- Graham Perry
- February 4, 2025
In an industry where the average contract retention rate is just 18 months, standing out isn’t just about having the best equipment or the most experienced staff.
Your competitors can match your cleaning products and potentially even your prices, but can they easily replicate data-driven operations that deliver consistent, measurable results for your clients (and higher margins for you)?

Companies that leverage data analytics see significant increases in operational efficiency which reduces operational costs by even 20%.
Since implementing Analytics as a Service, our clients have reported:
- an increase in customer satisfaction by offering personalised insights and data driven service
- lower labour costs by reducing agency spend
- 8 days/month saved by automating reporting
How can you achieve similar results for your cleaning business?
The Hidden Gold in Your Operations Data
Let’s be honest – the commercial cleaning industry is experiencing unprecedented pressure. With profit margins typically hovering between 3-7% (i-FM, BCI 2024 report), finding ways to enhance profitability while maintaining service quality is essential for survival. The answer lies in the wealth of operational data you’re already generating but probably not fully utilising – yet 😉
Think about it: every cleaning round, every inspection, every customer interaction generates valuable data. Forward-thinking cleaning companies are now using this information to transform their operations and whole businesses with remarkable results.
Speaking from our own experience, our client, a commercial cleaning service provider, has secured new cleaning contracts and increased their client satisfaction, which has directly influenced their retention rate within just a few months after choosing our Analytics as a Service solution.
The Competitive Edge You've Been Looking For
Operational inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and inconsistent service quality can erode profitability and jeopardise client relationships.
The real game-changer? Your data.
- Improve operational efficiency by identifying inefficiencies and optimising resource allocation.
- Increase profitability by reducing waste and ensuring every penny spent drives measurable value.
- Enhance customer satisfaction through tailored services and transparent consistent delivery.
Your current and potential clients ask for data driven insights because they’re not just buying cleaning services; they’re investing in partnerships that can demonstrate value through hard data.
Turning Data into Pounds and Pence
Here’s where it gets interesting, particularly for those keeping an eye on the P&L. Modern analytics can help you:
- Optimise staff scheduling based on actual footfall and usage patterns, reducing overtime costs
- Predict maintenance requirements before they become costly emergencies
- Track consumable usage patterns to optimise procurement
- Identify high-traffic areas requiring more frequent cleaning
- Help to mitigate agency and ad-hoc overspends
- Predict seasonal demand fluctuations to allocate resources more effectively
- Monitor quality metrics in real-time, reducing the need for costly re-cleans
Customer Satisfaction and Retention
Satisfied clients are loyal clients.
Data can help you tailor services to individual client needs, monitor satisfaction levels through surveys and feedback, and proactively address any issues.
According to research done by Frederick Reichheld of Bain & Company (the inventor of the net promoter score), increasing customer retention by just 5% can boost profits by more than 25%. I’d say this is worth an investment 😉
Also, with data, you can ensure that your clients are not just satisfied but delighted to the point they refer new clients to you!
But how do you delight your clients with data insights?
Analytics in Action
Cutting costs with data-driven employee management
From Insight to Action with Analytics as a Service
With Analytics as a Service, you can get real-time visibility into your service delivery metrics, automated quality control reports, predictive maintenance schedules, and more.
And by more, I mean real-time tracking of sustainability metrics (increasingly important for ESG-conscious clients), monitoring staff productivity to identify training needs and other insights about your operations hidden in now messy data.
But the real power lies in how these insights drive action:
- When you can spot trends in real-time, you can address issues before they impact customer satisfaction
- When you can track resource utilisation accurately, you can optimise your workforce deployment
- When you can measure the effectiveness of different cleaning protocols, you can standardise best practices across your entire operation
The ROI is Clear
The numbers speak for themselves. Companies that implement data-driven actions report:
- 15-20% reduction in operational costs through optimised resource allocation
- 25% improvement in customer satisfaction scores due to more consistent service delivery
- 30% reduction in response times to service requests through better workforce management
- 40% decrease in quality-related complaints thanks to proactive issue identification
The Time to Become Data-Driven is Now
As market pressures continue to mount and margins get tighter, the ability to leverage data effectively will separate the winners from the also-rans.
Leading cleaning service providers are already making this transition. Don’t let your competition get ahead!
By harnessing the power of your operational data, you can build a more efficient, profitable, and sustainable cleaning service business that stands out in a crowded market. In an industry where everyone claims to deliver quality service, data is the only true differentiator that can prove it.
The question isn’t whether to embrace data analytics – it’s how quickly you can implement it to stay ahead of the curve.
5 Steps to Building a Data-Driven Cleaning Business
1. Define Your Goals
The key is to always start with the end in mind!
Begin with clear objectives aligned with your business goals. Whether you’re looking to improve profitability, expand your client base, or enhance service quality, your data strategy should support these aims.
Consider starting with key metrics that matter most to your business and clients:
- Service delivery compliance and consistency
- Resource utilisation rates and efficiency metrics
- Customer satisfaction scores and feedback trends
- Response times to service requests and emergencies
2. Invest in the Right Technology & Data Experts
From IoT sensors to cloud-based infrastructure and analytics platforms, investing in the right tools is critical. Ensure your chosen solutions are scalable and can integrate with existing systems.
3. Find Data Experts
Find people who will make the best of your technology investment. And believe me, a graduate analyst, no matter how talented, won’t be enough to build a data-driven cleaning business.
You have two options: hire an entire full-time data team or partner with Analytics as a Service provider that offers on-demand access to every data experts you’ll need at each stage of your data journey.
4. Train Your Team
Even the best technology won’t deliver results without proper usage. Training your staff to understand and use data is essential. From cleaners on the ground to managerial staff, everyone should know how to leverage data for their roles.
5. Create Client-Focused Dashboards
Providing clients with access to user-friendly dashboards showcasing your performance metrics will enhance transparency and trust. Highlight key metrics such as cleaning times, hygiene levels, and issue resolution rates.
6. Partner with Analytics Experts
Building an in-house data department is expensive, complicated and might take years to bring ROI.
If you’d rather focus on your core business, you should consider partnering with Analytics as a Service provider. Datore, the only analytics provider specialising in the built environment, delivers tailored solutions without the complexity and costs of developing your data department from scratch.
Minimal Investment and Faster Results with Analytics as a Service
If you think that your business can’t afford to harness data as a differentiator, sorry (not sorry) to break it to you – you’re wrong 😉.
Gone are the times when CEOs had to miss data & analytics opportunities due to tight budgets. No more investing hundreds of thousands of pounds in technology and staff just to wait years for the first meaningful insights.
With our subscription-based Analytics as a Service solution and transparent pricing, you can make your first data-driven actions within just a few months after contacting us.
Do you want to start differentiating with data and leave competitors behind?
Contact Us
