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| Would you rent a vacuum cleaner for $499 a month? | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Vacuum cleaning is a chore many people are happy to outsource, but one company is trying to persuade firms to swap an automated service for human cleaners. | Vacuum cleaning is a chore many people are happy to outsource, but one company is trying to persuade firms to swap an automated service for human cleaners. |
| Softbank, the Japanese firm behind WeWork and Uber, has launched a self-powered machine, dubbed The Whiz, at a hefty price tag of $499 (£381) a month. | Softbank, the Japanese firm behind WeWork and Uber, has launched a self-powered machine, dubbed The Whiz, at a hefty price tag of $499 (£381) a month. |
| Softbank says its robot is meant to replace "over-worked janitorial teams." | Softbank says its robot is meant to replace "over-worked janitorial teams." |
| The Whiz is not initially automatic, as a human has to lead it around until it can learn the cleaning route. | The Whiz is not initially automatic, as a human has to lead it around until it can learn the cleaning route. |
| It has been developed by Softbank's US robotics arm and Hong Kong-based firm Intelligent Cleaning Equipment. | It has been developed by Softbank's US robotics arm and Hong Kong-based firm Intelligent Cleaning Equipment. |
| The three-feet-tall (0.9 metres) vacuum was initially only offered for rent in Japan and Hong Kong. | The three-feet-tall (0.9 metres) vacuum was initially only offered for rent in Japan and Hong Kong. |
| 'Cleaning efficiency' | 'Cleaning efficiency' |
| The machine sends an alert if there is an issue, such as bumping into a wall. After three hours, it can cover 15,000 square feet (1,394 square metres) but then will need a battery change. | The machine sends an alert if there is an issue, such as bumping into a wall. After three hours, it can cover 15,000 square feet (1,394 square metres) but then will need a battery change. |
| It also gathers data and produces a report with analytics on dirt levels. | It also gathers data and produces a report with analytics on dirt levels. |
| Softbank says in its presentation materials this provides the ability to "actively demonstrate cleaning efficiency to stakeholders". | Softbank says in its presentation materials this provides the ability to "actively demonstrate cleaning efficiency to stakeholders". |
| One UK firm told the BBC they were planning to trial the robot in hotels around Southampton. | One UK firm told the BBC they were planning to trial the robot in hotels around Southampton. |
| Ellen Gasson, marketing director for Hampshire-based Industrial Cleaning Equipment (a different business from the Hong Kong company), says when they trial the machine in hotels, a cleaner will need to be present to allow the robot into rooms to clean floors. | Ellen Gasson, marketing director for Hampshire-based Industrial Cleaning Equipment (a different business from the Hong Kong company), says when they trial the machine in hotels, a cleaner will need to be present to allow the robot into rooms to clean floors. |
| WeWork rescue | WeWork rescue |
| The vacuum cleaner launch comes after tech investor Softbank announced its worst ever financial results, earlier in November. | The vacuum cleaner launch comes after tech investor Softbank announced its worst ever financial results, earlier in November. |
| Softbank reported a £5bn operating loss for the second quarter of 2019, after companies it invested in, Uber and WeWork, suffered poor financial performances. | Softbank reported a £5bn operating loss for the second quarter of 2019, after companies it invested in, Uber and WeWork, suffered poor financial performances. |
| WeWork, a flexible office space company had to be given a multi-billion dollar rescue package. Its chief executive Adam Neumann, departed and was replaced with Softbank executives. | WeWork, a flexible office space company had to be given a multi-billion dollar rescue package. Its chief executive Adam Neumann, departed and was replaced with Softbank executives. |
| Despite the negative recent press, some analysts remain positive on Softbank and see the company's stock as undervalued. | Despite the negative recent press, some analysts remain positive on Softbank and see the company's stock as undervalued. |
| "The WeWork debacle has eroded investor confidence but we retain our strong conviction regarding the long-term outlook for the company," said Chris Lane, an analyst at Bernstein in a research note. | "The WeWork debacle has eroded investor confidence but we retain our strong conviction regarding the long-term outlook for the company," said Chris Lane, an analyst at Bernstein in a research note. |