Farnek, a leading UAE-based technology and sustainability-driven facilities management (FM) company, has launched the Middle East’s first digitally monitored washroom to maximise customer satisfaction and promote cost efficiencies.

The system uses the most advanced and innovative technologies, IoT (Internet of Things) sensors, machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud architecture to promote air quality, identify water spillages, and monitor washroom usage and consumable levels, to ensure the highest customer satisfaction standards.

The system collects statistical data digitally, analyses and reveals customer trends and patterns, to offer the best possible customer experience, a win-win for shopping mall tenants and landlords, says the company.

“By using a digitalised solution, we’re harnessing big data and transforming the service offering to be more customer experience-driven and cost-effective. Our pilot project installed in a major shopping mall in Dubai is already at an advanced stage, and we estimate we can make manpower cost savings of over 20 per cent during low footfall,” says Markus Oberlin, Farnek’s CEO.

Unique to Farnek, the system can not only be retrofitted into existing washrooms and implemented for all industries, it also features several sensors and processes unmatched by any other product on the market, he says. Maximising the use of IoT, sensors are located strategically to detect and identify peak times, monitor safety and determine when a cleaner is required.

Oberlin says a dedicated people counter monitors all in and out movement; an air quality monitor identifies gases such as ammonia, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs); a moisture detector identifies spillages on the floor; while a consumables monitor measures the level of dispensers such as paper towels, toilet rolls and soap solutions. This fosters accurate predictions on stock replenishment and eliminates downtime by 100 per cent.

“Essentially, it boils down to the intrinsic correlation between footfall, air quality and customer experience. Using multiple sensors, we can determine the air quality index (AQI) during periods of elevated footfall, evaluated against recognised international standards,” he adds.

AQI, he says, works like a thermometer that operates from zero to 500 degrees, but instead of measuring temperature, the AQI will identify any changes in the amount of impurities in the air.

“To counter any negative readings, say during peak footfall, we can adjust the airflow to ensure more fresh air is circulated, which subsequently increases the level of customer satisfaction,” Oberlin adds.

The system also supports real-time customer feedback allowing facility managers to re-evaluate service delivery – further enhancing the customer experience.

Farnek is a leading provider of sustainable and technology-driven facilities management in the UAE. Established in 1980, Farnek Services is a Swiss-owned independent total facilities management company.

With a skilled workforce of more than 5,500 employees, Farnek delivers professional facilities management services to across several sectors – aviation, hospitality, banking, retail, shopping malls, telecom, residential, commercial, infrastructure, government, education, leisure and entertainment.