Al Davis, Senior National Accounts Manager at Nilfisk, explores why continuity of service and strong partnerships play an important role in sustaining productivity.
It will come as no surprise that productivity remains one of the biggest challenges facing facilities management and contract cleaning. Labour pressures continue to affect service delivery, operational costs remain high and customers increasingly expect more for less. As a result, facilities managers are looking for ways to improve efficiency while maintaining service standards.
Technology features heavily in that conversation. Automation is being adopted across a range of environments, helping teams reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks and allowing resources to be deployed elsewhere. The benefits are clear, but technology is only one part of the productivity conversation. What often receives less attention is what happens after a machine arrives on site.
Productivity depends on continuity
Equipment can only contribute to productivity when it is available and working as expected. When a machine is out of service, the effects can be felt across the wider operation. Cleaning schedules need to be adjusted, and attention is diverted away from planned work.
The disruption created by downtime is often underestimated. Even when a machine is returned to service quickly, the effects can linger across an operation. Time is spent adapting schedules and reorganising work, making it harder to maintain productivity.
This is why continuity of service deserves greater attention in the productivity conversation. Organisations invest significant effort in selecting equipment that is right for their operations, but productivity can be quickly affected when equipment becomes unavailable. Keeping machines operating effectively plays an important role in reducing disruption and maintaining performance over time. Achieving that consistency is often supported by a strong partnership between customer and manufacturer, with ongoing service and technical expertise helping to keep operations running smoothly.
Supporting the people behind productivity
Autonomous cleaning equipment can deliver significant benefits when introduced appropriately. However, technology does not remove the need for skilled and experienced operatives. Cleaning remains a people-led service, and productivity is influenced by how effectively teams are able to work alongside the equipment available to them.
Introducing new technology often changes established ways of working, which is why training remains an important consideration. Organisations need to ensure operatives are comfortable using new equipment and understand how it fits into the wider operation. The benefits of automation are much easier to achieve when teams have the confidence to use it effectively.
The experience held within cleaning teams also continues to have real value. Experienced operatives understand the standards expected within a site and can quickly identify when something is not working as it should. At a time when many employers continue to face recruitment challenges, retaining that knowledge is becoming increasingly important.
Keeping productivity on track
As automation becomes more common, the productivity gains it delivers increasingly depend on equipment remaining available when it is needed. When machines become unavailable, disruption can quickly be felt across an operation and expected efficiencies can be difficult to maintain.
For facilities managers, productivity depends on work being completed as planned. Continuity of service, supported by strong partnerships with manufacturers, helps create that consistency and sustain productivity over time.
Selecting the right equipment is only part of the productivity equation. Long-term performance depends on the relationship that follows, with ongoing support helping organisations keep equipment working as expected and reducing the operational impact when issues do occur. That continuity allows facilities managers to focus on delivering consistent service rather than reacting to unnecessary disruption.
Find out more about Nilfisk’s service and maintenance solutions at www.nilfisk.com.
