Cobotics in the cleaning sector
Among the transformations taking place in the cleaning sector, one of the most promising is cobotics. The term cobotics, born from the combination of the words "collaboration" and "robotics", refers to the alliance between human and machine. When applied to cleaning, cobotics offers promising prospects: reduced drudgery, increased productivity and quality, enhanced employee skills and a more attractive profession.
For all these reasons, cobotics already occupies a privileged position within the Onet Group.
What is cobotics?
The cleaning sector already uses human-controlled machines, such as scrubber-driers. However, cobots, or collaborative robots, work completely autonomously. Their technology is based on AI (artificial intelligence) and telematics. Once programmed, they are guided by sensors and record a large amount of data.
But despite this performance, cobots are not intended to replace maintenance workers. On the contrary, the aim of cobotics is to free staff from the most repetitive and arduous tasks. As a result, staff have more time for complex and delicate cleaning tasks, or for finishing touches. They also act as support staff, monitoring and supervising the work carried out by the machines. For the time being, cobotics are limited to sweeping, cleaning and floor treatment. The cobots sometimes intervene at night, when the premises are empty and the surfaces clear, in order to limit interactions. But they can also work during the day, as they are able to stop in front of any obstacle.
Human and cobotics for synergistic work
Cobotics applied to cleaning: a winning bet for staff and customers alike
For employees, the use of cobotics guarantees better working conditions.
The cobot takes on the most repetitive and physically demanding actions. It is precisely these actions that can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in employees. Cobotics can help reduce the risk of MSDs and make work more comfortable. It saves staff time and energy, while ensuring a more efficient service for the customer. By mapping the surface beforehand, the machine ensures perfectly uniform cleaning. Performance can then be assessed using the digital data recorded and analyzed.
The arrival of cobotics is also synonymous with the acquisition of new skills for field operatives. These digital skills include data management and interpretation. Their analysis enables us to offer each customer a tailor-made service that corresponds precisely to their needs.
Maintain the hygiene and cleanliness of your environments and infrastructures
What uses are there for cobotics today?
Cobotics is a recent technology, but it's already out in the field. What types of site and what sectors of activity are best suited to its use? The best places to exploit the potential of cobotics are large surfaces and public areas. These include: hypermarkets and supermarkets, shopping malls, warehouses, hospitals, railway stations, airports, high schools, colleges, logistics and agri-food platforms, events, leisure parks, etc. A minimum site size is recommended to achieve the best balance between space requirements and profitability. For the time being, cobotics are not yet fully suited to cleaning washrooms, for example. However, for industrial and hospital cleaning services, cobotics are an appropriate solution.
It is therefore important to think carefully before setting up a cobotic cleaning system. All stakeholders must be involved in this process, especially the teams who work with the machines on a daily basis. The Onet Group has devoted a great deal of time to creating new protocols dedicated to cobotics.
"We don't use cobotics for the sake of using cobotics. We're putting in intelligent cobotics that will integrate with the operational team, the customer and the equipment supplier." This tripartite approach is necessary to achieve the best results in terms of quality, productivity and productivity.
Our vision of cobotics: discover the webinar replay
Luc Plessis represented Onet at the webinar "What role can cobotics play in cleaning services? During his presentation, he emphasized the need to provide appropriate training for the personnel involved. At Onet, the initial training provided by the equipment supplier is supplemented by in-house training. To this end, video training modules, which can be used via an in-house application, have been specially created. Skills upgrading and the promotion of the cleaning professions help to put the human element at the forefront. Luc Plessis shares our Group's vision: "For the Onet Group, cobotics is a vector for change. We must not forget anyone in this change".
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