CIMS (short for Cleaning Industry Management Standards) is an ISSA-run certification that awards effective, efficient cleaning teams. Certified teams have to meet a long list of criteria across a range of areas, from quality systems to health and safety. We’ve talked to teams wondering if CIMS certification is worth it, Read more…
The whole world has turned to remote work like never before, and that includes janitorial and field service teams. We’ve talked to many BSCs who have eliminated or downsized their office HQ . . . and even among those who haven’t, their clients aren’t coming in for meetings. So how Read more…
Janitorial and facilities teams have always been behind the scenes, doing their best to keep things clean and healthy. For better or worse, many people in the industry only feel their hard work is noticed if there’s a problem. But as the world begins to reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, Read more…
GPS and cellular data technology can be a huge advantage for teams in the field, where there isn’t always access to WiFi. However, there are considerations around privacy, compensation, and property you’ll need to think through. So how do you reap the benefits mobile technology while minimizing the downsides? It’s Read more…
This is the final article in our series on improving your quality control process. Just to review, so far, we’ve talked about: Why do QC, and how great inspections = happy customers How to build a great inspection form and develop the right rating system Four steps to set your Read more…
Welcome to the third part of our Quality Control 101 series! In our previous two articles, we explored why it’s important to track quality through inspections and how to create your own inspections. Today, we’ll look at who performs the inspections. We’ve outlined four key steps to making sure your Read more…
In our last article, we went over why quality control and inspections are so important to janitorial businesses. Today, we’ll talk about how to build an inspection that helps you track your quality, get the right feedback, and pounce on problems. We’ll wrap things up with a deep dive into Read more…
Welcome to the first part of our Quality Control 101 series! Whether you’re just getting started with janitorial/facilities quality control or are an old pro looking to revisit the foundational building blocks, this series will give you a well-rounded foundation for QC. So let’s dive in. Why have a great Read more…
This is the million-dollar question among those who use APPA’s levels of clean scoring system. Teams who use APPA scores want to know which scores map to which percentages — and how to convert between the two. The short (and sometimes frustrating) answer is: There is no official answer. You Read more…
Industry trade associations help teams stay on top of the latest trends, network with others in the cleaning industry, and provide a wealth of resources. There are a variety of trade associations, including ISSA and BSCAI, but APPA is definitely the big name in educational spaces. We’ve noticed APPA growing Read more…
