Retail D2: Bonnybridge store sees humans and robots working together
A local convenience store has introduced a robot to assist human cleaners.
Scotmid, in High Street, Bonnybridge, is one of the company’s 14 branches to make the move to machine cleaning, following a successful pilot programme.
According to the firm, the introduction of the Gausium Phantas Pro machine will free up cleaning teams to spend more time on areas and tasks hat need a “human touch”.
The mechanical marvel will use smart navigation to move safely around stores while scrubbing different types of flooring.
Designed for commercial environments including retail stores, the compact robots can operate in busy spaces by detecting and avoiding both static and moving obstacles.
Allan Robertson,Scotmid procurement and sstainability manager, said: “The trial showed colleagues could quickly see the benefit. By taking care of regular floor cleaning, the robots made a practical difference to the day-to-day running of the store.
“For our teams, it means more time can be spent where people are needed most, helping customers, dealing with spills or focusing on areas that need a human eye.
“It’s a practical example of innovation supporting colleagues, strengthening store standards and helping us provide the experience our members and customers expect.”
The robots will be operated and maintained by Scotmid’s cleaning partner, Spotless Commercial Cleaning, which has been reappointed to provide cleaning services for a further three years following a competitive tender process.
Carron Henley, CEO of Spotless Commercial Cleaning, said: “We’re proud to build on our long-standing partnership with Scotmid and to support the introduction of robotic cleaning technology across these stores.”