In Part 1 of this blog series, I shared my personal experience of climbing the ranks within the commercial cleaning industry and my view of integrating cleaning cobots into the workplace. Now let’s explore some of the benefits both clients and employees can gain from embracing this technology. 

For the most part, today’s workforce has adapted to new technologies in the workplace, but asking people to work alongside a robot might seem more sci-fi than reality. It’s not — across asset types and industry sectors, robots are becoming a vital part of running efficient businesses.

But is this a threat, or opportunity for human workers?

From my personal experience working in facilities services cleaning, the benefits of integrating cleaning cobots into the workplace have far outweighed any disadvantages, and in fact serve to create new, higher-value employment opportunities. 

At ISS, our clients and their cleaning staff have gained new and never-imagined benefits from integrating cleaning cobots into their facilities for large-scale overnight cleaning tasks. 

Here are some of the benefits you can expect to see when leveraging cobot technology. 

As innovative technologies are introduced into the workplace, upskilling employees with the knowledge and skills to manage and maintain robotic applications will be required. This shift in skillset brings greater opportunity for individuals to take on higher-value work and creates more job enjoyment, purpose, as well as health and safety benefits.

• Upskilling employees: A skilled workforce is necessary for robotics success in the workplace. New education initiatives, career paths, and opportunities will arise as a result of these required skillsets for working alongside technological counterparts in this new hybrid workforce.
  
  
• High-value work: As cleaning cobots take on the repetitive and mundane jobs, employees will be given more freedom to focus on tasks that require innovation, creativity, and teamwork.
  
  
• Health and safety benefits: With technology comes greater safety, well-being, and health benefits. Commercial cleaning can be a backbreaking job that puts the physical welfare of employees at risk. With cobots taking on the more laborious tasks, employees are spared the physically demanding workload.