People counting technology: It’s a new era in public washroom management
Poorly maintained restrooms can be a turn off to customers and can result in lost business and clients who never return. This article looks at how people counting or footfall monitoring technology can be used to gather non-intrusive data on the number of people using public restrooms so data can inform decision-making and management of the facilities.
Better washroom management with anonymous people counting
To better manage their facilities and address the issue of keeping washrooms clean and well-stocked, some building managers use Time-of-Flight (ToF) people counting technology. By installing anonymous people counters in restrooms, managers can effectively monitor the status of the facilities throughout the day. When a certain number of people have passed through the restrooms, a member of the cleaning team can restock supplies, clean fixtures, and make any necessary repairs.
A key customer satisfaction barometer
In addition to helping with maintenance and ensuring that facilities are available for use at all times, better-managed restrooms provide a more positive experience for customers and users.
According to studies, more than 60% of shoppers make a conscious choice to visit businesses that they find have better-maintained and cleaner restrooms. (1, 2)
On the other hand, more than half of shoppers report that they are very unlikely to visit a business again after they have had a bad bathroom experience.
Time-of-Flight technology: non-intrusive and anonymous
A key benefit of Time-of-Flight technology is that it is non-intrusive and doesn’t gather personal data. Unlike some traditional methods of people counting, such as CCTV or facial recognition, ToF technology doesn’t use cameras or other sensors that may capture personal identifiable information (PII).
Time-of-Flight people counters simply measure the distance between objects and use this information to determine the number of individuals passing through a specific area. This means that no personal data is ever collected or stored. The data gathered by Terabee people counters doesn’t measure the height of people coming into the area. Rather it relies on seeing points for head and shoulders to indicate a person has passed into or out of the area.
Another important aspect of Terabee Time-of-Flight People Counting solutions is that they only gather anonymous data. They are fully GDPR compliant, by their very design. This means that while the number of individuals passing through a specific area can be accurately determined, no personal information or identifying details are ever captured.
A new era in washroom management
In summary, public washrooms can be overlooked when it comes to maintenance and management, to the peril of the business.
The cleanliness of washrooms and public toilets can have a significant impact on the overall customer experience. Business owners who rely on customers to report issues with their washrooms risk losing valuable customers.
Installing Time-of-Flight people counting technology in public restrooms can help building managers and facilities managers to optimize the number of washroom facilities available, ensure that they are clean, stocked, and provide a more comfortable experience for users.
These people counters respect individual privacy and collect only anonymous data. Time-of-Flight people counters from Terabee cannot gather images, video or any personal identifiable information.
With the accurate, anonymous data from Terabee people counters, building managers can better plan cleaning services and replenishment of supplies. This will ensure that public restrooms remain clean, well-stocked and more welcoming for users. This can help increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.
The People Counting M device from Terabee is ideal for standard doors and narrow corridors, which makes it a perfect solution for the management of restrooms or public toilets.
You can tailor your people counting solution for facilities management according to your requirements. Contact us to speak to an expert about your project’s challenges and requirements. We’re able to help you scope out your public washroom and other facilities’ people counting needs.
References and further reading
- Bradley Corporation, media release “Most Consumers Will Spend More at Businesses with Clean Restrooms” 20 March 2019. https://www.bradleycorp.com/news/most-consumers-will-spend-more-at-businesses-with-clean-restrooms (Accessed April 2023)
- Can Clean Restrooms Boost Your Business? Facility Executive, 11 February 2020. https://facilityexecutive.com/can-clean-restrooms-boost-your-business (Accessed April 2023)
