Welcome to Elliott Affiliates, Ltd.’s Knowledge Center, where you will find information relevant to owners, occupiers, investors, and contractors in the commercial real estate space. While Elliott’s core focus in the janitorial services segment is about creating clear performance- and outcome-based contract scopes of work and guiding their delivery using a continuous improvement process that delivers exceptional results. Organizations that engage contractors have a myriad of factors to consider when engaging and managing contracted services.
The True Cost of Deferred Cleaning: How Preventive Janitorial Programs Protect Building Assets
Buildings.com article on why "deferred cleaning" is not a viable "cost-saving measure" for commercial buildings because "microscopic contaminants accelerate structural wear and tear" over the long term
Hybrid Work Changed Building Operations. Restroom Strategies Need to Change Too.
Buildings.com article on how hybrid work schedules affect the way that restrooms should be cleaned for commercial office environments (and the role of smart restroom technology for "plan[ning] for variable occupancy")
Good AI Comes From Good Data: Without data discipline, even the smartest AI is bound to fail
IFMA FMJ article on why "data [is] the real AI bottleneck" regarding the adoption of AI and automation "in maintenance and asset management" (and what organizations could do "before investing in AI")
Cleaning Maintenance & Management (July / August 2026 Edition)
The July / August 2026 edition of the Cleaning Maintenance & Management magazine discusses "redefining the restroom experience through functional modernization" (P. 10-12), why "employee retention goes beyond financial compensation" for building service contractors (P. 20-23), "protecting long-term care residents" through the cleaning and disinfection process (P. 24-28), "how to create a restrooms older adults want to revisit" (P. 30-31), and "bridging the generational gap in facility management" (P. 32-34).
Facility Maintenance Decisions (July 2026 Edition)
The July 2026 edition of the Facility Maintenance Decisions magazine discusses "how AI and data are redefining maintenance" (P. 4-5), outsourcing of facility management tasks such as "janitorial operations... and building systems maintenance" (P. 6-8), "smart technology in plumbing and restrooms" (P. 10-12), and "emergency preparedness" in facility management (P. 14-16).
Verifying Client Confidence: Using digital proof of service to reshape commercial cleaning
IFMA FMJ article on "accountability in commercial cleaning" through "digital verification"
AI Mistakes: The Risks, Costs, and Realities
This 19-minute ISSA interview discusses common mistakes in using AI in the cleaning industry such as naively re-using prompts, proprietary data risk, and "outsourcing... leadership role to AI"
Who Sees the Alert First: Why visibility matters before problems escalate
IFMA FMJ article on why the value of IoT sensors in facility management ultimately depends on the ability for relevant individuals to promptly respond to the alerts
Building Operating Management (May / June 2026 Edition)
The May / June 2026 edition of the Building Operating Management magazine discusses "why resilience planning is now an operational imperative for facility executives" (P. 14-18), "incorporating AI into operations" in facility management (P. 20-22), and "flooring trends to watch" (P. 26-28).
Autonomous Cleaning Needs More Than Autonomous Machines
This 36-minute ISSA interview discusses how to get "robotics, AI, and automation... to work in real environments" and "how technology and front line teams can work together"
ISSA Today (May / June 2026 Edition)
The May / June 2026 edition of the ISSA Today magazine discusses the usage of "AI chatbots to... assist in decisions about the procurement and use of cleaning products" (P. 14-16), the concept of a sustainability specialist (P. 18-19), "benchmarking cleaning operations" (P. 28-30), women in leadership in the cleaning and facility services industry (P. 32-34), and the implications of "physical AI" for the cleaning industry (P. 36-38).
Getting Ahead of the Curve: Strategies to help meet expectations at travel facilities
IFMA FMJ article on the maintenance of restrooms in transportation facilities (such as airports) in order to "deliver a superior user experience"