In a large store, the floor is the first thing customers notice. A professional floor cleaning robot scrubs your aisles every day, before opening or during off-peak hours, without tying up your staff. Here is what to check to choose the right one.
Why large stores are switching to floor scrubbing robots
- Consistency: the robot follows the same route every day, aisle by aisle, without missing a zone.
- Timing: it cleans before opening, in the evening or during off-peak hours, when the store is at its emptiest.
- Staff refocused: your team keeps the finishing touches, corners and spot cleaning, instead of spending hours behind a scrubber in the aisles.
- Safety: the robot detects people and obstacles, slows down and goes around them.
The first criterion: local service
A cleaning robot works hard, often in very dirty areas: entrances, fresh produce sections, stockrooms. It needs adjustments, wear parts and sometimes a quick intervention. Before comparing data sheets, ask who will come to your site when something goes wrong, and how fast.
That is what made the difference at Intermarché: after putting the whole market in competition, the chain chose proximity and follow-up. Discover our technical service.
Which robot for which large store?
- GP40 : the supermarket robot. It scrubs, sweeps, vacuums and dusts, with up to 10 hours of autonomy.
- GS48 : sweeps and scrubs in a single pass, ideal for medium-sized stores.
- K55 : triple roller, 60 litres of water and dual battery for DIY stores and large stores.
- GS50 : for very large areas, hypermarkets and shopping centres.
- GS45 : a sweeper for stockrooms and aisles, to run before scrubbing.
Many stores combine two machines. Intermarché’s fleet, for example, is mainly made up of GP40s, complemented by GS50s and GS45s that sweep the stockrooms and the store before scrubbing.
Water, charging and draining: plan the organisation
A water connection is not mandatory: the robot can be filled and emptied by hand. To go further, the autonomous station automates charging, water supply and draining. The Tank reservoir supplies the robot when there is no water point nearby. Compatibility depends on the model: we check it during the site visit.
Maintenance: 5 minutes that make the difference
Brushes, filters, dirty water tank, squeegees and sensors: allow about 5 minutes. Without these steps, the robot cleans poorly and spreads dirt in the aisles. Everything is explained in our article Cleaning robot maintenance: the 5 minutes that change everything.
What budget should you plan?
The GP40 costs €19,900 excl. VAT, or €398 per month on a 5-year lease. The GS48 and the K55 cost €24,900 excl. VAT, and the GS50 €39,900 excl. VAT. Installation, mapping and staff training are optional, at €95 per hour per technician. All prices are on the cleaning robots page.
Frequently asked questions
Can the robot clean during opening hours?
Yes. It detects customers, trolleys and obstacles, and goes around them. Most stores still schedule it before opening or at the end of the day, when the aisles are clear.
Does the robot replace cleaning staff?
It takes over the repetitive scrubbing of large open areas. Finishing touches, corners and spot cleaning remain your team’s job.
Can we try it before buying?
Yes. Our technicians run a free demonstration on your floors. Book your demo.