By Shari Cedar, CEO & Co-owner, AK Building Services

Twenty years ago, running a commercial cleaning business meant juggling paper schedules, phone calls, and filing cabinets. Today, our industry is knee-deep in the digital age—whether we're ready or not. The question isn't whether technology matters; it's how we leverage it effectively without the luxury of a full IT department that most cleaning companies simply don't have.

At AK Building Services, we've learned that your tech stack can either be your greatest competitive advantage or your most frustrating bottleneck. The key is choosing tools that work together seamlessly without being too complex. After all, our primary focus is our customers, not our computers.

The Reality Check

Here's the truth—we’re a commercial cleaning company, not a tech company. Our technology needs to support our strengths, not complicate them.

The mistake I see many cleaning companies make is either avoiding technology or adopting too many tools that don't work together. Both approaches cost money, time, and one’s competitive edge.

Building Your Foundation

Think of your tech stack as the infrastructure supporting your business operations. Just as you wouldn't clean a facility with a dozen different vacuum brands that all use incompatible parts, you shouldn't pull together software that doesn't integrate.

Start with the basics: a customer relationship management system (CRM), like Sales Force or Hub Spot, and an enterprise resource planning platform (ERP), like BrightGo or Win Team. Your CRM tracks client interactions, proposal history, and communication touchpoints. Your ERP handles operations—think scheduling, inventory, billing, and resource allocation.

For many cleaning companies, the instinct is to find industry-specific software. While specialized solutions have their place, don't overlook the power of platforms you likely already use. Microsoft Office Suite and Teams, or Google Workspace and Drive, offer surprising functionality when properly implemented. These tools have the added benefit of being familiar—many people know how to use them, and they don’t seem scary.

The Integration Imperative

The sparks really fly when your tools talk to each other. When your CRM connects to your scheduling system, which feeds into your billing platform, which integrates with your communication tools—that's when you start gaining real efficiency. 

At AK Building Services, Microsoft Teams is our central communication hub. Site supervisors can instantly message questions, share photos of issues that need attention, and access schedules without playing phone tag. It also houses our shared knowledge base, training materials, safety protocols, and standard operating procedures that any team member can access from any device. Similarly, Google Drive contains our collaterals for marketing.

Simplify to Amplify

Without an IT department, simplicity becomes strategy. Every tool you add creates another potential point of failure—another login to remember, another system to maintain. Before adopting new software, ask yourself three questions: 

1. Does this solve a problem we actually have? 

2. Will this integrate with our existing systems? 

3. Can our team realistically learn and use this within two weeks?

If you can't answer yes to all three, take a breather. It might be time to revisit and reconsider.

The Path Forward

The most feature-rich software means nothing if your team won't use it.

The commercial cleaning industry has evolved, and technology is no longer optional. A thoughtful selection of tech tools that work for your team will support operational efficiency. 

Shari Cedar is the CEO & Co-Owner of AK Building Services, where she drives the company’s vision to redefine what clean means through innovation, leadership, and a people-first culture.

AK Building Services is a family-owned, industry-leading commercial janitorial services provider based in Florida. The company is proud to be GBAC-Certified (Global Biorisk Advisory Council), WBEC-Certified (Women’s Business Enterprise Council), and ISN-Certified, reflecting its commitment to safety, quality, and excellence.

Learn more at www.akbuildingservices.com. 


posted on 2/25/2026