"Our robot vacuum cleaner, Tommy, is a real asset to our team"
In the hotel industry, hygiene is crucial. At the same time, the industry is under pressure due to staff shortages and there is a constant need for efficiency. At Hotel Corsendonk Turnova in Turnhout, they have therefore been focusing on automation for several years. They recently started using the Lionsbot R3 Vac cleaning robot. Hotel manager Julie Rimanque talks about the positive impact this robot has had on the daily cleaning process.
The robot as an integral part of the team
The robot, nicknamed Tommy by the staff, has now become an indispensable part of the hotel. "We really see him as a team member," says Julie Rimanque. "He takes care of the large and physically demanding areas, such as corridors, entrance halls and the restaurant."
That support makes a clear difference for the staff. "Cleaning large areas is hard work. Thanks to our robot, our employees can now focus on other, more detailed tasks."
Guests are also responding remarkably positively. "Tommy is almost an attraction," Julie laughs. "Visitors watch him go by and take photos of him. It's really become an extra experience."
Consistent quality and smart deployment of staff
Before the robot was introduced, cleaning was often limited to once a day per area. Today, things are completely different. "We can deploy the robot several times a day. This ensures our communal areas are consistently clean," says Julie. She believes this consistency is one of the biggest advantages: "The level of quality remains constant, and that makes a real difference."
In addition, automation ensures more efficient staff deployment. "Cleaning used to take up a lot of time. Thanks to the robot, we can deploy our staff differently and distribute tasks more effectively."
Where human and machine complement each other
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At Hotel Corsendonk Turnova, the collaboration between human and machine is now the key to efficient, high-quality cleaning. "The robot vacuums all the large and communal areas, and then a staff member follows up with an i-mop. That combination works perfectly and saves us a lot of time," says Julie. This smart division of labour ensures that technology takes over the heavy, repetitive work, whilst staff can focus on the finishing touches and details.
A strong partnership makes all the difference
Behind the scenes, the partnership with BOMA plays a key role. "We receive excellent support from BOMA," confirms Julie. "From implementation and training to the maintenance of our robot: everything runs very smoothly. If there is ever an issue, we are notified immediately. That builds trust. What's more, the products are high-quality and innovative, and we keep a close eye on new solutions, allowing us to continuously improve."
Automation continues to evolve
The move towards robotisation didn't happen overnight. The hotel already had experience with another robot vacuum cleaner. According to Julie, the direction for the future is also clear: "Automation will only continue to evolve. We can already see major differences compared to our previous robot. This one is quieter, more user-friendly and more efficient."
Other future applications are also being considered. "We want to look at anything that can be automated. Think, for example, of clearing tables or vacuuming rooms. The more we can automate without compromising on quality, the better," concludes Julie.
Want to know more about how you too can implement automation within your organisation?