The essential role of robotics in cleaning operations

ONLY A decade ago, most autonomous mobile robot (AMR) cleaning machines were confined to pilot programs and trade show demos. Today, they’re an embedded part of the daily cleaning operations in many airports, warehouses, and global retail chains. According to Grand View Research, the global market for cleaning robots is expected to increase at a 23.7% compound annual growth rate through 2030.

AMRs are now an essential part of how modern cleaning operations function.  At a time when building service contractors (BSCs) and facility managers alike grapple with persistent labor shortages, rising cleaning standards, and the pressure to prove performance, robotics offer the most effective way to meet demand and close critical gaps. 

Reaching the turning point for AMR adoption

The rise of robotics in cleaning operations wasn’t driven by a single factor, but a convergence of technology, rising customer expectations, and a strained labor market. The intersection of these areas is key to understanding the tipping point that directly led to robotics becoming an essential role for industrial and commercial cleaning. 

The demands placed on today’s cleaning teams have changed––not simply in volume, but in complexity. Managers grapple with rising customer expectations to maintain clean spaces across multiple locations while dealing with fluctuating foot traffic, shifting schedules, and the pressure to demonstrate consistent, documented performance.

At the same time, staffing challenges have become a major issue. Facility managers and BSCs are drawing from a dwindling employment pool—and struggling to keep the people they do hire. In a recent survey, 76% of building service contractors rank recruiting and hiring qualified workers as their number one challenge, with employee retention close behind. Facility managers echoed this concern in a similar survey,  ranking talent acquisition as their primary issue. Something had to change. 

Technology built for modern cleaning

AMRs in cleaning weren’t limited by interest or desire, but by capability. Early AMRs didn’t have the run time or navigation to work in busy airports or crowded public spaces. That has changed over the last decade. Today, AMRs boast route mapping, machine learning, and improved battery life that make it possible to deploy AMRs reliably across large facilities without requiring constant oversight. 

Many AMRs also include built-in reporting tools to log coverage and runtime. This allows BSCs and facility managers to adjust deployment based on traffic patterns and can give clients a transparent record of their cleaning activity. 

Understanding the human element of AMR adoption

AMRs aren’t built to replace humans, but to support teams by taking on repetitive floor-cleaning tasks that are difficult to staff. Their impact is dependent upon the people using them, which is why user interface has played a critical role in this adoption. Early robotics needed a dedicated engineer and significant onboarding to adjust routes or respond to errors. 

Today’s AMRs are built with cleaning staff in mind. Simple touchscreen controls, simplified dashboards and mobile status updates allow crews to stay mostly hands-off – evolving AMRs from specialty tools to a real, scalable cleaning solution. 

From novelty to necessity

What was once considered emerging or experimental technology is now a regular part of many cleaning operations. AMRs already deliver consistent, measurable cleaning with less downtime, but as they continue to evolve, we will see cleaning programs become increasingly proactive, not reactive. 

For BSCs and facility managers, the opportunity is no longer about whether to adopt robotics or not – but how they can do it today. The combination of rising expectations and staffing challenges are real, but so is the solution that AMRs provide. Today, robotics aren’t the future of cleaning – they are the backbone.

John Ickes is the Director of Design and Innovation at Tennant Company

For more information, visit tennantco.com

Tel: (800) 553-8033