Case Studies
How others are using the Hive Cleaning SolutionTorquay Boys School Save £21K+ Using Robot Vacuuming
Introduction
Torquay Boys’ Grammar School is a large school with 80 classrooms spread across 9 buildings. The floor surfaces are both carpeted and hard floors that require vacuuming each day to maintain the cleanliness of the school.
The school needed an innovative solution to maintain high cleaning standards while improving efficiency without increasing costs.
The aim of the robotic trial was to introduce the best innovative solution to ensure tha… READ MORE
Mitie Trials
Mitie is continually evolving its service offering, One area that has seen a particular focus in recent years has been in the realm of robotics and robotic vacuums.
With Mitie’s focus on innovation in cleaning they have undertaken multiple trials of robotic cleaning solutions in different sectors and industries, testing their ability to free-up time whilst maintaining their commitment to the ‘Plan Zero’ initiative and furthering their customer promise of delivering the exceptional, every day.
As part of a deepdive into the technology, Mitie implemented robotic cleaning solutions, the “Abbee Hive” in multiple locations across different sectors, including the… READ MORE
Penta Hotel Trial Findings
Coronavirus & Our Robotics: A Case Study in Crisis Response
Coronavirus & Our Robotics: A Case Study in Crisis Response
How Cleaning Robots Supported Operations During Covid-19
During the Coronavirus outbreak, organisations successfully merged human and robotic cleaning workforces to combat staff sickness and absence, keep visitors and staff safe, and maintain essential operations across the country.
Abbee Ltd, an Oxfordshire-based business and the UK’s longest-running provider of rentable commercial cleaning vacuum robots, enabled partners to deploy robots at scale in commercial environments using our patented trolley system.
Proven Pathogen Reduction
The pandemic accelerated interest in robotic cleaning solutions. Through controlled environment trials, Abbee successfully demonstrated that pathogen levels were reduced by using robots, and that time savings allowed teams to concentrate on critical pandemic tasks such as touch-point sanitisation.
This validation proved essential for partners pitching enhanced cleaning protocols to their clients during and after the crisis.
Partnership Approach During Uncertainty
Throughout the pandemic, Abbee operated as a specialist and experienced robotic partner to cleaning teams across various sectors. As the UK market leader working with major partners including Mitie, ISS, and Facilicom, we provided 360° robotic solution support.
Our comprehensive approach included:
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Tailor-made training for cleaning staff during rapidly changing conditions
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Ongoing coaching and support as protocols evolved
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After-sales service ensuring continuous operation when reliability mattered most
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Fully operational robotic products for vacuuming and light mopping uniquely developed for commercial spaces
Lessons Learned: Resilience Through Innovation
The pandemic demonstrated that cleaning companies with access to robotic technology possessed significant operational advantages during crisis situations. Partners who had already integrated Abbee systems maintained service continuity, protected their workforce, and strengthened client relationships through demonstrated innovation and safety commitment.
These lessons continue to inform how forward-thinking cleaning companies approach operational resilience, workforce protection, and technology integration in their long-term strategies.
How Robots Helped Reduce Infection Risk
During the pandemic, robotic vacuum cleaners helped minimise human contact—a critical factor when the Coronavirus spread from person to person. Organisations invested in technology to protect their staff and clients as much as possible. Robotic commercial vacuums covered cleaning teams who were sick, isolating, or needed protection from exposure.
Key advantages during the crisis included:
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No Social Distancing Required: Robots operated independently without proximity concerns
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24/7 Availability: Night shifts posed no challenge for robotic systems
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Reduced Circulation Risk: Cleaners who typically circulated throughout buildings faced naturally higher exposure risks
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Contactless Operation: Eliminated simple transmission points like changing plug sockets required by traditional tub vacuums
The crisis prompted many organisations to examine how they used technology not just for efficiency, but for resilience and sustainability in uncertain times.
How Abbee Supported Partners During the Crisis
According to reporting from The Guardian, half of company bosses in 45 countries invested in accelerating automation of their businesses due to the coronavirus outbreak. The crisis highlighted the importance of reducing person-to-person transmission risk and preparing for a post-crisis world.
The cleaning industry faced unique challenges: increased demand for frequent cleaning and sanitising, whilst cleaners faced high risk of catching and transmitting the virus whilst performing their jobs. Robotic cleaning solutions provided an ideal way to reduce the human factor in routine cleaning processes.
Crisis Support Capabilities Abbee Provided:
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Rapid deployment to cover staff absences and sickness
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Reduced person-to-person contact during routine vacuuming
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Enabled cleaning teams to focus on high-priority sanitisation tasks
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Maintained service continuity during unprecedented disruption
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Demonstrated innovation and safety commitment to end clients
Temco
Temco are a forward-looking owner-managed company which puts quality as its first priority. Driven by continuous improvement, Temco agreed to allow requested a trial on the premises of one of their prestigious customers. Instantly it was noted just how much extra debris was being collected by the Abbee vacuums each evening, the next stage was to see how best to integrate them into the daily cleaning programme.
Over a two-week period, various working pattern options were tried on different parts of the building.
The final solution decided upon was to have sufficient Abbees to cover one floor (30 Abbees & 3 Hives) and to rotate these over the three floors in the building, “spot vacuuming” the other floors and some meeting rooms in the traditional manner.
Temco have now introduced the Abbees into the corporate headquarter buildings of a further 3 clients and the rollout continues.
Hear from our partners & customers
St Monica Trust
“We use the Abbees to vacuum the lengthy corridors and communal areas within our independent living section in The Chocolate Quarter. The team set the Abbees off during the night and collect them before the morning activities begin. This ensures no disruption to our residents as the Abbees are substantially quieter than a regular vacuum and we are finding it favourable to having trailing cables from the old traditional equipment”.
Paul Gould, Head of Facilities at the St Monica Trust
Crowhurst Primary School
“We have been using the Abbee vacuums in school since February and are really impressed with them. They are easy to set up and use, effective on most of our flooring (they don’t like mats or ridged carpet) and the floors are definitely cleaner than before we had them. The Hive of 10 stores away for charging without using up too much space. The vacuums are simple to empty and clean and we are really pleased we have signed up for a longer term following a trial period”.
Crowhurst Primary School
GE Healthcare via Temco UK
“We are always looking for innovation in all parts of our business from all our stakeholders. The introduction of the Abbee robots is just one example of this and we’re impressed with Temco for bringing innovation into the services they provide us”.
Andrew Philpot, Managing Director of Temco and GE Healthcare
Astellas via Sodexo
“I am very surprised and delighted about how effective these little guys are. The cleaner’s time can be spent elsewhere which is great as I can ask them to concentrate on other areas within the business. The amount of dirt picked up by the robot hoovers is astounding”
Charlotte Graham – Soft Services Manager, Corporate Services – Sodexo
Mitie - Multiple Sites
“I have been very impressed with the Abbee I think they are a great addition to our cleaning team. Our cleaners love them, we use them across a few customer sites. The benefits are cleaners can drop them and depend on them to do the vacuuming whilst they carry on with more important sanitising of touch points. They work more efficiently and effectively removing more dust from the carpets than the regular tub vac would do, very reliable and a pleasure to use. The service we receive on the maintenance contract is superb. I would recommend them to any of your customers as an added value to the cleaning team. I was so impressed I invested in one for my own home which helps deal with the moulting of Odie the golden Labrador”.
We are a long-term user of Abbee’s robotics and they suit our environment well. When you fully understand and exploit the differences between using labour and using robots it is easy to realise the benefits, and it is in combination with labour where savings are made.
For uncluttered areas (atriums, corridors, halls, and KS 2-5 classrooms) a small team of Abbees are effective and thorough, requiring no intervention or support after deployment. A minute spent removing large debris prior to deployment is all it takes, the Abbees do the rest and have no bad habits, they leave no edges, and they report for work every day. This leaves staff free to apply themselves to detail work.
Due to a robot’s meticulous nature, a corollary benefit is the reduction in airborne dust and thus less dusting, and a reduction in allergens. They also encourage staff tidiness. We have 15 Abbees and get 22 hrs of work twice per day out of them, with a 4 hr recharge in-between ‘shifts’. Obviously, a robot cannot do a cursory or half-hearted job so will require longer to service the same area but that is immaterial when you are not paying them!
I estimate an Abbee costs £0.33 per working hour, and a single Abbee will clean two average sized room in an hour (66p), a member of staff will take 15 minutes and cost £5. That’s an 87% reduction in labour costs give or take. Abbees have proven to be super reliable too. As a company, Abbee are a FM Manager’s dream to deal with. The contract includes all maintenance and servicing costs, the service is fast, friendly, unquestioning and supererogatory. Someone will ring you every month, just to check your Abbees are working well and deal with any issues. I wish all my contracts did that!
Maintenance and repairs are done on your site, at your convenience, and at no extra cost.
I have no hesitation in recommending Abbee to anyone willing to reflect on their practice and change a mindset.”
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