The Guardian Newspaper recently headlined a story with this statement, ‘Robots Could Take 4M UK Private Sector Jobs Within 10 Years’
Will robots really replace humans and will technology phase out mundane roles? The story went on to suggest that the potential impact of automation on UK industry could affect up to 15% of the current workforce and other research suggests huge job losses too.
Manufacturing, distribution and transportation are thought to be sectors where automation will have the biggest impact but what of the cleaning industry.
We’re already seeing robotic scrubber dryers and machines that can sweep, vacuum and wash floors without requiring human supervision hit the market and attempts are being made to develop window cleaning robotics.
These developments will of course have an impact on industry staff numbers but will also reduce the health and safety risks especially when working at great height however the current high-level window cleaning specialists will still be needed to operate and engineer the systems and there will always still be buildings that can simply just not be serviced by robotics due to their location, age, design etc.
There’s no doubt that technology will reduce the workforce numbers in the industry but with the uncertainty over Brexit and over 20% of existing cleaning staff being non-UK nationals and the growing lack of young people entering a cleaning profession, automation might be just what the industry needs to keep our buildings, homes and public spaces clean.
It may also help to enhance the image of the industry and will most certainly drive efficiency so overall we think the advances in technology that are being made in the cleaning industry are a good think.
Let us know your thoughts on the matter.
