Useful Column
What Is a Commercial Robot Vacuum? Benefits and Usage Tips for Corporate Adoption
As labor shortages and rising personnel costs become increasingly serious, streamlining office-cleaning operations is an urgent issue for many companies.
The solution now attracting attention is the introduction of “commercial robot vacuums.”
In this article, a specialist manufacturer explains in detail the benefits these machines bring, key points for choosing the right model without failure, and real-world examples of how they are used.
Take the first step toward digital transformation (DX) of cleaning work and create new corporate value.
Three Key Benefits of Introducing a Commercial Robot Vacuum
Why are so many companies now moving to adopt commercial robot vacuums?
Beyond simple automation, there are three major benefits driving this trend.
<Three Key Benefits of Introducing a Commercial Robot Vacuum>
① Solving Labor Shortages
② Stabilized Cleaning Quality
③ Cost Optimization
① Solving Labor Shortages
According to Japan’s Population Census by the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications,
the working-age population (15–64) has been declining since its 1995 peak, and labor shortages have become chronic across many industries.
The cleaning sector is no exception; securing workers is increasingly difficult, while personnel costs keep rising.
By introducing a commercial robot vacuum, most cleaning tasks formerly done by humans can be automated.
Staff can then focus on higher-value work, directly addressing labor shortages.
Our own estimates indicate that
robot deployment could cut personnel costs by more than 75%.
This offers a realistic and effective solution to one of society’s biggest challenges.
② Stabilized Cleaning Quality
Manual cleaning often varies in quality depending on the worker’s skill or daily condition.
Commercial robot vacuums use high-precision navigation and multiple sensors to clean exact routes every time.
No dust is left behind and no wiping streaks remain, ensuring consistently high quality.
Some models even offer “multi-cleaning modes” that vacuum, scrub, and wet-wipe in a single pass, completing planned cleaning uniformly.
This improves overall facility hygiene and boosts satisfaction for employees and visitors alike.
③ Cost Optimization
You may think “robots are expensive,”
but in the long run, savings on personnel costs usually outweigh introduction and running expenses.
Moreover, time freed up by automation can be reallocated to core tasks such as customer service, restocking, or facility maintenance.
For example,
a demonstration test at a convenience store
found that
stores using the promotional robot vacuum “Pom” (equipped with display shelves and a tablet) achieved roughly 1.5× higher sales than non-deployed stores.
This shows that cleaning automation can become a “new revenue driver,” contributing not just to cost cuts but also to productivity and sales growth.
How to Choose a Commercial Robot Vacuum—Three Perspectives to Avoid Failure
Although the benefits are large, you can maximize them only by selecting a model suited to your environment.
Here are three essential checkpoints when making your choice.
<Three Checkpoints When Choosing>
① Select a Model Suited to Your Cleaning Targets & Environment
② Check Operability, Support, and Ongoing Service
③ Compare Introduction Costs & Subsidy Programs
① Select a Model Suited to Your Cleaning Targets & Environment
First clarify “where” and “what” you want to clean.
<Items to Confirm>
• Facility type & area
Choose a model that fits the usage and size of your facility—retail store, office, hospital, factory, etc.
Each product has a recommended coverage (e.g., J30S ≤ 1,000 m², J35 ≤ 20,000 m²).
• Floor material
Check compatibility with tile, carpet, wood flooring, etc. Most models handle diverse materials.
• Aisle width
Ensure corridors are wide enough for the robot; minimum passage widths vary by model.
• Main types of dirt
Whether dust and hair dominate or liquid spills are common will determine if you need “vacuum only” or “wet wiping” functions.
Matching these conditions against product specs is the first step to finding the optimal unit.
② Check Operability, Support, and Ongoing Service
A high-performance robot is meaningless if you cannot use it effectively.
For first-time adopters, ease of use and strong support are critical.
Confirm the following to avoid failure:
[Operability]
See if cleaning schedules and no-go zones can be set intuitively via a dedicated app or tablet. Remote management boosts operational flexibility.
[Support System]
To avoid situations where “no one helps when trouble occurs,” always check the manufacturer’s support structure.
aiwizo robotics runs a 365-day call center and nationwide service bases ready for on-site maintenance and repairs.
[Maintenance]
Daily tasks such as emptying dustbins or replacing mop pads should be easy. Check replacement frequency and procedures in advance.
③ Compare Introduction Costs & Subsidy Programs
Prices range from several hundred thousand to several million yen, varying by features and performance.
Leasing options can lower upfront costs, an attractive choice for budget-conscious firms.
National and local subsidies or grants may also be available.
aiwizo robotics has applied for catalog registration under the
“SME Labor-Saving Investment Subsidy,”
and customers will soon be able to use this grant.
Recommended Models & Use Cases for First-Time Adopters
From our extensive lineup, we introduce the multifunctional “IWITH J35,” ideal for first-time adopters, along with real-world examples of its surprising capabilities.
① Seamless Multi-Floor Cleaning: J35’s Elevator-Linkage Function
In large office buildings, shopping centers, or hospitals, moving between floors is a major challenge.
If humans must carry the robot each time, half the automation benefit is lost.
The “IWITH J35” and its premium version “J35PRO” feature elevator-linkage capability.
Via a dedicated unit, they interface with the elevator control system, calling the elevator themselves, riding to the target floor, and resuming cleaning—all without human help.
This achieves fully automated cleaning across multiple floors.
② Efficient Wide-Area Cleaning: J35’s Multifunctional Performance
The J35 covers up to 20,000 m² with powerful cleaning performance.
<J35 Features>
• Powerful suction & streak-free scrubbing
Up to 20 kPa suction and proprietary dirty-water recovery leave floors hygienic and dry.
• Self-cleaning function
After each task the roller brush is washed automatically, keeping the robot ready for the next job.
These capabilities allow one J35 to replace multiple staff and pieces of equipment for large-area cleaning.
It is already proving itself in nursing homes, funeral halls, pachinko parlors, and many other venues.
③ Smart Cleaning Management: Centralized Remote Control & Data Utilization with J35 + BMS
Using aiwizo robotics’ “IWITH-BMS Management System,” you can monitor and control every robot in real time from a PC or tablet.
<What BMS Can Do>
• Remote management
Check each robot’s location, battery level, and progress, and operate them remotely.
• Task management & reporting
Set cleaning schedules via an easy calendar interface and auto-generate daily reports on cleaned areas and times for download.
• Data utilization
Analyze accumulated cleaning data to devise more efficient routes and optimize cleaning frequency.
BMS makes cleaning operations “visible” and data-driven—a core system for true cleaning DX.
Summary |
Corporate Robot Vacuums: A New Force for Both Efficiency and Value Creation
Introducing commercial robot vacuums not only solves defensive issues—labor shortages and cost reduction—but also holds offensive potential: higher customer satisfaction through improved cleaning quality and revenue growth via promotional add-ons.
Cleaning automation is no longer exclusive to a few forward-thinking companies.
With diverse product line-ups, robust support, and various subsidy programs, businesses of any industry or size can benefit.
Why not consider adopting a commercial robot vacuum as a partner to solve your challenges and create new value?
