6 million square metres of government area is being cleaned manually

New study: Cleaning robots may save the government 1,000 jobs.

A brand-new study from CBS shows that the government spends several millions on cleaning. While the local authorities have performed a number of pilot experiments and embraced the robot technology, the several government agencies, universities and departments have apparently kept them at arms’ length. Not only has the government suffered a resource loss, it has also reduced the possibility of obtaining derived positive innovation benefits.

Experience shows that robot vacuuming in the local authorities has been a success, but it also includes a number of challenges. The reports state a need for a number of technical adjustments of the robot vacuum cleaners to make them work at optimum effect in for instance homecare service. The adjustments include the level of noise, area preparation costs and cables, which are sucked into the vacuum cleaner.

The government ought to learn from the local authorities

The majority of the challenges of robot cleaning will not be a problem in most governmental agencies, as it is possible to clean them when they are not being used. Furthermore, the floors are more uniform than in the homes of the citizens, and the economies of scale regarding cleaning of the more than 6 million square metres in the government sector are much larger.

If the experience from the homecare service in the local authorities can be applied to these 6 million square metres, a work optimisation of 75 % can be reached, which means that the government will save more than 1,000 jobs. It is remarkable that such considerable benefits are not reaped.

Very few intend to make use of the new technology

A poll shows that only few people are using or are planning to use the robot vacuum cleaners. This makes the government reach the bottom when it comes to bringing down the costs by means of new technology, which is directly contrary to the government’s own intentions. The government spends more time getting local authorities and citizens to use robot vacuum cleaners than bringing down its own expenses for cleaning.