LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY IN COMMON LAUNDRY ROOMS TO PROMOTE RESIDENT AND STAFF SAFETY

We’ve all done our best to adhere to social distancing guidelines during the pandemic, as the reality of COVID-19 sinks in a bit deeper each day. Reducing points of contact as much as possible is critically important at all points in a community living space, even in common laundry rooms. Most community laundry facilities don’t have the proper amount of space for residents to socially distance themselves properly. This is where a community laundry room that taps into technology is best positioned to serve residents. Being able to add value to your smart laundry card from your smartphone or just having to scan a code will greatly reduce the amount of contact each resident will have with each other. These smart laundry technologies will also greatly reduce the amount of time each resident has to spend in the community laundry room.

LAUNDRYCONNECT™

LaundryConnect™ can play a significant role in helping residents maintain social distancing. Features enable residents to check machine availability from their unit as well as receive cycle completion alerts via text or email. This helps reduce a resident’s need to enter the community laundry room to start cycles and transfer loads. It will also significantly reduce the amount of time each resident spends in the community laundry facility by making them not have to wait for a cycle to finish. Additionally, the remote service system of networked washers and dryers self-report malfunctioning machines directly to our service team allowing us to diagnose and preemptively repair equipment remotely over 80% of the time. Reducing the need for our field service techs to enter the property increases safety for both residents and our staff.

LAUNDRYCONNECT™ PAY

App-based payment systems such as LaundryConnect™ PAY provide a similar advantage in reducing touchpoints. Consider the reduction in touchpoints between a resident paying with coins or currency and one using mobile pay. Coin operated community laundry systems are time-tested and effective in a host of situations. With the increasing need for safety concerns, it makes sense to move to a technology-based community laundry system. A resident of a coin operated laundry facility likely will need change, so they are getting change off-site, increasing their time in public. Facilities utilizing value transfer machines also increase contact points. This will increase potential exposure rates exponentially.

A mobile pay solution removes each of those touchpoints. Residents simply download the app, register with a debit or credit card, and start the machine by scanning the QR code clearly marked on the community laundry machine. Residents using LaundryConnect™ Pay can load funds from their apartment unit with their smartphones and can seamlessly purchase laundry services without having to physically handle cash or use a card. It may make sense to go mobile pay only to ensure a safer experience for both residents and staff.

laundry room mobile app

While good old-fashioned attention to cleanliness is immensely important today, leveraging technology in multi-housing applications is another way to help ensure a safer experience for residents and your community laundry room management company. In addition, as we move into a post COVID-19 world, prospective renters will place a premium on properties that offer greater access to such technology.