Project Highlights, UG2 in Action

Technology Spotlight: How UDL Can Streamline Compliance Reporting

By Jeffrey P. Peterson

An easy-to-use app from UG2 can be a game changer for efficiency and safety tracking.

Because of COVID-19 and the intense focus on health and safety that it precipitated; many states are already setting mandates about keeping comprehensive disinfection cleaning logs that must be updated during every disinfection round. Consider the overall paperwork behind this effort: If you have just one restroom that’s disinfected four or five times per day, by different cleaning personnel, how will you record that activity? Now add more restrooms, plus elevators, lobby areas, and other shared spaces. Every day, every time they’re cleaned, you need to track, and log services performed to all designated ‘high touch’ areas.

The high volume of paperwork anticipated for this effort is what led UG2 to look for a technology-driven solution. However, we found that there was no solution that seemed to include all the functionality needed, with the ease of use necessary for everyone, from operations managers to janitors. So, UG2 decided to build their own solution.

The Ease of UDL

The UG2 Disinfection Log — called UDL for short — was designed to be scalable across the entire customer base, compliant in addressing each state’s mandate for logging disinfection services, and fast, easy, and cost effective. UDL has achieved all of these goals. Whenever a UG2 employee finishes disinfecting a space or high-touch surface like an elevator, they use a smartphone to tap a chip that’s embedded in their ID badge. At that point, the app asks a few questions like, Where are you? What work did you do?

Dropdown options take only seconds to record the answers, and those are recorded in an electronic database that meets any state requirement for disinfection reporting. The logs don’t require additional paperwork — or, indeed, any actual paper at all — or management time to sort through and store the information. All data is securely and electronically stored on UG2’s cloud-based server.

While that’s enough to achieve compliance, it’s quickly become clear that UDL has the capability and flexibility to become an even more comprehensive tool than UG2 envisioned. This type of innovation and data gathering tool is being explored for other traditional tracking capabilities.  It highlights that data management is a key goal for UG2 in working with our customers in managing all the productivity drivers of the facility service delivery model.

Ready to Expand

Right now, the UDL app has only been rolled out to 10 locations as a pilot program to see if it lived up to its promise. But now that it’s clear that it works effectively, is scalable, and can do so much more. UG2 is moving toward with full deployment to all applicable sites across all UG2’s Centers of Excellence.

That effort will include tailoring the app for different market sectors with various types of spaces, particularly higher education, which is more of a challenge than a traditional office building.  Athletic facilities, classrooms, chapels, and cafeteria areas will require customized solutions.

Although UDL is a new effort, its very representative of UG2’s customer centric spirit that prioritizes the use of innovation wherever possible to benefit our clients. This technology and the people who envisioned and designed it represent the type of creative, solution-driven approach that has made UG2 an industry leader, and a true partner to our valued customers.

Jeffrey P. Peterson
Senior Vice President, Strategy & Innovation