From 14 to 17 May 2024, RAI Amsterdam will transform into the capital of cleaning and hygiene during Interclean Amsterdam; the place to get an overview of business opportunities in the professional cleaning industry. The show offers cleaning products and solutions, inspiring sessions on cutting-edge topics and the technology of the future. In preparation for Interclean Amsterdam, we take a look at the future of the industry with exhibitors participating in the event.
In this Exhibitor in The Spotlight, we talk with Peter Kwestro, Global Strategic Marketing and Business Development Director at Gausium about the company, what you can expect from them at Interclean, the biggest trends and challenges in the cleaning industry, and the role sustainability and digitalisation play in their business.
Can you provide an overview of your company; what your specialisms are and where your key geographical markets lie?
Gausium is a leading company of AI-powered autonomous cleaning solutions with more than 3,000 customers in more than 60 countries and regions. Products and services of Gausium include commercial floor cleaning robots, docking stations, cloud platform and application software, and more in the pipeline. Driven by a vision to lead the intelligent digital transformation of the cleaning and service industry, Gausium offers the world’s most comprehensive portfolio of commercial cleaning robots, empowering individuals to work smarter and lead more fulfilling lives.
Specialisms: Cleaning Automation, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Navigation (SLAM).
Key geographical markets: Cleaning and Facilities Management, Retail, Hotel, Healthcare, etc.
What will you be showcasing at Interclean Amsterdam?
Gausium will showcase our complete lineup of cleaning robots, Phantas, Vacuum 40, Scrubber 50, and Scrubber 75. Of special significance are the latest iterations (2024 edition) of our highly acclaimed Scrubber 50 and Phantas models, with new features and optimizations built upon their previous success. These two models will attend the Robot Arena for dynamic demonstration at Interclean.
Who are you interested in meeting at the event?
We look forward to meeting all individuals and businesses looking for autonomous floor cleaning solutions for their facilities. Our focus is particularly on BSC/facility service professionals as well as business owners in industries such as hotel and retail, where we have extensive experience and a track record of customer success. Additionally, we're interested to learn about the latest developments from other players in the cleaning industry. We're keen to stay informed about the latest advancements and strategies being implemented across the industry and explore opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
What do you feel is/are the biggest trends in the industry currently?
One of the biggest trends, alongside sustainability, is the growing shortage of workers in the cleaning industry. With people living longer and aging, this brings about various organizational and operational challenges in the market. To address these challenges, we're increasingly turning to technology solutions, including robotics, to keep operations running smoothly. This "Robolution," as we like to call it, is gaining momentum across different sectors of the cleaning industry. Compared to three years ago, there's now more openness to robotic solutions as people see the need and are actively testing and implementing them to achieve the best collaboration between human cleaners and robotic solutions.
What do you feel is/are the biggest challenges in the industry currently?
In addition to the challenge posed by an aging population, there's the ongoing increase in labor costs and the decreasing productivity of staff. This is due to the various complementary tasks they have to manage, such as administration, liability avoidance, compliance with regulations and certifications, and dealing with social issues.
Adapting to industry demands and sometimes redesigning operations for greater efficiency based on technology is a challenge in itself. Especially for businesses still adhering to traditional "old school" principles, where revenue is based on the hours staff work for clients, there's a growing need for transparency.
With the help of technology, businesses can now have real-time oversight and supervision of their work for clients, including the quality and efficiency of their services. The tight labor market is pushing them towards open book calculations and output based on digital reporting, IoT, and Domotica. We find ourselves in the midst of this transition.
How is new technology helping you to overcome these challenges?
New technology, particularly Gausium's autonomous cleaning solutions integrating AI, robotics, autonomous navigation, IoT, cloud computing, and more, plays a pivotal role in addressing the challenges we face in the cleaning industry. With an aging population and escalating labor costs, businesses are seeking innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and productivity. Gausium's cutting-edge robotics and automation technologies help mitigate labor shortages by performing tasks autonomously and efficiently. Moreover, the integration of IoT and cloud computing enables real-time monitoring and oversight, ensuring transparency and accountability in service delivery.
What trends for the last couple of years have become mainstream in your company?
In addition to our growing focus on environmental sustainability in product development, our cleaning robots are taking an ‘Intelligence Leap” with advanced AI technologies like deep learning. For example, our robots are trained to identify various obstacles, floor materials, and types of waste, allowing them to make real-time decisions and adjust their behavior accordingly. To be more specific, they switch to appropriate cleaning modes when encountering different floor or waste types, enhancing their efficiency and effectiveness while minimizing the need of human intervention.
What trends do you think will dominate your sector in 2023-2024??
Similar to the response to Question 4, the labor shortages in the cleaning industry, coupled with the ongoing digitalization, will unquestionably shape the sector's dominant trend for 2023-2024. Also, there will be a growing receptiveness to robotic solutions as individuals recognize the necessity and actively explore their integration to optimize collaboration between human cleaners and robotic counterparts.
How important is sustainability to your organisation?
Sustainability runs deep in Gausium's ethos, guiding our commitment to environmental responsibility from product innovation and development to our manufacturing processes.
Our cleaning robot products are designed with advanced water-saving and energy-saving features. For instance, our Scrubber 50 and Scrubber 75 models feature built-in multi-stage water filtration systems, significantly reducing water consumption without compromising cleaning effectiveness. Additionally, our groundbreaking "Auto Spot Cleaning" technology, which enables the robot to focus on cleaning spots where contaminations are detected, can reduce up to 75% power consumption compared to a fixed plan where the robot has to clean the entire floor.
Gausium takes a proactive approach to environmentally friendly production. Nearly all materials used in manufacturing our robots are recyclable and can be repurposed after their average lifespan of 5 to 6 years. To facilitate responsible disposal, our European partners offer a streamlined recycling process through The ECMR (European Cleaning Machine Recycling), ensuring complete recycling and reuse of materials.
In addition to our sustainable product design and production practices, Gausium is committed to using environmentally friendly packaging. Our packaging consists of 100% recycled or biodegradable materials, further promoting responsible consumption practices.
What impact is digitalisation having on your sector?
At Gausium, we're proud to be at the forefront of the digitalisation trend in the cleaning sector. As a proponent and innovator, we're developing cutting-edge robotic cleaning solutions that digitalize cleaning operations, which drives efficiency, performance, and sustainability in the industry. Over the past few years, we’ve received lots of positive feedback from end customers who have implemented our smart cleaning solutions. This reinforces our confidence that Gausium’s digitalization technologies will be instrumental in shaping the future of cleaning and establishing the new paradigm in the industry.
Which single piece of technology are you most excited about for the future?
The new technology called "iCS" (Intelligent Cleaning Services), developed in-house by Gausium, is particularly exciting as it fills the gap in achieving seamless cooperation between humans and cleaning robots. We prefer not to use the term "Co-bots," as it originates from the manufacturing industry, where humans work alongside robots to ensure they can work faster and receive necessary supplies. At Gausium, we believe that seamlessly integrating robotic solutions into cleaning practices requires a two-way communication between robots and humans, aimed at enhancing efficiency without adding stress or increasing workloads. This means effectively combining technologies like sensors, IoT, AI, and robotics with human needs, operational skills, and supervision demands. This is where iCS come into play. With this intelligent platform, Gausium is able to foster a genuine two-way interaction that bridges the gap between human workers and robots. This facilitates smooth exchange of assignments and messages, resulting in a highly effective team that combines the strengths of both worlds.
Is there something we have missed, but you want to share about your company?
Yes, we're pleased to acknowledge that over the past year, we've elevated our current product line to an even higher standard. Without sounding boastful, we've been honored with six innovation awards in the last two years for our new cleaning robots. While our initial solutions were well-received, we've since focused on perfecting these offerings based on feedback from the thousands of units we've delivered. Our motto? 'Innovating the Innovations.' If this sounds a bit abstract, come to visit us at Interclean to experience firsthand what ‘Robolution’ and ‘Intelligence Leap’ truly means.
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