Despite only being halfway through 2023, planning for 2024 events is imminent. For Robert Stelling, director of global events for Interclean, sights have been set to Amsterdam where Interclean’s Amsterdam event will co-locate with the WFBSC to create an all-encompassing, education-packed experience for attendees.
“While it seems far away, on the other hand, it really isn’t,” said Stelling. “We haven't fully determined all the themes and topics yet because a lot of things can still change in one year or even less and we want to make sure we are addressing all the latest hot topics in the industry. But in general, we want the focus to be on innovation in the industry, to make sure attendees can understand what trends and future changes are relevant for their business.”
Beyond innovation on a broad scale, Stelling asserts that session topics will cover the implications of sustainable cleaning practices and, in a more encompassing fashion, the prevalence of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG). Additionally, topics will include health and hygiene, which will focus on the importance of cleaning, hygiene and disinfection as a means to create safe environments, as well as new technological and digital solutions for the industry.
In 2024, both Interclean’s event and the WFBSC Global Executive Summit will share space in Amsterdam, augmenting the chance for attendees to learn and network to increase awareness and expand their knowledge base when it comes to happenings in the industry.
“It's really exciting that we’re co-locating with the WFBSC,” said Stelling. “We already have a lot of BSCs attending Interclean, but this will be a great opportunity for them to meet new peers that they perhaps wouldn’t normally get to meet. Interclean Amsterdam is really a product focused tradeshow, so we’re trying to help new attendees understand what these products and innovations mean for their business beyond just explaining general function. We want to make sure they walk away with the product-use knowledge as well as the ways in which the product can benefit them on a larger scale.”
Aside from event planning, Stelling and his peers have delved into the content arena, committing to a continuous reporting cycle regarding pressing industry trends and topics. From global reports, to podcasts, Stelling emphasizes the importance of ongoing education and learning for industry professionals and hopes Interclean can play a prominent role in these edification practices.
“In a recent podcast, I spoke with a Dutch startup company that is developing a sensor that predicts when your windows need to be cleaned,” said Stelling. “Traditionally, your window cleaning company comes by every six weeks; however, the sensor technology has demonstrated that it may not be necessary to apply the same cleaning frequency to all sides of a building. For example, the windows closer to the highway may need to be cleaned more frequently while the windows positioned away from the debris may not need to be cleaned as often.”
Stelling emphasizes that technology like these sensors can aid companies in their sustainability journey, as well as solve for labor shortages and cost increases.
“It's really all about working together, especially if you have a big building, because it’s usually not just one company that’s in there cleaning,” said Stelling. “The property manager needs to be involved; the window cleaning company needs to be involved and so on. It’s important that everyone is on the same page and has the same end goal. This is another big trend we see, cooperation across industry sectors, to really work together in a partnership with mutual goals.”
Relative to sensor technology, Stelling discussed water scarcity, a major issue across the world. In the Netherlands where Stelling resides, it’s been weeks since their last rainfall, which signifies a greater need to be cognizant of water usage in cleaning.
Moving forward, Stelling has a few topics top of mind that he and his team plan to address in upcoming articles and reports.
“We really want to focus on sustainability and on ESG in the broad sense of the word,” said Stelling. “We’d cover everything from resource usage to how companies deal with waste, as well as what building service contractors (BSCs) can individually do when it comes to sustainable practices. Another related issue here is living wages for cleaners, especially since many immigrants gravitate to this industry.”
In his ongoing observations relative to industry trends, Stelling has identified four major focal points that deserve commentary in the coming months.
“The four major trends we’ve noted include sustainable practices, staff shortages, increasing costs across the board and technological innovations,” said Stelling. “Technology obviously has an impact on the other three trends. With technology, you can work more efficiently and become more sustainable.”
Underpinning all of their reporting efforts, Stelling hopes to inspire people to take action and commit to a continuous learning journey in order to make a positive impact on the industry and the environment.
“We want to ensure people that they are not alone in the challenges they experience,” said Stelling. “It may sound a little ambitious, but the hope is to help shape the future of the industry. By sharing trends and information, we can help companies identify solutions to their problems and encourage them to learn from others. If innovations shared align with what industry professionals truly need, adoption will occur at a much faster rate.”
Looking ahead, Stelling hopes that the 2024 events will continue to inspire those in the industry similarly to the content Interclean publishes.
“By co-locating with the WFBSC, I think that we can attract a lot of new BSC attendees in Amsterdam. I’m excited to bring this global community within the cleaning industry back together next May.”