Mark Thompson, EcocleanFM: Portfolio Diversity Has Always Been the Key to Our Success

Outsourcing the cleaning process has a number of advantages, and EcoCleanFM is looking to provide innovative solutions for companies in the commercial real estate sector. Mark Thompson, director of EcoCleanFM, spoke to BR about the company’s plans in Romania and the adoption of robotics for long-term growth.

By Ovidiu Posirca

What are some of the particularities of Romania’s cleaning market?

Romania has proven to be a tough nut to crack; market resilience and reliability on business as usual meant that our Australian business model didn’t translate well. We had to go back to the drawing board and strip out our assumptions. What was left was a basic framework that we have spent the better part of eight months rebuilding.

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Segregated spaces on the office market meant that the way we approached each opportunity needed to be refined to include these variables. Market testing over the last six months has proven our capabilities and we continue to fine-tune our model to provide the best outcomes for our clients, large or small.  Service, Value, Integrity are our core beliefs and values and something that we instil in our team, from executives to frontline staff.

What are the main business goals of EcocleanFM and what does its portfolio of services include?

Diversity in our portfolio has always been the key to our success, both locally and internationally. The depth of our knowledge base has meant that we could find opportunities in all major soft services. The business currently services commercial and retail spaces in Bucharest. We have the capacity to undertake general cleaning, which is our core business, as well as ad-hoc cleaning services ranging from carpet and hard surface maintenance to window cleaning and external works.

Providing innovative solutions is where I believe we have an advantage. Office and community space requirements have shifted; a focus on the environment, increased demand for disinfection on the back of covid-19, and cost-effective outcomes continue to be important metrics for our clients and the focus of our service delivery.

What are some of the advantages of property companies outsourcing their cleaning operations? Have there been any changes in the demand structure for your services following the pandemic?

Outsourcing cleaning has several advantages and it is the solution to many problems. It provides structure, training, and reliability—the hallmarks of a trusted service provider. Our business is cleaning. It is what we do. These things have monetary value: the cost of implementation, ongoing maintenance, and investment in resources and service appliances are high, while labour continues to be difficult to source, supervise, and maintain. Covid-19 saw an increase in value for the cleaning industry and it highlighted the need to improve daily practices. EcoCleanFM was very well placed during the pandemic, as many of these practices were already embedded in the service that we provided to our clients and they continue to be so.

What is the company’s development strategy for the years to come?   

We will continue to develop our market share in 800- to 2,000-sqm office spaces for the remainder of 2023, as our business model and deliverables fit this market very well. The introduction of robotics into key accounts is also a major objective for the future as technology and applications continue to provide flexibility and long-term cost reductions. We are excited about our future in Romania; we look forward to overcoming the challenges that lie ahead and providing a service that continues to grow with the market.