Smart Cleaning

Until now, cleaning contracts were concluded between the customer and the supplier, in which both parties agreed on service level agreements (SLA) and cleaning cycles for offices, traffic areas, warehouses and toilets. In reality, however, such contracts very quickly lead to direct orders and consequently to additional discussions with the contractor, for example in the event of an unexpected, above-average accumulation of people in a building. Such contracts are cumbersome and outdated, because one laboriously tries to define rooms, floors and cleaning levels down to the smallest detail and to control the level of cleanliness with spot checks - so-called audits.

Hygienically clean surfaces
But why go to all this trouble in 2017? The outcome-based model means, similar to energy contracting: No transformer is bought from the grid operator, but according to the contract, electricity is simply demanded. The same applies to this cleaning approach: you need hygienically clean surfaces. Period. The following applies here:

1. Clean is clean. There is no cleaner or dirtier.

2. We don't want to waste resources.

3. We assume that every company and every employee fulfils the duty of care.

4. Employee satisfaction can be evaluated within minutes via SMS and Skype chats.

Networked sensors
Internet of Things (IoT) are independent networks that were created especially for sensors. In short, this means that every sensor, without exception, can be put into operation without any cables at all. Such networked sensors lead to SMART Building. And this intelligent building use leads almost automatically to SMART Cleaning:

Up to now, an hourly cleaning round of the toilets has proved effective in maintaining a cleaning level of 70 to 80 percent. However, this inspection round is not very efficient if the toilet has not been visited for four hours. In concrete terms, this means that the toilet has been checked three times too many. During this time, the staff available on site could have been used much more efficiently.

The solution is simple: Installation of a door counter with automatic triggering of orders (tickets) - e.g. with three counted WC visits. Similarly, soap and paper dispensers have an integrated measuring device, which, according to the setting, reflects fill levels and can also generate tickets. If desired, additional push sensors can be installed: "Come and Check" at the washbasin, for example, which also trigger tickets. The brilliant result is clean toilet facilities at all times and always enough paper and soap to guarantee hygiene standards and thus the well-being of employees.

Cleaning when you need it
Similar increases in efficiency can be generated with the so-called evening cleaning on the floors: Instead of quick runs taking place under time pressure, daily updated cleaning schedules can be created with occupancy heat maps. It is evaluated where exactly rooms and workplaces were used, and orders are created and assigned accordingly. All waste and paper containers, incoming and outgoing mail, coffee grounds, parking, meeting rooms - booked but not occupied - can also be equipped with sensors and thus autonomously trigger orders.

Alone, "smart" today means even more that the project start must also be intelligently designed and the achievement of objectives must be precisely defined. The output must be clearly defined before we are smart or even enter into contracts. New technologies, properly planned and put into operation, are highly efficient and must not be used as a playground.