Innovation highlights in 2025

In 2025, we developed and tried a number of exciting innovations and smart technological solutions. Below are a few highlights.

Asset tracking at Ahoy

Smaller equipment often gets misplaced, making it difficult to maintain or inspect. Vebego Bright Solutions and Vebego Cleaning Services launched a project at the Ahoy event venue in Rotterdam that involved fitting 10 vacuum cleaners with trackers. Using a screen in the canteen and the ToolSense app, the cleaners and technicians could easily see where the equipment was. The pilot was successful and will be continued.

Pilot at Schiphol Airport involving water softening technology

Clean, limescale-free water reduces the build-up of deposits on surfaces exposed to water over time. In 2025, Vebego Bright Solutions and Vebego Cleaning Services tested a new technology that softens the water used in the toilets at Schiphol Airport. The trial investigated whether this could eliminate the need to descale toilets and sanitary facilities.

Four-legged humanoid robot

Vebego Cleaning Services became the first cleaning company in the Netherlands to purchase a humanoid robot. The four-legged robot lightens the workload for our cleaning staff by assisting with heavy, repetitive tasks. It can climb stairs independently and clean complex spaces, such as stairwells and under furniture, using AI control.

SAM: the super disinfecting robot

SAM began working for Vebego Zorgservice at the Red Cross Hospital in Beverwijk, the Netherlands, in 2025. Together with its human colleagues, the robot ensures that patient rooms are quickly and, most importantly, thoroughly disinfected. Once a room has been cleaned, SAM disinfects it using ultraviolet light in around 15 minutes. As no chemicals are involved, the room no longer needs to be ventilated and can be brought back into use immediately. This not only reduces the turnaround time by 24 hours, but it also benefits the environment.

Vebego Zorgservice welcomes new ‘colleague’ at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital

Following an extensive ‘temporary contract’, Vebego Zorgservice welcomed a new permanent ‘colleague’ in 2025: the Phantas, a scrubber-dryer. On the work floor, it is already jokingly referred to as the Co-Bot, or Colleague Robot. Before beginning work, a colleague ensures it is filled with water, after which it operates autonomously. The Phantas cleans 7,100 m² every week, starting at 5 am, well before it gets busy in the hospital. It does another quick round after lunch. And in the evening, it tackles the rear section of the reception hall. By 9 pm, its work is done for the day.

We have also conducted pilot schemes involving robots in other projects. These included Center Parcs holiday parks, the Federale Overheidsdienst Financiën (Belgium), Dortmund Airport and various customers of Vebego AG.

Getting involved with the cleaning AI-ssistant and Babbler

Vebego Cleaning Services has developed a digital AI tool to assist our cleaners in their work and support colleagues with low literacy skills or insufficient command of Dutch. The ‘Cleaning AI-ssistant’ attaches to our cleaning trolleys and is packed with information about the work and Vebego Cleaning Services. Using artificial intelligence, this digital information resource recognises and translates speech into virtually all languages. Over 90 different nationalities work at Vebego Cleaning Services, and through this tool, they can get quick answers to any questions, making their work easier and more accessible. The Cleaning AI-ssistant is an innovation in the cleaning industry and was first used at Schiphol Airport, with great success.

In addition to the AI-ssistant, Vebego Cleaning Services uses Babbler, a translation device that allows us to communicate with any colleague. Once you've selected the appropriate languages, your text appears on the device’s screen as you speak. Babbler then translates it into the desired language as both audio and video. Our version of Babbler does not require you to wear an earpiece to hear the translation, making it available for the whole team so anyone who needs it can use it, and everyone can join in.

Cleanliness experience dashboard

Scent, colour, light and the condition of a space determine whether employees feel safe, comfortable and motivated. Cleanliness is therefore not a luxury but a prerequisite for a healthy and positive working environment. Starting in 2025, we have been using a tool to measure the cleanliness experience for our customers. Using simple questionnaires, the tool gathers insights from customers, staff and building users and translates these into data on a dashboard and targeted improvement actions. This gives everyone concerned greater insight and a real influence on their working environment. Linking experience with data adds value by increasing engagement, strengthening collaboration between the customer and the cleaning team, and contributing to an environment where people feel comfortable and can be at their best.

Smart Integreated wins European Cleaning & Hygiene Award

Smart Integreated, a development by Vebego Cleaning Services and our Capacityd joint venture, won the prestigious European Cleaning & Hygiene Award in the Digital Transformation category on 2 October 2025. The platform aggregates supplier data and translates this into actionable insights for our cleaning colleagues so they can work more independently, efficiently and intelligently. The jury described Smart Integreated as ‘the clear winner thanks to its combination of scalability, practicality and added value for professional cleaners’. The platform was developed and tested at one of our largest customers, located in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. We are now rolling out Smart Integreated more widely, so that both our cleaners and other customers can benefit.

Vebego AG: winner of the Finy Goedmakers Award

Vebego AG won the Finy Goedmakers Award for its energy-generating gloves. The award recognises the most inspiring and impactful project within Vebego. These biodegradable gloves replace traditional disposable ones with a fully compostable alternative. In collaboration with partners at Zurich Airport, Vebego AG has developed a circular system in which used gloves are converted into renewable energy. The result is less plastic waste, lower CO₂ emissions (up to 63 tonnes saved per year) and reduced costs. This smart, scalable solution shows how small changes can have an impact, even in controlled environments.

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