Building a Next-Generation Facility Management Model at Yodoyabashi Gate Tower

Next-Generation Facility Management at Yodoyabashi Gate Tower

Yamato Life Next Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Yamato Group, has taken the lead in innovating building management by introducing five cleaning robots at the Yodoyabashi Gate Tower. This landmark mixed-use building is located in the bustling area of Osaka and boasts a floor space of approximately 130,000 square meters, accommodating both office and commercial facilities.

Understanding the pressing need for efficient building management solutions due to a labor shortage in the industry, Yamato Life Next aimed to optimize quality through digital advancements. The company's initiative revolved around creating a management model that merges human touch with digital technology. From the early planning stages of Yodoyabashi Gate Tower, the team considered how to implement robotic assistance in property management processes.

Background and Challenges

The building management sector faces significant challenges, particularly labor shortages, which necessitate a shift towards operational efficiency while maintaining service quality. To address this, Yamato Life Next has focused on differentiating tasks that require human intervention from those that can be automated. The goal is to enhance management quality while reducing the need for manual labor.

However, the implementation of cleaning robots in large complexes presents unique challenges, particularly concerning multi-floor operations and effective maintenance strategies. Elevators and fire doors can obstruct robot operations, requiring human assistance to manage these barriers. Thus, the team proactively designed the building’s layout with robotic use in mind, evaluating aspects such as the placement of the robots and the elevators used, ultimately establishing a robust operational model that integrates building facilities with robotic services.

Operational Implementation

The initiative includes the deployment of five cleaning robots, which autonomously clean shared corridors from the 3rd to the 27th floors of the office space. Operating chiefly during off-peak hours at night, these robots utilize cloud-based communication to coordinate with elevators, allowing them to move seamlessly between floors without human involvement.

Moreover, a system has been established that allows fire doors, which generally remain closed for security reasons, to open and close automatically in response to the robot's proximity. This innovation enables the robots to travel between the backroom and cleaning areas autonomously, facilitating convenient storage, charging, and daily maintenance while ensuring the aesthetic integrity of the building and enhancing user flow.

Expected Benefits

By effectively implementing these robots for autonomous cleaning operations across numerous floors, the project anticipates a reduction in human labor demand by approximately 60% within the cleaning sector. This strategic combination of scheduled robot cleaning with detailed attention from cleaning staff offers not only operational efficiency but also stabilizes the maintenance of management quality.

Initial evaluations suggest that leveraging this robotic technology will ultimately yield a return on investment that exceeds the initial deployment costs.

The realization of this project was made possible through the collaboration with Octa Robotics, which provided a robotic coordination platform, and AiWise Robotics, which supplied the cleaning robots. Yamato Life Next manages the operational design, ensuring a seamless merger of innovative technologies and services.

Future Directions

Going forward, Yamato Life Next is committed to further refining its management techniques that integrate building systems with robotic technologies, leveraging insights gained through operations at Yodoyabashi Gate Tower. The focus will remain on improving management quality while fostering sustainable operational practices.

Company Overview

Yamato Life Next Co., Ltd. specializes in a wide range of property management services, encompassing condominium management, commercial and logistics facility management, hotel operations, conference space services, and tailored support for corporate clients. Established on March 8, 1983, the company aims to foster a richer living experience while respecting individuality and diversity in perspectives.