How a robot works in a high-traffic shopping center
Shopping centers are facilities with high foot traffic, numerous areas for different purposes, and a constant need for cleanliness. At the same time, cleaning must not only be high-quality, but also unobtrusive, continuous, and safe. It is in such conditions that scaling cleaning with the help of intelligent solutions — including cleaning robots — comes to the fore.
Modern floor cleaning robots, such as Waybot, can effectively handle cleaning even in shopping centers with high traffic. This article will explain how robots work in high-traffic shopping centers, what technologies are behind them, and how such solutions contribute to network automation in the context of business growth.
Modern floor cleaning robots, such as Waybot, can effectively handle cleaning even in shopping centers with high traffic. This article will explain how robots work in high-traffic shopping centers, what technologies are behind them, and how such solutions contribute to network automation in the context of business growth.
Why shopping centers choose robots for cleaning
- Challenges of traditional cleaning in shopping centers
- The constant flow of people makes manual cleaning slow and inefficient.
- Staff are forced to work night shifts or outside peak hours.
- There is a risk of collisions with customers and complaints about wet floors.
- Cleaning without technology is difficult to scale when expanding the shopping center's floor space.
- Advantages of implementing the Waybot robot
- Autonomy: does not require constant supervision by staff.
- Safety: recognizes pedestrians, carts, glass partitions, and other obstacles.
- Energy efficiency: optimizes routes, reducing water and energy consumption.
- Integration into current processes: works in parallel with security, maintenance, and other services without conflict.
- How the robot works in a high-traffic shopping center
- Building a map of the premises
- Before starting work, the robot creates a digital map of the premises. It includes:
- common areas (halls, corridors),
- food court,
- areas with non-standard geometry,
- passages between retail outlets,
- stairways and ramps (as inaccessible areas).
- The Waybot robot saves this map in the cloud and uses it to plot an accurate cleaning route.
- Navigation in high-traffic conditions
- The robot navigates using:
- lidars,
- 3D cameras,
- depth sensors,
- AI modules that predict crowd movement.
- When an obstacle suddenly appears (e.g., a group of people or a fallen object), the robot either bypasses the area or pauses until the path is completely clear.
- Cleaning during peak hours without risk
- The robot works during the day and evening without:
- blocking passageways,
- risking wet floors during peak hours,
- posing a threat to children, the elderly, or people with limited mobility.
Scaling cleaning and network automation
With the increase in the number of retail areas or the launch of new shopping centers in a single network, the task of scaling cleaning becomes relevant. In this regard, robots offer a number of tangible advantages as the business grows.
Automation of the cleaning process network
Waybot robots can be integrated into a single management system:
via a cloud interface,
with remote schedule configuration,
with integration into BI systems and building management systems (BMS).
This allows you to:
manage 10, 20, or more facilities within a single maintenance service,
track the efficiency of each robot,
quickly make changes to routes or schedules.
Expansion with robots without increasing staff
If a retail chain increases the number of facilities, it is not necessary to hire new staff. Instead:
new robots are purchased,
connected to the existing management system,
and given individual maps of the premises.
Expansion with robots is the path to centralized cleaning management with minimal labor costs.
With the increase in the number of retail areas or the launch of new shopping centers in a single network, the task of scaling cleaning becomes relevant. In this regard, robots offer a number of tangible advantages as the business grows.
Automation of the cleaning process network
Waybot robots can be integrated into a single management system:
via a cloud interface,
with remote schedule configuration,
with integration into BI systems and building management systems (BMS).
This allows you to:
manage 10, 20, or more facilities within a single maintenance service,
track the efficiency of each robot,
quickly make changes to routes or schedules.
Expansion with robots without increasing staff
If a retail chain increases the number of facilities, it is not necessary to hire new staff. Instead:
new robots are purchased,
connected to the existing management system,
and given individual maps of the premises.
Expansion with robots is the path to centralized cleaning management with minimal labor costs.
- Case studies: how it works in practice
- Case study 1: A 45,000 m² shopping center in Moscow
- One Waybot robot is responsible for two floors.
- It operates 8 hours a day with breaks for recharging.
- Coverage — 95% of the total area, including areas with limited accessibility.
- Staff are only involved in minor manual cleaning and robot maintenance.
- Case 2: Shopping center chain in southern Russia
- Implementation of 5 Waybot robots.
- Centralized control via a cloud panel.
- Savings on cleaning staff — 30% in the first quarter.
- Increase in NPS score from tenants and visitors — +12%.
- Frequently asked questions
- Can the robot be used in open areas? Yes, provided that:
- the temperature is between -5°C and +35°C,
- there is no precipitation during operation,
- the territory has been mapped in advance.
- How does the robot handle children's areas and escalators? It bypasses areas where scanners detect high traffic density.
- Escalators are excluded during the mapping stage.
- What should be done if the layout of the shopping center changes?
- The floor plan is updated via the Waybot Control interface.
- No reflashing or intervention by engineers is required.
The high traffic in shopping centers places serious demands on cleaning systems. Manual cleaning in such conditions cannot cope with the task: cleaners cannot keep up with large areas, complaints arise from visitors, and the quality of cleaning is inconsistent. In addition, when new facilities are opened, personnel costs increase, and scaling up cleaning becomes increasingly labor-intensive and costly.
Against this backdrop, as businesses grow, robots become not just an auxiliary solution, but a key element of infrastructure. Modern cleaning robots, such as Waybot, allow you to:
work during peak hours without interrupting customer flow,
follow the cleaning route precisely, avoiding congestion,
use a map of the premises and adapt to its geometry,
move safely among people, avoiding collisions,
be integrated into a unified cleaning management system across the entire network.
Automating a network of retail facilities with floor cleaning robots reduces operating costs, minimizes staff errors, and creates a unified cleaning standard for the entire network. This allows even large holding companies with dozens of shopping centers across the country to centrally manage cleaning without increasing staff.
It is especially important that expansion with robots is carried out without radically changing the infrastructure: it is enough to add another unit of equipment to the general digital circuit and upload a map of the new facility. This eliminates lengthy approvals, staff retraining, and other costs associated with scaling traditional processes.
The bottom line: the Waybot robot is not just a means of automating a single shopping center, but a platform for sustainable, scalable cleaning that can support your business as it grows rapidly, opens new retail outlets, and raises its service quality standards. By implementing robotic cleaning now, you gain a technological advantage, strengthen your brand image, and create a comfortable, clean, and safe environment for every visitor.
Against this backdrop, as businesses grow, robots become not just an auxiliary solution, but a key element of infrastructure. Modern cleaning robots, such as Waybot, allow you to:
work during peak hours without interrupting customer flow,
follow the cleaning route precisely, avoiding congestion,
use a map of the premises and adapt to its geometry,
move safely among people, avoiding collisions,
be integrated into a unified cleaning management system across the entire network.
Automating a network of retail facilities with floor cleaning robots reduces operating costs, minimizes staff errors, and creates a unified cleaning standard for the entire network. This allows even large holding companies with dozens of shopping centers across the country to centrally manage cleaning without increasing staff.
It is especially important that expansion with robots is carried out without radically changing the infrastructure: it is enough to add another unit of equipment to the general digital circuit and upload a map of the new facility. This eliminates lengthy approvals, staff retraining, and other costs associated with scaling traditional processes.
The bottom line: the Waybot robot is not just a means of automating a single shopping center, but a platform for sustainable, scalable cleaning that can support your business as it grows rapidly, opens new retail outlets, and raises its service quality standards. By implementing robotic cleaning now, you gain a technological advantage, strengthen your brand image, and create a comfortable, clean, and safe environment for every visitor.
