Everyone notices the basics such as whether the bathroom smells clean and the trash is emptied. People complain if they are coming into workspaces that are dusty. And of course, you can see if sections of the floor haven't been cleaned.
There is an old saying, “What you expect, you must inspect.” What this means is that if we expect to have a clean facility, then we must make sure that it is, in fact, clean. So, how can we help facilitate that?
With the introduction of technology into the commercial cleaning space, we now have access to vacuuming robots, better cleanliness analysis, and most importantly, we can deliver the second most important quality, besides a clean facility.
AI and technology allow us to do many wonderful things that weren’t possible before. But more importantly, the best quality of a commercial cleaning provider is to have full accountability with the cleaning of your facilities. Rather than not only expecting the clean you need to succeed at your business, we inspect it with the help of technology.
The secret to consistent quality in commercial cleaning is always supervision. Having local supervision that is doing more than an occasional spot check is the key to consistent cleaning. Absentee owners and supervisors can’t ensure that quality standards are being met, and the higher the level of supervision, the higher the quality of service. That’s where technology provides a boost.
For companies that are committed to consistent and local supervision, tech tools help hold staff accountable with tracking, resulting in a deeper and better cleaning for your facilities. Technology that works for commercial cleaning can never be a replacement for supervision, rather it should expand visibility and professionalism with the local team of cleaners and local supervisors.
One part of that tech-enabled strategy is staff monitoring with GPS. This provides not only time checks when staff clocks in and out but also grants us the ability to track between buildings. Our software will also alert us if our staff is not moving or remaining in one spot for a long period and not making progress on your cleaning. With this tech connected to every cleaner, we raise the level of supervision and monitor performance on every shift.
Another tech enhancement is barcoding. Barcoding allows us to supervise with even greater diligence, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens, where it’s necessary to keep certain facilities clean at all times. Time stamps transmitted when staff scans their barcodes give our staff a customized pop-up checklist for your business, outlining the tasks to be completed so nothing is missed, and it also tracks their progress and diligence in cleaning high-priority areas.
Both supervisors and cleaners need to be equipped with these technologies, with supervisors trained to use them effectively.
The effect is two-fold:
But what good is technology and AI without a way to implement it using processes and procedures? Good accountability isn’t just the result of adding technology to the cleaning process, but getting the right people on board with the right training. The process employed by Office Pride is standard setting. It’s called the 3+1+1 training process.
3+1+1 is broken down into 5 separate nights of training and activity. 3 nights are dedicated to side-by-cleaning where a veteran cleaner, experienced in the trade but also specific to your facility, will assist and monitor a cleaner new to the job and/or job site.
During this time, the new cleaner will have to master the color-coded rag system, where we have identified specific colors for each surface it touches (for example, we use blue microfiber cloths on glass, silver on stainless steel, etc.). They will have also mastered the skills check list which is standard for every facility but can be tailored to the specific needs of your facility.
The color-coded rag system eliminates cross-contamination of surfaces that can spread bacteria and other particulate matter from one area - like a bathroom - to another area, like a kitchen or desk.
While this is simple accountability, it provides an important physical separation that allows your facility to be cleaned more consistently. Without this kind of training and procedure, cleaning can actually become disease spreading, which runs counter to the whole reason for professional cleaning.
Containing and removing dirt and bacteria should occur at the source without unintentionally spreading it throughout a facility.
In the 3-1-1 Process, following the first three nights, there are two additional training nights. The first one, the End of Shift inspection, ensures that any last-minute touches on a clean are addressed. The final one, the After Shift inspection, is the final test for a clean that stands up to the Office Pride name. 3-1-1 provides thorough coverage and training that equips the cleaner professionally.
The boost that technology brings to cleaning can only be realized when the tracking and accountability tools are layered with the right training and supervision. Technology can amplify good systems, but it doesn’t make up for a lack of engagement by a local supervisor or owner. Supervisors have to know how to use the technology appropriately, and when combined with a professional cleaning plan for a specific facility allows for much better results.
The ability of a supervisor in cleaning to have visibility into the progress and movements of a cleaner allows them to provide coaching, spot challenges, and address any concerns about cleaning in a proactive manner.
The greater the visibility, the higher the quality of cleaning.
When you combine good systems and training with attentive supervision, technology provides a multiplier effect that produces a superior outcome.