ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

From the EFCI secretariat in Brussels, Lyndsey Campbell says the cleaning sector of the future should not be forced to choose between humans and machines. The organisation believes automation must be balanced with empowering the workforce.

As robotic vacuum cleaners roll silently across the floors of airports, offices, and shopping centres, the cleaning sector stands at a crossroads. Across Europe, facility service providers face a pivotal choice: invest in AI and automation to streamline operations or strengthen their workforce through workplace-oriented upskilling.

The human error that cost over €100,000

A recent case in Germany demonstrates just how costly communication failures in cleaning can be. A facility management company instructed an employee to use a high-pressure steam cleaner on a stone façade. The worker, unable to fully comprehend the instructions due to language barriers, set the pressure too high. The result? Joint seals destroyed, scaffolding required, and repairs that cost the company over €100,000.

This isn’t an isolated case. It illustrates a fundamental issue: the cleaning sector is highly labour-intensive, but the labour force is often undertrained, linguistically limited, or transient. In such a context, the promise of robots that never mishear instructions and AI that works around the clock seems compelling.

The temptation of robotics

According to McKinsey (2024), up to 50 per cent of routine cleaning tasks could be automated by 2030. In Germany, for example, where the demographic decline is reducing the available workforce, many companies see robotics as not only a cost-cutting measure but a survival strategy. From autonomous scrubbers in hospitals to AI-guided glass-cleaning drones, the tools are ready and already in use.

Automation Isn’t a cure-all

Yet, as pointed out by Knut Becker from the State Agency for Basic Skills in Adult Education (Baden-Württemberg), robots don’t solve everything. “Cleaning companies aren’t educational institutions”, he notes, “but they do purchase solutions to problems”. One of those solutions is often skilled labour.

In fact, data from the Fachstelle für Grundbildung und Alphabetisierung shows that German-speaking cleaners command higher wages and bring higher value to employers due to their ability to understand safety instructions, interact with clients and adapt to task changes. Basic skills, like technical literacy and workplace communication, don’t just improve productivity; they reduce costly errors and foster loyalty.

A workforce worth investing In

Becker’s research highlights the economic benefits of in-house language training and basic skill development. Advantages for companies include:

• Reduced damage and insurance costs
• Higher employee retention
• Improved company image.

For employees, the gains are equally significant:

• Increased employability
• Better wages
• Greater self-confidence.

“Cleaning is rarely a dream job”, the presentation admits, “but it can be a stepping stone”. That stepping stone is especially powerful when paired with targeted upskilling aligned with the actual needs of the workplace.

Striking a balance: tech and training

The cleaning sector shouldn’t be forced to choose between humans and machines. Instead, the focus should be on balancing automation with workforce empowerment. Language and basic skills training can be embedded into daily workflows, especially in companies that want to avoid costly mistakes and foster resilience.

As AI reshapes the future of work, those who pair it with a skilled, motivated human workforce will not only survive, they will thrive.

efci.eu