Improving Operations and Giving Staff More Time for Care
Assisted living facilities, nursing homes and other senior care organizations have been among the hardest hit by staffing shortages since the Covid-19 pandemic. Four years later, this challenge has only become more pronounced. According to the latest AHCA/NCAL survey on the state of the sector, ninety-nine percent of nursing homes currently have job openings to fill, and sixty-six percent of facilities are concerned that if their workforce challenges persist they may have to close their facility.
As the elder care staffing crisis continues unabated, forward-thinking assisted living and nursing home administrators would be wise to look to robotic automation to not only fill some of the gaps caused by lack of staff, but rewrite the very working conditions that see so many care workers burn out and leave the industry. How can robots be of assistance in senior care settings?
Harnessing IoT Connectivity for Optimized Facility Management
Facility management, as a field, is hugely important to the businesses, offices buildings, healthcare facilities, schools, and other common spaces that people utilize every day. According to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), facility managers and their staff ensure that systems in the built environment work together as they should, that buildings fulfill their intended purposes, and that personnel are healthy and productive.
With a range of smart technology at their disposal—from labor-saving autonomous cleaning robots, to environmental monitoring, to predictive maintenance management—facility managers now have the ability to optimize building operations like never before.
Why Custodians and Cleaning Robots are a Team to Watch
The Jan-San and cleaning industry is in the midst of a remarkable transformation with the integration of new technologies, foremost among them floor cleaning robots. While these robots are very efficient in autonomously managing routine cleaning tasks, an even greater synergistic potential lies in the collaboration between custodians and the robots they can count on as part of their “crew.” Let’s take a look at the symbiotic relationship between custodians and floor cleaning robots, and explore the numerous benefits that arise from this collaborative approach.
How Hospitals Can Take Advantage of the Service Robot Revolution
Like few other large facilities, hospitals are akin to small cities within their walls, with a constant score of moving parts that must be orchestrated perfectly to keep things running efficiently and safely. And hard at work behind the scenes of any large healthcare facility is an army of dedicated EVS and other support professionals whose careful, physically-demanding labor provides the scaffolding upon which operational success is built. But with an ongoing labor shortage and a high turnover for EVS roles, it’s never been more crucial to recruit, support and retain these valuable members of staff for the good of patients, their clinicians, and hospital operations as a whole.
How can hospitals and healthcare facilities better support these key staff members and fill in the gaps where staffing is tenuous? Today’s autonomous robotic solutions offer a smart way forward.
How Autonomous Robots Create New Career Opportunities in Facilities Management
Custodians and janitorial workers have long played a vital role in maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of various facilities. But with one of the highest turnover rates of any profession, a shortage of janitorial workers is an ongoing concern for facility managers. Now, with the increasing adoption of robotic automation, this field is undergoing a significant shift that offers the potential for greater job satisfaction and a more reliable workforce.
The Robot Revolution Coming to Stadiums, Arenas and Convention Centers
Large venues such as stadiums, arenas and convention centers are bustling centers of entertainment, education and connection. With millions of visitors each year, these massive facilities face a constant need for cleanliness, maintenance, security and visitor assistance to keep crowds happy, healthy and safe. Robotics, with their precision, versatility, and ability to perform complex tasks, offer myriad ways to assist in the operations of large venues.
Let’s take a look at some of the ways robotic technology and automation are helping to reshape operational efficiency, security protocols and guest experience within these colossal spaces.
We’ve touched on numerous use cases for service robots over the past year and explored the diverse capabilities that make them beneficial for a wide variety of businesses and facilities. Because we’ve discussed so many industries, we’d like to take some time to revisit some of the more complex scenarios. First up–casinos.
Autonomous cleaning robots are taking the Jan-San and facilities management industries by storm, and for good reason. They offer the promise of improved efficiency, heightened cleaning standards, and a lightened workload for cleaning staff. But often twinned with that optimism is reticence, informed largely by the ongoing cultural narrative surrounding the role of robotics within our homes, schools, workplaces, and society at large.
Why the Difference Matters When it Comes to Cleaning
Since their emergence on the scene some twelve years ago, commercial and industrial floor scrubbers capable of automated cleaning have been slowly changing the face of Jan-San and facilities management....With significant advancements being made over a short period of time, it’s worth discussing the differences between cobot and fully autonomous floor cleaning units.
The janitorial and sanitation (Jan-San) industry has long been the backbone of facility management, its professionals working tirelessly to ensure clean, safe and optimally-functioning environments for numerous sectors. As the new year begins, let’s take a look at some of the trends shaping this vital industry in 2024.
WINTER - THE PERFECT TIME FOR AUTOMATED FLOOR CLEANING
The Easiest Way to Keep Facility Floors Dry and Grime-Free
In the northern hemisphere, winter will officially be upon us come December 21. And for much of the US, that means months of snow, slush, rain and mud, all tracked into your facility multiple times each day. Particularly in northern climates, keeping high-traffic areas like entryways, lobbies, and hallways clean and dry can be a never ending battle for custodial teams.
How Pringle Robotics Collaborates With Facilities to Ensure Ideal Integration
Large or small, robot fleet or singular unit, Pringle Robotics ensures every customer engagement results in expert collaboration, ideal integration, and continuous support. Unlike some suppliers, we never sell a robot and walk away. We’re in this for the long haul. We also won’t sell or lease the “wrong” robot for the facility. Each BoT deployed must be the right solution for a facility’s size, traffic levels, and automation needs. And our customer engagements don’t end once the paperwork is signed. We set our clients up for success with an industry-leading program of fleet integration, monitoring, and comprehensive support.
How Retail Facilities Can Up Their Cleaning Game for the Holidays and Beyond
With the Holiday Season in full swing, retail facilities ranging from malls and big box stores to small independent shops and boutiques are seeing an influx of shoppers searching for that perfect gift along with a bit of seasonal cheer. While those rabidly determined Black Friday deal-seekers might have cared little about the interior environment of their chosen “hunting” ground, this month’s holiday-casual shoppers are likely to spend more time soaking up the retail ambience as they socialize with friends and family, selecting gifts with care.
Google “janitor shortage” and page after page of news links appears. School districts, healthcare facilities and large hospitality settings such as hotels have been struggling to hire and retain needed custodial staff in the years following the pandemic, and this worker shortage shows no signs of abating.
Automation, IoT, cobotics, companion robot, humanoid robot, service robots. There are a lot of robotics-related buzzwords floating around the mediasphere these days, and keeping track of them all can be confusing. Because we’re in the business of helping people-focused industries integrate smart automation, we’d like to take a moment to discuss service robots in all their various and helpful forms.
Uncovering the Benefits of Automating this Sisyphean Task
Cleaning is one of the tasks of daily life that poses an uncomfortable paradox. In most cases, it’s essential to health, safety, and general wellbeing; however, it’s also time consuming, physically demanding, and must be repeated regularly (if not daily) to reap consistent benefits. And while a bit of slacking off can easily be hidden within the walls of a home, businesses and facilities aren’t granted the same leeway. The safety, productivity, and opinion of customers and staff demand an impeccably clean environment.
Few industries are immune to the effects of today’s extremely tight labor market, especially those that are people-facing and service-focused, such as hospitality, healthcare, education, senior care, and janitorial. With the average cost to hire a single employee anywhere from $1,600-$4,700 and a hiring cycle of up to 30 days, it’s no wonder that many employers and small business owners are tearing their hair out in frustration. What can business owners and HR professionals do to ensure that necessary tasks get done even when job openings outnumber willing workers?
It’s no secret that the work-from-home revolution isn’t panning out quite the way many workers had hoped. Since the end of the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency declaration in May of this year, return-to-office mandates have come down the pipeline at breakneck speed, leaving employees at both large and small companies reeling.
Commercial Floor Cleaning Robots and the Distributor Who Knows They're the Future
The commercial cleaning industry is on an uptick thanks to the continued development and construction of commercial buildings and a lingering interest in heightened sanitation in the years following the pandemic. But the industry wouldn’t get very far without someone to supply the cleaning tools and products used each day.
By the end of this decade, the entire Baby Boomer generation—nearly 73 million people—will be over the age of 65, and the senior care sector will reach a level of demand never seen before. Assisted living facilities have long been a staple of this senior care continuum, offering a balance between independence and support, as it becomes necessary. But they’re also undergoing vital changes to meet the diverse needs and preferences of this lifestyle-minded, independent, and savvy generation.
Today, a wave of technological advancements, amenities, and a focus on health and holistic wellbeing are reshaping the landscape of senior living. Let’s take a look at how these trends are enhancing the “golden decades” for this largely healthy and long-living generation.
How Casinos are Leveling Up to Appeal to New Generations
After struggling through a marked downturn during the Covid-19 pandemic and related shutdowns (coupled with consumer reluctance to visit entertainment venues), the casino and gaming industry is back fullforce, and even exceeding expectations. But that’s not all due to a sudden, random increase in consumer interest. Casino operators have worked doggedly to appeal to a new generation of leisure-seekers, maintain relevance amidst competition from online gaming, and push back on illegal gambling operations that threaten profits. How so? Let’s take a look in more detail.
How Colleges and Universities Can Integrate Robotic Automation into Daily Life
Crisp autumn air. Ah. Depending on where you live, this might be your current reality…or an aspirational fairytale. But whether it feels like fall or not, the things we associate with the season are back once again—like college and university campuses across the country bustling with the energy of a new academic year.
These days, more and more students are returning to campuses where exciting new robotic technology awaits them. Let’s take a look at what they might find, and how robots for various purposes are becoming useful additions to the college and university landscape.
Commercial cleaning companies are the often unsung heroes of just about any business or public-facing venue. These contractors play such a crucial role in maintaining the cleanliness, hygiene, and safety of facilities that their incredible work is sometimes only noticed by the public when it goes undone.
But business owners and administrators know that clean and hygienic facilities are essential to customer opinion and employee satisfaction, and the demand for commercial cleaning services continues to grow. Now, with the advent of new technologies and increasing awareness of environmental sustainability, the commercial cleaning industry is undergoing an exciting transformation. Here are some of the trends moving the commercial cleaning industry forward.
Robotic Assistance for Patients, Visitors and Medical Staff
While we’re big fans of all of our robots, there’s one in our lineup that stands out for its flexibility, intuitive operation, and adaptability to virtually any customer-facing setting. TemiBoT is an AI-powered interactive robot that excels at human assistance. For healthcare settings in particular, TemiBoT’s versatility has numerous applications. Let’s explore.
How Schools Can Get a Leg Up on Cleaning, Safety and Operations With Robotics
“The days are long, but the years are short.” That old parenting aphorism invites caregivers to step outside the daily madness of family life and reflect on the fleeting nature of childhood. However, for teachers, administrators and other school staff, the days and the years can often feel like a long slog. Testing, curriculum building and behavior management all take their toll; not to mention student social-emotional challenges and keeping everyone at school safe. Then there are practical, building-wide concerns such as cleaning and maintenance, health and safety, and daily administrative burden heightened by short staffing.
Luckily, some of these school challenges can be addressed, at least in part, by advances in robotic automation.
