The pandemic has led to the wider adoption of work modalities, including in-person, hybrid, and remote arrangements. As the number of employees in the workplace has decreased, expectations for cleanliness have increased. Companies are now seeking revised cleaning practices that:
- Identify restroom and workstation usage trends.
- Provide alerts for cleaning based on usage rather than a set schedule.
- Reduce costs for employers while maintaining the same level of service for employees.
Problem
Before the widespread transition to remote work
, companies cleaned their restrooms and workstations on a set daily schedule. With fewer employees in the office, adhering to the same schedule would mean cleaning areas multiple times a day, even when only a small portion was being used. This approach was not cost-effective, especially as facility teams faced pressure to reduce expenses. Employers needed to find a way to maintain a clean work environment that would encourage employees to return to the office while simultaneously cutting costs.
For example, having the same cleaning schedule on Mondays and Tuesdays, regardless of the difference in employee attendance, would be inefficient. Companies struggled to determine the optimal cleaning schedule without proper data. Accurately predicting when the highest number of employees would consistently be in the workplace and which spaces they would frequently use was challenging.
Solution
Sensor technology can provide crucial space utilization data by installing sensors at restroom entrances and above workstations. By deploying a line-counting sensor, which anonymously counts the number of people crossing a threshold outside of a restroom door, data on restroom usage can be collected and sent to a central platform. This platform can then send alerts to the janitorial staff when a certain number of people have used the restroom. These alerts can be integrated with existing facility management systems via email, push notification, or API.
Likewise, sensor technology can reveal which workstations are used throughout the day by placing a sensor above these spaces. A daily report can be generated to highlight the exact areas that the cleaning team should target. If workstations need to be cleaned throughout the day, notifications can be sent to the team based on usage and periods of inactivity.
Results
Using sensor data, companies have effectively reduced cleaning costs by up to 40%. They can decrease the number of cleaning shifts based on usage trends, renegotiate cleaning staff contracts, and reduce the number of cleaners necessary due to shortened task lists. For instance, a company with 15 floors and 4 restrooms on each floor had a total of 60 restrooms that needed cleaning throughout the day. Before the pandemic, each restroom was cleaned four times a day, requiring a large cleaning staff. After the pandemic, sensor data revealed that cleaning the restrooms this often was unnecessary on 13 floors, especially on Mondays and Fridays. The company was able to cut restroom cleaning in half on those days and scale back to three times a day for the rest of the workweek on all 15 floors.
Similarly, analyzing workstation usage trends enables further cost reduction. By becoming more efficient with desk usage, data can be analyzed to determine how to best consolidate space. A report can be generated to show which desks need to be cleaned nightly. The cleaning staff can then target only those spaces each evening and clean the remaining workstations once a week. Notifications can also be sent to the cleaning staff throughout the day, alerting them when a space has been used and when the motion stops. The staff can then clean individual workstations for possible reuse. This allows multiple employees to use one desk throughout the day, reducing the number of workstations that require daily cleaning.
Using sensor technology empowers companies with greater knowledge about their office space, enabling them to make informed decisions that ultimately reduce costs while maintaining a safe and clean work environment that meets employee expectations.
Sensor technology offers a promising solution to the challenges posed by the changing work environment. By collecting and analyzing data on restroom and workstation usage, companies can make informed decisions regarding their cleaning schedules, ultimately optimizing the workplace environment and reducing costs. As organizations continue to adapt to evolving work modalities, leveraging sensor technology will prove essential in maintaining a safe, clean, and efficient workspace that meets the expectations of both employees and employers.
FAQ’s Covered in this Article
Q: What is the main focus of the article on leveraging sensor technology in the workplace?
A: The article discusses how organizations can use sensor technology to optimize the workplace environment, enhance employee experience, and reduce operational costs.
Q: What types of sensor technology can be used in the workplace?
A: The article covers various sensor technologies, including occupancy sensors, environmental sensors, energy management sensors, and security sensors.
Q: How can sensor technology improve space utilization and optimize the workplace environment?
A: Sensor technology can provide real-time data on space usage, enabling organizations to make informed decisions about workspace design, resource allocation, and adjustments to meet employee needs and preferences.
Q: What role do environmental sensors play in enhancing the workplace experience?
A: Environmental sensors can monitor factors such as temperature, humidity, air quality, and noise levels, allowing organizations to create a comfortable and healthy work environment that promotes productivity and well-being.
Q: How can sensor technology contribute to cost reduction in the workplace?
A: By providing data on energy consumption, occupancy, and resource usage, sensor technology can help organizations identify areas for improvement, implement energy-efficient measures, and reduce overall operational costs.
Q: What are the security applications of sensor technology in the workplace?
A: Sensor technology can be used to enhance workplace security through access control systems, video surveillance, and intrusion detection, ensuring the safety and well-being of employees and company assets.
Q: Can sensor technology be integrated with other workplace management systems?
A: Yes, sensor data can be integrated with building management systems, workplace analytics platforms, and other tools to provide a comprehensive understanding of the workplace environment and enable data-driven decision-making.
Q: What factors should organizations consider when implementing sensor technology in the workplace?
A: Organizations should consider factors such as privacy concerns, data security, sensor accuracy, and the potential return on investment to ensure that the implementation of sensor technology aligns with their goals and objectives.
