Roy van Zijl

Lecturer and Researcher in the Systems Engineering & Multidisciplinary Design (SEMD) 
group at the University of Twente.

Involving Non-Technical Stakeholders in the System Adoption/Implementation Process: A Case-Study on the Cleaning Industry

Bio.
Roy van Zijl is a Lecturer and Researcher in the Systems Engineering & Multidisciplinary Design (SEMD) group at the University of Twente. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Twente and earned an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) in 2024. His research focuses on systems engineering, technology adoption, human-technology interaction, and the application of advanced technologies in sectors such as professional cleaning and electric aviation. He currently works on the development of modular charging systems for battery-powered commercial aircraft and teaches courses in Systems Engineering, System Design, Electric Mobility, and Human-Technology Relations

Abstract.

The introduction of technology in the cleaning sector can benefit the cleaners themselves and the industry surrounding them in a plentitude of ways. Currently, the market is dominated by manual tools or highly developed robotics, especially for floor-cleaning. This trend leaves a gap in the market, with industry and cleaners not being able to adopt these high-tech solutions due to financial or personal reasons. Our work combines Systems Engineering with a Human Centered Design ap-proach to develop a range of tools and technology to fill this gap in the market and facilitate the process of technology adoption in the professional cleaning sector. Five different technologies were developed at varying levels of depth and validated with tailored quantifiable validation methods and stakeholders alike. Hereby, we aim to tackle the adoption and acceptance of new technologies in a scenario where the decision-maker is not the end-user. This is an addition to Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations theory. Both parties need to accept the innovation before adoption can be successful. This requires involvement of all parties within the social system throughout the development and diffusion process. We apply tailored communication strategies to increase adoption rates of our developed technologies.