How UG2 Continues to Keep Customers Safe
To say the world has changed tremendously in the past year is a monumental understatement. Twelve months ago, when the shock of the virus was new, most companies and schools sent their employees and students home, thinking it would be just a few months until they returned. While facility managers (FMs) and physical plant directors were scrambling to find and deploy the best disinfection and cleaning products and implement distancing measures, the population at large was figuring out how to simply function in the new pandemic normal.
Ever since then, people have been living on high alert. Everything has been centered around reducing the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 by controlling how we interact. Almost overnight we changed the way we work, shop, and socialize. We stayed home, celebrated holidays on Zoom, and became experts on mask wearing and how to adequately wash hands and social distance.
Now, with COVID-19 vaccinations well underway, plans for reopening are as well. According to a LaSalle Network survey, 70% of business leaders plan to have employees back in the office by fall 2021, phasing them in slowly. K-12 and universities are expecting to have students, faculty & staff back on-campuses in the fall, with many preparing for in person commencement ceremonies as well as summer school & conferences.
Cautious Optimism
However, while there’s excitement about returning to workspaces, schools, entertainment venues, and more, there’s also significant concern. Everyone has been so focused on keeping isolated that being in close proximity to non-household members for long periods of time in spaces managed by others, is pretty anxiety-provoking. People are rightly worried about variables they can’t control and things they don’t know – like whether colleagues are vaccinated and when someone coughs, is it because of COVID-19 or is it just a dry throat.
That’s why it’s incredibly important that Facility Managers focus on making occupants feel safe in their work place environments and communities. If they don’t, they’ll likely go back to remote working, learning, and shopping – the implications of which would be devastating for people, businesses, and the economy both physically & emotionally.
The Comfort Checklist
With that in mind, here are six tactics and tools Facility Managers can use to instill peace of mind that your facility is safe to return to:
1. Signage
Communication is always important but now, it’s crucial, especially when it comes to notifications about disinfection status and regulations you want occupants to follow. Signage can go a long way for getting your messages across and keeping them visible.
For instance, signs in front of or inside elevators can display when they were last disinfected or that they have a new air filtration system. You can put door hangers outside conference rooms letting people know the rooms are ready to be occupied, post table signage in break rooms and kitchens reminding employees to practice social distancing, and lay six-foot-apart floor markers in shared spaces like cafeterias.
Custodial staff badges can also help. Bright pins or tags on their clothing saying they’re certified in particular disinfecting protocols and best practices will be noticed and appreciated.
2. Cleaning Visualization Maps
For real-time cleaning status, some organizations display digital cleaning maps on monitors throughout their facility. Products like CrowdComfort enable occupants to easily see which spaces have been cleaned and when. Cleaning staff use a QR code app on their smartphone to scan each location and time stamp. This information is fed into the visualization tool, which shows a map with the status of specific areas using color codes (red, yellow, green) for at-a-glance checks.
3. Automation and Robotics
Many organizations are evaluating technologies that enable a more touchless environment, such as robotic vacuums, scrubbers, and sweepers. These are visible reminders that the facility is committed to using the latest technologies to keep spaces clean and people safe.
Other examples include paper towel and soap dispensers that automatically notify the facility supervisor when products need to be refilled. Since no one has to open containers to check levels, this decreases touch points and potential virus spread.
4. Self-Service Ticketing
As critical as visibility is, so is giving occupants a feeling of empowerment, that they have some control over their workspace environment. With this in mind, UG2 created a QR code-based solution that enables occupants to use their smartphones to initiate location-specific work order requests – for instance, to refill a disinfection station dispenser or clean up a lobby spill. The solution creates a work order, sends verification, and notifies the sender when the work order is complete.
5. COVID-19 Health Checks
It’s not just tenants who need to feel safe in facilities, it’s also custodial staff. UG2 developed an app called UG2 Health Check, or UHC, that helps employees feel comfortable about their colleagues’ state of wellness. UHC is a simple, smartphone-based survey that site managers can use at the start of every shift, questioning every employee about COVID-19 symptoms and potential exposure, and determining whether it’s appropriate for them to work that day.
6. Quality Management Inspections
Behind the scenes, facility employees can use mobile management inspection tools to accelerate cleaning problematic areas. Facility managers scan QR codes or NFC tags via their smartphones when they see things like dirty toilets, garbage spilling out of trash cans, or soiled carpet– anything not up to the more stringent post-COVID standards. These readings are automatically fed into the appropriate system, where they are processed and readily addressed.
UG2 is helping organizations around the country build the trust tenants need to confidently and comfortably return to office spaces, classrooms, entertainment venues, and more. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.