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Science fiction novels were among the first to imagine a world in which machines carried out tasks of varying complexity or supercomputers calculated the meaning of life, the universe and everything. What was once fiction has become reality: robots now fold terry towels while high-performance software optimises storage, picking and logistics processes. Intelligent sensor systems monitor equipment, machinery, pipelines and processes, identify maintenance requirements and automatically report repair needs. Reader–transponder systems control the flow of goods within a company. Chatbots handle customer requests, automate data maintenance and facilitate communication both inside and outside a business.
All these and many other processes have become possible thanks to the development of artificial intelligence (AI), exponentially growing computing power and extensive cloud services. Above all, they are opening up new fields of application, accelerating automation and laying the foundations for the next generations of AI. Artificial intelligence will speed up the development of computer programmes, replicate further sensory capabilities and enable finely tuned, individual customer advice.
Although the integration of smart technology into everyday laundry operations may still seem unfamiliar, it will soon be regarded as a matter of course. A shortage of staff worldwide will accelerate this process. This is the conclusion reached by several experts we interviewed at Clean Show 2025 in Las Vegas, who shared their views on the present and future of the textile care industry. The potential for further development still appears to be immense.
