upgrading their equipment and supplies to IoT-enabled machines. DryMaster Systems offers cleaning businesses smart cleaning machines in a variety of relevant categories, including scrubbers, carpet & tile extractors, mattress & upholstery extractors, air duct cleaners, vacuums, flood removal equipment, and dryer vent cleaners.
For cleaning companies, the shift toward this smarter cleaning equipment is a valuable investment that will pay off greatly for them in the long run. Between the remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and equipment monitoring, companies will always know the real-time working status of their equipment for better decision-making.
