In France, cobotics – the practice of integrating humans and robots in a collaborative working environment – is an emerging field. Cleaning companies, particularly larger ones, are beginning to adopt this approach. Here are some explanations from the experts at AURIS Finance, a consultancy specialising in mergers and acquisitions.
It is possible that in the future, robots may be used to assist cleaning staff. This is the alternative that cleaning industry leaders are turning to. “It is important to remember that cobotics is a form of co-activity. In other words, it is the robot that must integrate with our operational teams, rather than the other way around. In this case, the robot is regarded as a new member of the team that works alongside the cleaners on the customer’s premises”, explained Luc Plessis, Director of cobotics at Onet Group, during a debate organised by the professional magazine Services.
Major developments
Large service provider groups, including Onet (66,000 employees and €1.9 billion in revenues in 2023), Eficium (1,000 employees and €21 million in revenues in 2022), and Rema Groupe, are evaluating the potential benefits of implementing cobotics solutions. All of the companies in question have stated that they began work on these solutions as early as 2019. The advantages are manifold. These solutions will enable customers to adopt greener processes that consume less water and detergents, in line with their CSR objectives. Cobotics reduce the time spent on repetitive and physically demanding tasks for cleaners, thereby increasing efficiency. The use of cobots has a significant impact on reducing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which are a leading cause of work stoppage among cleaning specialists. Finally, the use of cobots provides cleaning operatives with greater flexibility, allowing them to focus on higher-value tasks and improve their skills.
Essential synergies
Equipment suppliers are well aware of this trend. A number of companies, including Nilfisk, Tennant, Fimap, and Kärcher France, are offering cleaning and washing robots to the market. The majority of these solutions are based on long-term hire, accompanied by a maintenance contract. These are expensive services for cleaning companies, particularly for the majority of businesses in the sector, which are family-run SMEs. The cleaning sector is comprised of 16,000 companies, collectively generating revenues of nearly €18 billion. At present, only the largest groups have implemented these solutions for their clients. This includes Onet, as well as Atalian, a specialist in cleaning and facility management that has recently deployed cobotics in the retail sector. For its client Auchan, Atalian rolled out approximately twenty cobots across France. This innovation won the cleaning specialist the Transformation Award at the Auchan Retail International indirect procurement convention.
Our experts at your service
It is clear that cobotics represents a significant growth opportunity for cleaning companies. However, smaller companies, and in particular family-run businesses, may encounter difficulties in adopting these solutions, given the significant financial investment required. The deployment of cobotics will be accompanied by market consolidation. The team at AURIS Finance has extensive sector expertise. We are here to help you develop your business. Our experts can assist you in identifying targets, securing financing and establishing partnerships.
