Why Return on Labor is the Metric that Matters

In the midst of inflation and fierce competition for workers, businesses are looking for ways to get more done with the resources they have. One of the biggest challenges? Labor. Finding, training, and retaining employees is a costly and time-consuming process, especially for roles that require repetitive, physically demanding tasks like cleaning and logistics. With automation creeping into every industry, business owners and facility managers are keen to see if automating some of these tasks can provide a solid ROI. But what if ROI is the wrong metric? Let’s take a look at the metric that really helps facilities do more with the staff they already have—Return on Labor. 

 

It’s no secret that floor cleaning is one of facility management’s most time-consuming (but essential) tasks. Whether it’s a small convenience store, a massive warehouse, or a busy hospital, floor cleaning is a constant, never-ending job. Traditionally, this task has been handled by janitorial teams or general employees, who usually have many other things to accomplish in a given workday. But floor cleaning takes massive amounts of time from an employee’s shift.

 

Consider this—it takes a person approximately 20 minutes to vacuum 1,000 sq ft of carpeting, and over an hour to sweep, vacuum and scrub the same amount of hard flooring (and that’s with a machine scrubber!). With the average size of a commercial building in the U.S. now 12,000 sq ft, and an entire day’s worth of labor could easily be spent just cleaning floors. But can most employers afford to devote ALL of a worker’s time to floor cleaning day after day? Probably not.

 

Autonomous floor cleaning robots change the game by handling these repetitive tasks efficiently and consistently. Instead of spending hours pushing a mop or riding a floor scrubber, employees can focus on other important work—like maintaining high-touch areas, stocking shelves, improving customer service, or handling more technical maintenance tasks. The result? A cleaner facility and a workforce that’s engaged in work that delivers real value.

 

The benefits of automation don’t stop at cleaning. In large or specialized facilities, employees spend a surprising amount of time simply moving things from one place to another—whether it’s office supplies, tools, medical lab specimens, or even running food in restaurants and hotels. While these tasks are necessary, they can make a real dent in employees’ overall productivity.

 

Autonomous delivery robots can handle these repetitive transport jobs with ease. Rather than having staff spend hours each day running supplies between departments, these robots can take care of it, freeing up employees for work that requires human problem-solving and expertise.

 

Need a real world example? Our client, a busy healthcare center in Illinois, was seeking a way to reduce the amount of time that nurses and other staff spent running medical specimens to the lab. In particular, the emergency department staff disliked the fact that hand-delivering specimens upstairs to the lab often meant leaving their patients in the emergency department. Pringle Robotics worked with the hospital to install a FlashBoT (dubbed “Dwight” by hospital staff) that can autonomously deliver lab samples to the lab. Dwight also greets visitors, rides the facility's elevators, and navigates the health center's hallways autonomously. This means more human time spent on direct patient care, and less time running back and forth to the lab.

 

When companies think about the return on investment (ROI) for automation, they often focus on direct cost savings. And yes, robots could theoretically reduce labor costs by replacing a few low-skilled, task-based employees. But in practice, that’s not what’s happening at all. Instead, employers are using the staff hours saved through automation to redirect their employees’ time towards more valuable work. This smart and useful reallocation of human labor is why we’re calling out the impressive ROL of commercial service robots.

 

ROL is all about using your workforce in the most effective way possible. Instead of spending hours on low-value, repetitive tasks, employees can shift the bulk of their focus to work that requires human judgment, customer service, and technical expertise. It’s a win-win: businesses get better efficiency, and employees get to do more meaningful work.

 

Labor shortages have become a major issue across industries, and hiring for repetitive, physical jobs is harder than ever. The good news? Automation can help fill those gaps. When robots take over the most tedious, physically demanding tasks, businesses can do more with the employees they already have. Plus, by reducing burnout and improving job satisfaction, automation can actually help with employee retention. People want to do work that matters—not just push a mop or shuttle supplies back and forth all day.

 

Beyond labor allocation, automation brings additional benefits like consistency and efficiency. Unlike human workers, robots don’t get tired, take breaks, or have variations in performance. They clean and deliver with the same high standard every time, ensuring a more consistent environment for businesses, employees, and customers alike. And once again, the consistency with which robots do their jobs allows human staff the freedom to go the extra mile for their customers or patients.

 

At the end of the day, autonomous floor cleaning and delivery robots aren’t about replacing people—they’re about making the best use of human labor. By taking over the tasks that don’t require creativity, problem-solving, or a human touch, they allow businesses to maximize their workforce’s potential. For businesses looking to stay competitive, improve efficiency, and make better use of their employees' time, automation can make all the difference. The question isn’t whether to adopt it, but how soon you can start reaping the benefits.

 

If you’re ready to see how automation can transform your operations, get in touch with our team today!