#Japan #Tokyo #Vacation Rentals #Tanomde #Cleaning Management

Revolutionizing Cleaning Management for Vacation Rentals

Introduction

In the thriving market of short-term rentals, maintaining high cleaning standards is crucial not only for guest satisfaction but also for securing higher ratings on Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb and Booking.com. Company Volt has officially launched "Tanomde," a specialized SaaS (Software as a Service) platform that merges cleaning management with BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) to address the cleaning challenges faced by rental owners.

Background: The Surge in Inbound Demand

Following the recovery of inbound tourism in 2023, Japan has seen a rapid increase in both the number of vacation rental properties and the demands on their management. Unfortunately, this surge brings to light the industry's pressing issues, notably a widespread shortage of cleaning staff and inefficiencies in operational processes.

The Critical Role of Cleaning in Rental Operations

For many vacation rentals, positive reviews can significantly impact their booking rates and overall revenue. Guests frequently cite cleanliness as a top priority in their reviews—making it paramount that rental owners ensure impeccable cleaning standards to avoid negative feedback. With such significant stakes, there's no doubt that enhancing cleaning quality will remain a focal point for the industry moving forward.

Challenges: Structural Issues in Cleaning Operations

The importance of cleaning is gaining recognition, yet many rental operations still grapple with inconsistent quality and persistent issues. Two major structural challenges contribute to this predicament:

1. Inefficient Operational Structures

Most cleaning operations rely on a multi-layered subcontracting approach (Owner → Cleaning Company → Subcontractor → Temporary Staff), leading to blurred lines of responsibility. This ambiguity can cause variations in service quality and increase the likelihood of problems arising.

2. Overdependence on Mobile Workforce

The industry often leans on temporary hire models, which can result in inconsistencies in cleaning quality. Evaluating and improving performance becomes challenging under these circumstances. Moreover, the operational requirement for transportation—covering not just cleaning but also garbage collection and linen transport—further restricts the workforce, particularly deterring stay-at-home parents from participating.

3. Inefficiencies in Task Management

Many cleaning operations are still manually handled through chat applications, leading to miscommunication, confusion, and operational inefficiencies:

• - Errors caused by the manual request process, such as booking errors and double bookings.
• - Difficulty in managing historical data due to fragmented communication, amplifying the challenge of tracking cleaning performance.
• - Lack of visibility into ongoing cleaning operations, which places a burden on managers to constantly check status and updates.

Solutions: Integrating SaaS and BPO to Address Cleaning Challenges

To confront these issues, Volt is innovating with its Tanomde service, combining cleaning management SaaS with robust BPO services:

1. Dividing Responsibilities Between Cleaning and Supervisory Roles

By separating the cleaning tasks from ancillary duties (like waste management and linen pick-up), cleaning staff can focus on delivering quality services. Furthermore, supervisory staff can perform additional checks to enhance service quality and immediate problem diagnosis, reducing the time between checks and visits.

2. Automating Operations with Tanomde

Tanomde uses existing booking information to automate all facets of cleaning management—from scheduling to status updates—mitigating the operational burden on owners. Probable latency and miscommunications are minimized, ensuring that cleaning schedules run smoothly.

Key Benefits of an Integrated Service Model:

• - Streamlined Operations: The new separation allows part-time staff—particularly individuals like stay-at-home parents—to step into roles effectively without the hassle of vehicle requirements or heavy loads.
• - Quality Control: Regular supervisory checks after cleaning ensure adherence to company standards and immediate recovery from any issues, leading to consistently high ratings.
• - Rapid Response Capabilities: The structured supervisory approach enables the quick resolution of any unexpected problems, further safeguarding quality control as property numbers scale.

Highlighting Tanomde's Key Features

The Tanomde platform exemplifies efficiency in cleaning management by offering total automation and a transparent status reporting system:
1. Complete Automation of Cleaning Requests: Through seamless integration with OTAs and PMS platforms, cleaning requests are generated by booking confirmations, eliminating the need for manual communication.
2. Real-Time Status Updates: Users can view cleaning progress instantaneously to ascertain which rooms have been serviced, including historical data and photographic evidence of completed jobs.
3. Enhanced Systematic Processes for Improvements: By consolidating information into a cohesive platform, Tanomde enables feedback and improvement loops to optimize cleaning services continually.

Conclusion

With Tanomde, cleaning management becomes worry-free, transforming the operational experience to an almost invisible process where hosts can simply rest assured that everything will be taken care of. The ambitious vision of Volt is to, in the near future, expand not just across cleaning solutions but also into other supportive operational areas.

For more insights on the Tanomde service and the development journey behind it, visit Tanomde Official Line.