Solving the Productivity Problem in cleaning… with Whiz

The FM industry plays a crucial role in creating workplace environments that enhance productivity across a wide range of sectors. Organisations look to their strategic IFM partners and cleaning contractors to provide environments where employees feel engaged, safe, healthy, happy and productive.

Right now, this is more even more important, as businesses look to re-open their workplaces following the closures and restrictions caused by COVID-19. 

But when it comes to boosting productivity within the FM sector itself, the situation is very different. Many FM leaders admit that productivity within their own teams is far below the level they would want and their efforts to improve workforce output generally fail to have any meaningful or lasting impact. 

Research we recently conducted amongst FM leaders across EMEA revealed that 82% cite improving productivity as a major challenge and 88% say this is a top priority over the next two years. 

Notably, 91% of FM leaders point to particular issues with levels of productivity and efficiency within cleaning specifically.

We all know the reasons for this. A fluid workforce, with high rates of attrition and absenteeism, a lack of meaningful KPIs (beyond time spent at work), low engagement levels within cleaning teams.

How cobotics and Whiz can drive productivity in cleaning

As businesses look to kick-start their recovery in the wake of COVID-19, heightened demand for cleaning services and pressure to demonstrate improved servicing levels will squeeze margins on all sides. 

And productivity is becoming more important than ever before.

This is where FM leaders are really starting to recognise the benefits of a cobotic approach within cleaning, where cleaning teams work alongside cobots (collaborative robots).

A cobot such as Whiz does not only drive productivity in itself, delivering more consistent and efficient vacuuming of large areas of flooring, it also has a significant impact on productivity more broadly.

Here’s how:

• Improved engagement – with Whiz removing the strain of heavy-duty vacuuming, cleaning teams focus on more varied and fulfilling work. Cleaning professionals are embracing new ways of working and develop skills working alongside cutting edge technology. Staff wellbeing goes up and that means performance and productivity improves
• Higher levels of servicing – because they aren’t having to devote the majority of their time to cleaning floors, cleaning teams can achieve more within a shift. That means more time spent on the areas that clients really notice and value, such as the sanitisation of high-traffic hard surfaces (such as door handles and lift buttons)
• Better measurement – rather than meaningless time-based metrics, Whiz measure and evaluates on more real KPIs which are directly linked to productivity and efficiency. This allows productivity to be analysed and optimised in real-time

We’ve now got more than 10,000 Whiz cobots out supporting cleaning teams and across the board we’re seeing how they’re triggering marked improvements in productivity levels. They’re making IFMs and cleaning contractors re-think their approach to productivity.

The potential is huge. Our research found that 81% of FM leaders regard cobotics as a potential solution to cleaning challenges over the next five years and 77% predict the introduction of cobotics will improve productivity.

At a time when there are so many unknowns in the FM sector and so much uncertainty about the future, Whiz is delivering answers to the industry’s longest-running challenge.

 Download our full Cobotic Evolution Report here for FREE 

Discover more about how Whiz and its impact on the cleaning industry here