Robots on the move from the production line to the service sector: The grand challenges for contractors, workers, and management

Abstract

This paper presents a study on robot vacuum cleaning within the Danish public sector. Contrasting conventional images of robots as ineffective and technologically immature, we put forward the proposition that vacuum cleaning robots are at par with or better cleaning quality achieved by conventional vacuuming. Although the financial cost-benefit analysis provides inconclusive results, the case study reported here indicates that robots are mature enough to be adopted in the cleaning of the office environment. In the adoption of robots, we identify key challenges for management, contractors, and workers.