Visitors often judge your organisation not by your meeting room, but by your washroom facilities. A tap covered in fingerprints, an empty soap dispenser, paper towels scattered across the floor, an overflowing bin: the washroom says a great deal about how much importance an organisation attaches to cleaning and the environment. After COVID-19, awareness around hygiene continued to grow, and that shift has become increasingly visible in recent years. Touchless solutions and innovations in sanitary hygiene are no longer a nice-to-have, but an inevitable evolution that has raised the bar for organisations.
The evolution of washroom expectations
Sanitary hygiene has undergone a remarkable evolution in recent years. Manufacturers of sanitary products responded to this increased awareness around surfaces with a wide range of touchless solutions, from hand dryers and soap dispensers to taps and flushing systems. These systems were initially used mainly by healthcare institutions and food companies. Since the pandemic, users themselves have also placed increasing importance on hygiene. As a result, touchless solutions are being used more widely, such as in offices and public institutions.
Sanitary hygiene innovations as an experience
Hygiene largely depends on perception. Touchless facilities are one of the most visible signals of a hygienic environment. They show that an organisation cares about how employees, customers or visitors experience their environment. According to research by Tork, 52% of visitors who had a negative washroom experience attached consequences to it: a poor review, spreading a negative image, or spending less in the case of a hospitality business. The impact of poor hygienic facilities should, therefore, never be underestimated.
Touchless technologies
Technology has made a major leap forward in recent years. Today, sanitary hygiene innovations exist for virtually every part of a washroom:
Sensor-operated taps
Taps with a built-in sensor supply water as soon as hands are held underneath them, without the user having to touch a lever or button. This eliminates one of the most bacteria-laden contact points in a washroom, and also prevents taps from being left running unnecessarily.
Automatic flushing systems
Toilets and urinals with automatic flushing activate as soon as the user steps away, without the need for a button or lever. In addition to the hygiene benefit, this also ensures more consistent water consumption, because flushing always takes place at the right time and with the right amount of water.
Touchless soap dispensers
A sensor detects the user’s hand and dispenses a fixed amount of soap, without any need to pump. This is not only more hygienic, it also limits waste and keeps the area around the dispenser cleaner.
Hand towel dispensers
Contactless hand towel dispensers dispense paper based on a gesture. This avoids touching an often contaminated surface at the very moment hands have just been washed. In addition, they help regulate paper consumption.
Each of these applications reduces the number of contact points and, therefore, the risk of indirect contamination via frequently used surfaces. But smart dispensing and water-saving technologies also provide a well-considered sanitary strategy that closely aligns with your organisation’s sustainability objectives.
Smart monitoring
Smart monitoring is changing the way cleaning teams work. In the past, the schedule determined when cleaning took place. Today, this depends on usage. Sensors record how many people pass through a space and automatically send a notification when cleaning is needed. This is not only more efficient for the cleaning team, it also delivers a more consistent result for the user.
The combination works in two directions: smart monitoring ensures cleaning takes place at the right time, while touchless devices limit interim contamination. This allows cleaners to focus more efficiently on what really requires attention.
The impact on user experience and maintenance
The combination of touchless technology and smart monitoring has a dual effect. For the user, it results in a washroom that is more often clean at the moment they need it. For the facility service provider, it offers concrete tools to improve quality and report more consistently. So anyone who invests in smart sanitary solutions is investing in their team and in the environment of their employees and visitors.
