How autonomous solutions can mitigate staff shortages

Myles Johnson, Autonomous Specialist, Nilfisk

Labour shortages in the cleaning sector are well documented and worsening in the post-Brexit environment. Cleaning roles are often poorly paid and have little prestige. Meanwhile, logistics and warehousing facilities are often located in remote areas, which can put workers off. And given that cleaning is often undertaken at unsociable times of the day, it becomes an even less attractive career choice.

However, a viable alternative now exists in the form of autonomous cleaning.

Autonomous cleaning solutions available from Nilfisk include a range of robotic floor cleaners and scrubbers which can between them cover all possible application requirements – whether retail, commercial or industrial.

Worries about staff availability are instantly removed. An autonomous, programmable machine from Nilfisk will always be available for action – 24 hours a day if needed – and will perform each task consistently, every time, using the optimum quantity of water and cleaning materials.

Routes can be mapped out ensuring coverage of up to 99.5% – more than even the most diligent human operative could expect to achieve. Once programmed, each robotic cleaner will retrace the same route over and over, ensuring optimal, consistent cleaning over extended periods.

Autonomous machines also gather data which can inform operational decision-making and continuous improvement, while ensuring each machine ‘learns’ quickly.

Finance solutions from Nilfisk such as leasing and contract hire, as well as outright purchase, mean autonomous cleaning can become a reality in any business.

Some cleaners may see it as a threat to their jobs, but in fact, it frees them up from more mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on those that really need the human touch. One individual can operate several machines simultaneously, so staff are no longer ‘just’ cleaners; they are now robotics operators.

Autonomous cleaning maximises productivity and performance, enhances operator safety and reliability, while reducing costs, meaning a rapid return on investment.

www.nilfisk.co.uk

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