Infogrid is using IoT sensors, wearable devices and cloud-based software to make commercial building cleaning more efficient, proactive and sustainable.

Smart Cleaning Pro aligns facilities management with actual building usage, enabling more efficient cleaning schedules, optimised resource allocation and increased quality of service

The UK company’s platform will be available as a standalone product but also as part of Softbank Robotics’ Smart BX offering.

Designed to help users understand fluctuating occupancy patterns, made more unpredictable by hybrid working, Smart Cleaning Pro uses proprietary IoT sensors that detect when cleaning is needed and automate the creation of usage-based tasks, directing cleaners to spaces that need attention, improving productivity.

An interactive system of wearable devices and LED wayfinding helps cleaners identify high-occupancy areas and automatically logs attendance at a cleaning site, creating a hands-free digital audit trail. Cleaning teams can then use the cloud-based management platform to monitor and validate service delivery and leverage Infogrid’s expertise in data analytics though reporting tools. These innovations save time, increase satisfaction and transparency, and help providers optimise operations without compromising on service quality.

Using proprietary IoT hardware, Smart Cleaning Pro captures real-time data on space usage, allowing cleaning teams to tailor operations to specific areas and optimise resources. The platform leverages interactive LED wayfinding to guide cleaning teams through buildings and indicate areas that need cleaning. The hardware responds to the presence of a wearable fob and will flash a different colour based on low or high occupant usage, visually signalling whether a space needs to be cleaned.

Intelligent sensors detect when cleaners are servicing a space. The product will automatically log that a space has been cleaned, close any cleaning tasks, and create a digital audit trail that can be used to validate a job done, all without cleaners needing to log into software or apps.

Intelligent automated task creation and closing enables teams to save time on the management of cleaning tasks, ensuring every job is completed to the standards while reducing hours spent on administrative work. 

At-a-glance maps help visualise daily and weekly space usage and understand occupant behaviour. Users can leverage these insights to inform contract discussions and position managers as advisors with an understanding of occupancy patterns and cleaning needs.

By analysing space usage trends, cleaning managers can proactively adjust schedules and allocate resources, enhancing operational efficiency.

“At Infogrid, we recognise the crucial role that cleaning plays in maintaining healthy and productive commercial spaces,” said Kate Henningsen, CEO of Infogrid. “Smart Cleaning Pro is the culmination of years of industry collaboration and concerted research and development.”

SoftBank Robotics (www.softbankrobotics.com) specialises in robot integration and has been at the forefront of robotics technology development since the launch of Pepper, its humanoid robot capable of recognising human emotions, in 2014.

“Softbank Robotics aims to empower customers to operate at the forefront of innovation,” said Jesper Christensen, vice president at Softbank Robotics. “We are excited to be able to offer Infogrid Smart Cleaning Pro as part of our Smart BX offering, which brings together people, robotics, AI, IoT and automation to deliver truly intelligent cleaning.”

Smart BX digitises facility management through integrating technology and data-driven insights using SoftBank’s technology ownership, expertise and investment capabilities to deliver building experiences, operational efficiency and employee engagement.

“By harnessing the power of data and technology, we believe that cleaning operations can not only become more precise and efficient but also more sustainable and customer-centric, ultimately leading to healthier, cleaner and more productive spaces,” said Christensen. “Our partnership with Infogrid allows us to capture real-time cleaning data, enabling precise resource allocation and smarter decision-making, advancing our vision and helping us revolutionise the way services teams work, pioneering the future of facility management and cleaning.”

Infogrid (www.infogrid.io) is a data and analytics company on a mission to make buildings smarter, more efficient and more sustainable. It offers an AI-powered suite of products that surface insights, helping real-estate teams reduce costs, decrease time spent on routine work, and find and act on opportunities to save energy and carbon.