While automation is often associated with workforce replacement, healthcare environments require a fundamentally different approach. Hospital cleaning demands human judgement, adaptability, situational awareness, and infection prevention expertise that cannot be replicated by technology alone. Co-botics offers an alternative model where autonomous systems undertake repetitive and routine cleaning tasks while enabling cleaning professionals to focus on higher value activities that directly contribute to patient safety, environmental hygiene, and service quality. By creating a collaborative partnership between people and technology, healthcare organisations can improve operational performance while preserving the essential human element central to safe and effective healthcare delivery.
The objective of this project was to evaluate how co-botic cleaning technology could be integrated into healthcare support services to enhance operational performance while maintaining the essential role of cleaning staff in delivering safe patient centred environments. Eastern Health, in partnership with ISS Facility Services, implemented a comprehensive evaluation program to identify suitable co-botic solutions for healthcare cleaning operations. The initiative focused on assessing the ability of co-botic technology to support existing cleaning teams by automating repetitive floor care activities while enabling staff to focus on areas requiring human interaction, critical thinking, infection prevention, and quality assurance.
A structured evaluation methodology was adopted to assess suitability within a complex healthcare environment. Multiple robotic cleaning platforms were trialled across clinical, public, administrative, and support areas to determine effectiveness under varying conditions. Assessment criteria included cleaning quality, productivity outcomes, workforce integration, safety performance, floor suitability, and alignment with Infection Prevention and Control requirements. Stakeholders participated to ensure solutions met healthcare standards while supporting service delivery. Following evaluation, robotic cleaning routes were mapped and configured, and staff were trained in supervision, maintenance, exception management, and monitoring.
The project demonstrated that co-botic technology can undertake routine floor cleaning tasks while relying on human oversight, intervention, and decision making. Automated floor care activities were integrated into workflows, enabling staff to focus on detailed cleaning, infection prevention, quality audits, patient facing support, and environmental inspections. Staff remained responsible for responding to operational requirements and clinical priorities that autonomous systems cannot independently manage. Rather than reducing workforce needs, the technology enhanced capability by allowing greater focus on higher value activities requiring judgement and expertise.
Additional benefits included improved consistency of cleaning outcomes through standardised pathways, improved safety via reduced exposure to repetitive manual tasks, and increased operational visibility through digital reporting and performance monitoring. The project demonstrated scalability across healthcare environments. Robotic vacuum systems delivered productivity gains in carpeted areas including hospital buildings, administrative spaces, education facilities, and support environments, while autonomous scrubbers were effective in large open plan and circulation areas. These findings supported targeted deployment models.
This project demonstrates that co-botics represent a practical and scalable approach to healthcare cleaning transformation. By combining robotic efficiency with human expertise, healthcare organisations can improve service quality, workforce sustainability, operational resilience, and patient outcomes. The findings provide a replicable model for providers seeking to implement technology enabled support services while preserving the essential human element central to safe healthcare delivery.