Cleaning standards in FM need greater focus, industry warns

A new industry feature is highlighting the need for greater strategic focus on cleaning within facilities management, warning that years of cost pressure and fragmented procurement have left standards patchy and inconsistent. The piece argues that cleaning is too often treated as a commodity service, driven by price rather than outcomes, and that this approach fails to deliver the hygiene, safety, and occupant wellbeing that modern workplaces demand. The pandemic briefly elevated the profile of cleaning, but the momentum has not been sustained, and many organisations are reverting to old habits.

For service businesses and fleet managers, the message has wider relevance. Just as cleaning can be undervalued and under-specified, so too can fleet management be treated as a back-office cost centre rather than a strategic enabler. When procurement teams focus narrowly on lease rates or fuel costs, they miss the bigger picture: vehicle reliability, driver safety, emissions compliance, and the operational resilience that comes from integrated fleet data and proactive maintenance. A fragmented, price-led approach to fleet provision is no more sustainable than a race to the bottom on cleaning contracts.

The practical lesson is to invest in strategy before procurement. Whether you're tendering a cleaning contract or renewing your vehicle fleet, start by defining what good looks like, what outcomes you need, and how you will measure performance. Build those requirements into your specifications, and choose partners who can demonstrate capability and commitment, not just the lowest price. In fleet terms, that means working with advisors who understand your operations, offer genuine choice across funders and vehicle types, and provide the connected data and support you need to drive continuous improvement.

Bluepoppy's approach is built on exactly this principle: strategy first, procurement second. Our Fleet Cost Review doesn't just benchmark your costs; it helps you understand what you're getting for your money, where the gaps and risks lie, and what a best-practice fleet operation looks like for your business. We're independent, multi-funder, and focused on long-term value, not short-term price. Let's talk about what your fleet strategy should look like.

Bluepoppy view: Cleaning and fleet management both suffer when procurement focuses on price alone—strategy and outcomes matter more.

Source: FMUK Online — summarised and written from a Bluepoppy perspective. We don’t reproduce the original article.