From Mop Buckets to Robotics: How the Industry Has Evolved

As BSCAI celebrates its 60th anniversary, we’re taking a look back at the history of the contract cleaning industry to understand how decades of change continue to shape our work today and tomorrow. We spoke with two longtime BSCAI members with insight into the industry's evolution: Amanda Haas, director of business development at Merchants Building Maintenance, and Eric Luke, CBSE, CPA, past president of BSCAI and certified mergers and acquisitions Specialist at Luke Acquisition and Valuation Specialists, LLC.

BSCAI: Looking back 60 years, what were the most common tools and techniques used in contract cleaning and facility maintenance? How did these tools shape the daily work experience?

Amanda Haas (AH): The tools that we use to clean haven't significantly changed in nearly 60 years. We still use some form of a mop, bucket, rag, and vacuum. The backpack vacuum was one of the larger innovations of the past few decades and has become an industry staple in the field. The equipment we use hasn’t changed much, but the technology tools that we use to validate and manage our services have changed substantially over the past five or so years. 

The COVID pandemic really highlighted a lack of real time reporting and gaps in current equipment stocks. Electrostatic sprayers suddenly became worth their weight in gold and increasingly hard to come by even if you were willing to overlook the sticker shock. Disinfection cleaning suddenly became standard in client scopes of work and written into their contracts. While the dark days of the pandemic are now behind us, the focus on disinfection as a critical part of the cleaning process still remains. 

Eric T. Luke, CBSE, CPA (EL): Janitorial and maintenance work in the 1960s relied heavily on physically demanding tools like heavy metal mops, bulky floor polishers, and basic cleaning supplies, requiring workers to develop manual skills through years of experience. Tasks were time-consuming and often hazardous, with minimal safety protections against harsh chemicals and repetitive strain injuries from constant motion. The work environment was rigidly hierarchical, with little autonomy or recognition, especially for night shift workers. Without modern technology, success depended more on physical endurance and technique than on technical knowledge, making the job both labor-intensive and skill focused.

BSCAI: What major technological or procedural advancements have the industry experienced since then?

AH: Employees now have super computers in their pockets and can be reached immediately via text or phone call. Gone are the days of running around the job site or multiple job sites trying to track them down. Use of mobile applications and AI-enabled tools, geo-fenced clock in systems, QR code-based validation tools have changed the way we work.

EL: Since the 1990s, we’ve seen a steady evolution in both the tools we use and how we run our operations. The introduction of high-speed electrical floor machines, battery-operated scrubbers, and filtered vacuums significantly boosted productivity and helped reduce labor costs. Around the same time, chemical suppliers began rolling out portion control systems, which made training easier and helped us manage usage and expenses more effectively.

Financial software like Team Accounting also came onto the scene, giving us better control over budgeting and reporting. In the 2000s, the industry began to shift again — clients started expecting more than just janitorial services, so many of us expanded into integrated facilities management and grew our reach across regions and states. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and cleaning became a frontline service, and innovation accelerated. We adopted automation, smart devices, UV-C disinfection, electrostatic sprayers, and touchless systems. Training also went digital, with platforms and simulations improving how we onboard staff.

BSCAI: How have client expectations and business models evolved in the contract cleaning industry?

AH: There has been a major shift in the industry towards technology-backed services and work validation tools. These tools have shifted client expectations more toward instant response times and real-time updates as opposed to the previous model of waiting a day or two to get a response about a request or complaint.

EL: Clients used to care mostly about price and whether the basics got done — empty the bins, mop the floors, and stay out of sight. Now, cleaning is seen as essential to health and safety, especially after COVID. Clients want to see results — better air quality, safer spaces — and they expect tailored solutions for each facility, not a cookie-cutter approach. Certifications, data, and transparency matter more than ever. On our side, we’ve had to adapt too. We’ve moved from simple hourly or square-foot pricing to performance-based contracts, often bundled with other services like maintenance or security. Technology is a big part of it now — clients want monitoring, reporting, and proof of work. It’s no longer just about cleaning; it’s about being a strategic partner in managing the whole environment.

BSCAI: What role has workforce training and labor dynamics played in the industry's transformation?

AH: Workforce training, especially in California, has shifted in more recent years to focus in large part on safety training and training employees how to use the work validation/technology tools — more so than a simple demonstration on how to swing a mop. The focus has shifted from “how to properly clean” to “how to prove that you have properly cleaned.”

EL: Training used to be pretty minimal — mostly just learning on the job. But as the work has become more technical and expectations have gone up, we’ve had to invest in proper training programs, certifications, and even digital platforms. It’s not just about knowing how to clean anymore — it’s about understanding safety protocols, handling specialized equipment, and being able to work in sensitive environments like health care or data centers. At the same time, clients are paying closer attention to how we treat our teams. They want to know we’re offering fair wages, benefits, and real opportunities for growth. That’s become part of how we’re evaluated, not just the quality of the cleaning. COVID really brought that into focus — our teams became essential, and clients wanted to see that we were supporting them properly. These days, workforce development isn’t optional.

BSCAI: Looking ahead, what trends do you believe will define the next decade of facility maintenance?

AH: AI will be playing more and more of a prominent role over the next decade. Robotics are expected to make great improvements and become more affordable. Right now, they are an expensive investment and not applicable for all cleaning environments, but they are making leaps and bounds overall.

EL: Looking ahead, I think the next decade is going to push our industry further and faster than anything we’ve seen before. To stay competitive, contractors like us can’t just be seen as a commodity — we need to offer real value, expand across regions, and take on more complex IFM models. Technology will play a huge role: AI, automation, and smart buildings are already changing how we work, and that’s only going to accelerate. At the same time, sustainability is becoming nonnegotiable — clients are asking about carbon footprints, water use, and circular practices. Health and safety will stay front and center, with things like air quality monitoring and antimicrobial surfaces becoming standard. And the workforce is evolving too — higher skill expectations and a real focus on fair treatment and training. The companies that succeed will be the ones that can blend all of this into a model that delivers measurable outcomes, not just tasks.