When we think of cleaning an area in a facility, rarely does the term data pop into our mind. Like so many other things in society, the more information we have, the better the decisions can be made. Data-driven cleaning is just this, using data to make a decision, a data-driven decision on whether an area should be cleaned by the amount of use. Or can the area be skipped, and resources allocated to clean a higher-traffic area?

Over the past year in my role in client services, I have been working with different facilities managers and they keep circling back to the largest challenge they face, which is the lack of resources to perform the jobs necessary to make an operation run smoothly.

Some managers have stated they have taken to cleaning restrooms themselves while they try to backfill positions. Others work with the staff they have and get done whatever they can, often focusing on areas they think needs attention, but usually the areas closest to home base.

This is where data-driven cleaning comes to the rescue! Why not look at your space, and the activity for the restroom, and conduct the decision-making process based on the data? If you conduct data analysis on the traffic in your washrooms, you will begin to see trends and historical data sets on use.

By using data, you will have proof points showing restroom ‘A’ is busiest between 10 and 11 am, whereas washroom ‘B’ is busiest between 1 and 2 pm. Now you can alter your staff’s schedule to clean washroom ‘A’ at 11 am and restroom ‘B’ at 2 pm.

There have been times when our team had been amazed by the thing’s occupancy data tells our clients that we hadn’t anticipated, which has enabled them to make smarter business decisions.

I had a facilities manager of a sports stadium recently tell me how there was an executive washroom that is cleaned three times a day, Monday through Friday, then maybe once or twice over the weekend due to what they hypothesized was lack of use. They began to monitor the washroom over a monthly period and realized quite the opposite was happening.

We must begin to look at space and understand how our users interact with it. In today’s evolving environment, behavioral changes are necessary to keep pace. React-M is an example: This powerful new app links Smart Building data and Digital Twins with practical business operations. It pushes recommendations, alerts and scoring data directly to relevant teams and professionals, allowing for prompt and targeted reactions. The use of data helps us to begin changing how staff service spaces, maximizing their efficiency, and bringing about a better customer experience.

There are also deeper benefits, including safety. A hospital reported that our washroom solutions, which include occupancy monitoring and feedback stations, led to a reduced rate of HAI’s ­– Hospital Associated Infections, the sometimes-deadly antibiotic resistant bacterium that cost lives and lead to billions in damage payouts by the hospital industry each year. A combination of Microshare solutions also reduced infection risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. Indoor air quality and water quality monitored 24/7 slowed down the spread of airborne viruses and reduce the risk of Legionnaire’s disease outbreaks.

We must begin to look at space and understand how our users interact with it. In today’s time, behavioral changes are necessary to succeed. React-M, pushes recommendations, alerts and scoring data directly to relevant teams and professionals, allowing for prompt and targeted reactions. The use of data helps us to begin changing how staff services space, maximizing their efficiency, and bringing about a better customer experience.

Ask yourself this: how will you know you’re making the right decisions without data?

Speak to Microshare’s sales team today to find out how Smart Building data can help your business.

Matt Medici | SR. Manager, Client Services | MMedici@microshare.io

Matt Medici is the Senior Manager of Client Services at Microshare. Matt is a seasoned IT professional with a strong business background specializing in requirement gathering and adding of the business perspective to move projects along in a time and cost-efficient manner to minimize the impact to the enterprise.