# Facility Management: Adding Value with Lucid Bots' Drone Technology Discover how Lucid Bots’ advanced industrial spray drones are transforming facility management by enhancing precision and safety for exterior cleaning. February 12, 2024 2 min read Did you know that [facility management](https://www.lucidbots.com/blog/best-commercial-drone-building-cleaning) is often regarded as the silent force behind the scenes, playing a critical role in ensuring that buildings, properties, and assets operate efficiently? More businesses are starting to recognize the strategic importance of streamlining workflows and operations. As they do this, a new trend has emerged: introducing robotics into facility management services. At its core, facility management covers many functions. From building maintenance and energy-efficient initiatives to landscaping and property management, the broad scope of facility management contributes greatly to the overall well-being of buildings. _A study by_ [_ToolSense_](https://toolsense.io/studies-reports/facility-management-statistics/) _indicates the facility management industry is only set to grow._ However, the traditional approach to keeping facility operations with an in-house team is becoming difficult — especially with labor shortages. This is where the benefits of introducing robotics come in. Robotics, specifically drones, are no longer reserved for science fiction, after all. They’re [game changers from the future](https://luciddronetech.com/blog/are-drones-the-future-of-commercial-window-cleaning), offering innovative solutions to reshape your facility management practices with precision and safety like never before. In this article, we’ll uncover the transformative role drones play in facility management, specifically from Lucid Bots. Keep reading to learn about these must-know advancements in property upkeep. ## The Shift Toward Robotics in Facility Management Robotics has long been a popular solution for businesses looking to step into the future and grow their bottom line. The strategic evolution of robotics with FM has grown over the last few years, in large part thanks to the exciting development of drone technology. This decision represents a shift in the priorities of modern businesses, allowing facilities managers to retain more control of these operations and keeping your facilities management team in-house. With rising costs and inflation, not to mention valuable labor being diverted to secondary business functions, [businesses today want an alternative](https://luciddronetech.com/blog/commercial-window-cleaning-alternative-solutions-for-your-business), more pragmatic solution. According to the [Department of Energy](https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/03/f34/qtr-2015-chapter5.pdf), by 2030, 20% of building energy consumption can be cut using cost-effective technologies. Enter drones! Introducing drones for facility management gives businesses a chance to streamline their operations without compromising on quality or sustainability. ### What difference can drone technology make to maximize your competitive advantage? - Drones come equipped with state-of-the-art features that expand the boundaries of building management operations. - Drones can perform cleaning tasks in urban environments where GPS signals may be weak. - Collision prevention technology ensures a safe and stable distance is maintained between the drone and the surface in consideration, minimizing the risk of accidents and damage. - Safeguards your staffing team, on-site pedestrians, and the property in concern while promising energy efficiency. With functions like these, it’s no surprise drones are all the talk of FM operations. ## Advantages of Using Drones in Facility Management Curious to know how the integration of [drone technology](https://www.lucidbots.com/sherpa-drone) can drive your strategic decision-making and success? Here are the four main benefits of working with an outsourcing provider like us. ### Enhanced Efficiency and Expedited Operations Using drones significantly reduces the time required to perform previously manual tasks. From routine property inspections to complex maintenance procedures, drones can replace the ‘human factor’ and carry out these tasks in safer _and_ faster ways. With advanced sensors and navigation capabilities, drones can swiftly navigate intricate structures like high-rise buildings and challenging terrains, reaching places that were otherwise insurmountable before and maximizing your facility maintenance. ## What Is Building Maintenance Robotics? Building maintenance robotics refers to autonomous or semi-autonomous machines -- drones, ground robots, and crawling systems -- that clean, inspect, and maintain the exterior surfaces of commercial buildings. Instead of sending workers up ladders, lifts, or rope rigs, operators deploy robots that do the same work from the ground with a remote controller. For exterior cleaning contractors, the practical definition is simple: a robot does the dangerous, repetitive work while your crew stays safely on the ground and completes more jobs per day. ## Why Building Maintenance Robotics Matters for Cleaning Contractors The commercial building maintenance market is massive, but traditional methods have not changed much in decades. Workers still climb scaffolding, hang from ropes, and operate boom lifts to wash windows, facades, and parking structures. That model has three problems that robotics solves directly. ### 1. Labor Is the Biggest Cost -- and the Hardest to Find Finding workers willing to do dangerous exterior cleaning at height is increasingly difficult. Building maintenance robotics lets a two-person crew handle jobs that previously required four to six workers, plus expensive lift rentals. Less labor means lower bids that still protect your margins. ### 2. Safety Liability Drops Dramatically Falls from height remain a leading cause of workplace fatalities in construction and maintenance trades. When a drone or ground robot does the work, nobody is suspended above the ground. That means fewer workers' comp claims, lower insurance premiums, and less operational risk for your business. ### 3. You Can Service More Buildings Per Week Robotic systems work faster than manual crews on large surface areas. A cleaning drone can cover a five-story facade in a fraction of the time it takes a traditional crew to set up scaffolding, wash, and break down. More buildings serviced per week means higher monthly revenue from the same equipment investment. ## What Does a Building Maintenance Robotics Setup Look Like? A typical setup for an exterior cleaning operator includes: - **Cleaning drone** for facades, windows, solar panels, and rooftops above ground level - **Ground robot** for driveways, parking garages, sidewalks, and other flat surfaces - **Fleet management software** to track jobs, log flight data, and manage maintenance schedules Lucid Bots builds all three: the [Sherpa cleaning drone](https://lucidbots.com/sherpa-drone), the [Lavo autonomous ground robot](https://lucidbots.com/lavo-bot), and Lucid Command for fleet management. ## What Does It Cost to Get Started? A full building maintenance robotics package -- drone, ground robot, payloads, and training -- starts around $35,000. With [financing from $2,500 per month](https://lucidbots.com/finance), most operators break even within their first few commercial contracts. Compare that to the ongoing cost of lift rentals, extra crew wages, and insurance premiums for manual methods. ## Is Building Maintenance Robotics Right for Your Business? If you run an exterior cleaning company -- or you are considering starting one -- building maintenance robotics gives you a way to take on larger commercial contracts with fewer workers, lower risk, and faster turnaround. The economics favor operators who adopt early, before competitors in their market do the same. Ready to see what robotic cleaning looks like on a real building? [Schedule a demo](https://lucidbots.com/contact) and talk to an operator who already made the switch.