A robot from Dussmann in a warehouse.

Where the Dussmann team and robots work hand in hand

The first lights come on. Long, empty, freshly cleaned halls, some 16,000 square meters of space near Erfurt. It’s early on a Wednesday morning, and our cleaning experts, lead worker Sandra Rodrigues and property manager Marcel Otto, are meeting to discuss the day. 
Behind them, the team from Dussmann Facility Management is already at work on their morning tasks, keeping everything sparkling clean. Among them is Alex, a cleaning robot of the very latest generation.

Alex joined the team in October 2021 – and generated a lot of interest right away during the trial period. The launch was an exciting occasion for everyone involved: unpacking the robot, getting things settled, programming it, and then the trial runs.

Rodrigues was the one who first integrated Alex into the team. She is still happy at how fast it went, and how much work the new, computer-controlled “colleague” takes off the human crew’s hands. “We used to have to control the cleaning machines manually, but these days, we program the EcoBot to run on a certain route. That leaves our team free to handle the many other tasks that still require true manual work.” That is a real advantage, particularly when it comes to dusting and sanitary services and disinfection, a very important step. By contrast, the EcoBot can handle the large areas with precision and endurance, all while minimizing environmental impact.

Rodrigues has worked as a lead worker at Dussmann for two years. She is a beloved figure. Especially during hectic mornings, when everything has to be cleaned before the customer’s own business gets under way, she keeps her cool as she checks to make sure everything is done: maintenance cleaning, dusting, sanitary services, kitchen, bistro, food service, and even roof cleaning. She also trains new employees, answers questions, and coordinates shift changes.

“The biggest challenge is when people suddenly call in sick. That’s why we’re extra happy Alex is so reliable. We did have to train Alex, too, though: showing which areas to clean and how, what kinds of obstacles need to be factored in, and where the docking station is.” Still, following the successful onboarding process, Alex is a very valuable addition to Rodrigues’s team.

A portrait photo of forewoman Sandra Rodrigues.
The EcoBot isn’t replacing our colleagues, but giving them time to work on tasks other than cleaning floors.

“The biggest challenge is when people suddenly call in sick. That’s why we’re extra happy Alex is so reliable. We did have to train Alex, too, though: showing which areas to clean and how, what kinds of obstacles need to be factored in, and where the docking station is.” Still, following the successful onboarding process, Alex is a very valuable addition to Rodrigues’s team.

“No,” Rodrigues says. “All of us saw Alex as a big help right from the start – it isn’t replacing our colleagues, but giving them time to work on tasks other than cleaning floors. The only thing it hasn’t done yet is go to one of our team events. That’s a shame, of course!” she says, laughing.

A portrait photo of the object manager Marcel Otto.
Like the entire industry, we face the challenge of not having enough staff. The EcoBot was the perfect addition to our cleaning team.

In general, Otto's team is quick to warm up to innovation – new cleaning pads were tested just recently and then purchased, for example. The “Floorzilla” pads last five times as long as their predecessors, making them an efficient way to reduce waste. The round cleaning pads, which are attached under the automatic scrubbers, also need no chemical agents at all. This is just another way the team is used to innovation, adapting with ease to new developments in their day-to-day work.

Another reason for their quick enthusiasm is the team spirit that is a major focus at the Erfurt location. Whenever pandemic conditions permit, the team has breakfast together as a group. “We’ve seen just how important this is to our cohesion. When our breakfasts are canceled, we might lose sight of each other. We try to avoid that wherever possible,” Otto explains.

The three of them are a true dream team for our customers in Erfurt – and an excellent symbol of the integrated solutions offered by Dussmann Facility Management: precision-tailored, personal, progressive.