Two-way radios: A tool to improve custodial team communication

January 30, 2022

A great and simple tool for commercial cleaning teams to improve their communication is two-way radios. Two-way radios create instant and clear communication that allows cleaning teams to work with each other even when not in close proximity. Here are a few benefits two-way radios can provide. Hands-free and efficient communication Two-way radios benefit commercial cleaners. They are easy to use, durable, require no monthly fees, and allow instant push-to-talk communication with one or a group of workers. Two-way radios are particularly beneficial for commercial cleaners cleaning large areas such as office buildings or hospitals. Instant communication is vital when you are cleaning large spaces. For example, custodians may be required to clean multiple floors of an office building and must be able to quickly communicate the status of different jobs on different floors. Another benefit of two-way radios is safety. Two-way radios do not require the constant use of your hands as cellphones do. You radio your team for an update and then you can focus on your work while you get a response. This is incredibly important for custodians specializing in high ceiling cleaning or high window cleaning. You should be focused on the job at hand and two-ways allow you to quickly relay your message or call in an issue. Two-way radios are also durable and can handle being dropped at a high distance or dropped in the toilet. Most are built with military specifications and built tough so that they won’t break. Standard two-way radios also do not require a fee or monthly payments to use them which helps custodians avoid the cost of an expensive business phone plan. Downsides of two-way radios Two-way radios have their downsides and may not be a good fit for some custodial companies. Your standard radio will not get much communication range outside of three miles unless you are using a push-to-talk cellular radio. They may also have trouble communicating with someone inside a building to someone outside. Most radios are suited for people working in the same building. Recommended two-way radios for commercial cleaners The best type of two-way radio for a commercial cleaner is a standard UHF radio. Most commercial cleaners use UHF radios because they operate at a higher frequency. This makes them better at communicating in large commercial spaces. A custodian also needs a more durable radio. A durable radio meets IP54/55 and military specifications 810 C, D, E, and F. These specifications make the two-way radio resistant against shock, rain, humidity, salt, fog, vibrations, sand, dust, and temperature. I recommend digital UHF radios over analog radios. Digital radios will give you better audio quality and better reception. Small commercial cleaners or residential cleaners can also benefit from implementing two-way radios. A push-to-talk cellular radio might be the best option for smaller cleaning companies. These services allow you to be able to radio back to a central office and allow dispatchers to get updates on jobs around a city or even across an entire state. This is a great option for cleaning teams that are dispatched to multiple job sites and need to communicate. This option is good for business owners who may want to speak with their employees but not have all their time spent on the phone. This hybrid approach can benefit some cleaning companies, but this service is subscription-based and comes with monthly fees. Two-way radios can benefit any commercial cleaning company looking to improve communication. They are a simple and reliable tool allowing your team to communicate and collaborate. Stewart McClintic is the owner of HQ98.com a two-way radio retailer in Scottsdale Arizona.

FAQs

Q: What should cleaning business owners know about two-way radios: a tool to improve custodial team communication?

A: Cleaning business owners should treat two-way radios: a tool to improve custodial team communication as an operational decision, not just a one-time tactic. Define the goal, document the process, train the team, and measure whether the change improves client satisfaction, technician productivity, safety, or profitability.

Q: How does two-way radios: a tool to improve custodial team communication affect a residential cleaning company?

A: It can affect scheduling, training, pricing, customer communication, employee retention, and risk management. The best approach is to connect the idea to a measurable business outcome such as higher recurring revenue, lower turnover, fewer complaints, or safer cleaning procedures.

Q: What is the first step to applying this advice in a cleaning business?

A: Start with a simple audit: identify the current problem, document what is happening today, choose one improvement, assign responsibility, and review results after a defined period. Small, consistent process improvements are easier to sustain than large undocumented changes.