Software firm says IT's the answer
February 1st 2007

David Crook, Chairman of Expolink Software explores the revolution amongst the cleaning industry and how technology is making the difference between efficient standards of service

There is actually a quiet revolution going on in the background of the cleaning industry. Unseen to most of the general public today's cleaning industry has become extremely competitive, winning tenders and managing stringent Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

Regular management reporting, examining the performance of individual tasks and employees, is now vital, as are optimising the attendance and welfare of staff attendance and controlling the use and movement of assets. So it's little wonder that more and more cleaning contractors are turning to technology in order to give them a competitive edge and internal cleaning teams are investing in such technology to ease the required auditing processes.

One of the reasons for this growing prevalence is that unlike most cleaning equipment the flexibility of software applications is virtually infinite so that they can be tailored to suit the specific procedures, processes and routines of any cleaning operation – from employee management, job scheduling and activity monitoring, through to job costing, quality control and asset management.

The other major reason has been the unshackling of software from the desktop,which is pretty vital in an industry with very little use for desk-bound employees.Mobile computing has radically shifted both the perception of and opportunity for using support applications on site.

One other key factor has been the growing level of computer literacy and increasing familiarity and competence in the use of PCs, which has removed what used to be a rather large psychological barrier to technological progress.

So, if the technophobia is gone, how can your business benefit? One of the largest growth areas in the cleaning industry is job estimating, largely because of the genuine insight and edge it can give you in competitive bids and contract negotiations. Such systems analyse key information, like room area, floor coverings, furnishings and washroom equipment, in order to quickly produce an estimate of the time, resources and cost required to service them. By incorporating a contractor's own cleaning practices and preferences the result is highly tailored quotations, but with standardised costs even across multiple sites. In addition, where prices or circumstances change producing a revised quotation is significantly faster and easier.

This level of flexibility has advantages elsewhere too, especially when it comes to tackling the potentially thorny issue of staff monitoring. Previously, it might have been seen as a Big Brother thing, but today clients want to know that they're receiving the service that they are paying for – and if cleaners are working outside of office hours, no one is seeing them work. Similarly, internal department audits can be verified using RFID technology – giving the assurance to staff their work has been undertaken and in case of any disputes over hygiene standards.

Patrol monitoring software ensures that particular locations, such as bathrooms, are checked by the right person at the agreed intervals, and that the right amount of time is spent there. And with the use of mobile computers, information can be captured instantly and also simultaneously shared with other workers, saving on time, paper and data capture costs.

In a similar fashion, quality control software running on a mobile computer can be used by inspectors to "tick off" quality checks as they tour different rooms, and record comments or photographs to independently verify their findings. ISS Mediclean one of the country's largest facilities service providers uses Expolink's Maximiser as a business-driven proven service model for its healthcare clients.

ISS Mediclean's Business Development Manager,Damien Sleep, recognises the real advantages it has given his business, saying, "Maximiser has enabled us to evaluate the standard of service we are providing more accurately, quickly and comprehensively than the traditional paper system we have operated for years.This has proven to be of significant added value to our clients and us." But the real innovation, competitive advantage and savings come when you combine all of these applications together with asset or location management software, so that it's possible to track people, materials and equipment at all times.Then the deployment or resources can be fully optimised and poor performance or even theft rapidly identified and addressed.

That opportunity exists today and is proving valuable tools for both internal and external cleaning teams – Theres no doubt that on the back of mobile communication devices managing service and efficiency is easier and more professional than it ever has been. So isn't it time you took a look at what it could mean to your business? See for yourself on stand G30.

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