Tech, Sustainability, and More – The 2024 Industry Trends Update
By Gretchen Matthews
We’re halfway through 2024, and the carwash industry continues to experience exciting changes.
To start, Matt Verity of the Canadian Carwash Association gives an overview of the industry’s biggest trends, which are moving toward leveraging data captured from various collection points to optimize sales, perfect customer service, and improve equipment performance. Verity explained that some of the excitement of the last 10 years surrounding express washes, automated payments, self-serve kiosks, and digital marketing is beginning to fade. It’s being replaced with a focus on AI technologies and sustainability.
Tech is Here to Stay
AI encompasses everything from license plate recognition and targeted messaging systems to automated management software for both small and multi-site washes. Verity says, “You’re starting to see the ability for small players to take on what the big players have been able to do with their vast amounts of R and D and cash that they can utilize to target customers to really set themselves apart.” AI is also working with mechanical systems. At some in-bay automatics, Verity says, “AI has been utilized to scan the precise dimensions of a vehicle and wash them a lot better than they were formerly. So robotic washing arms are out there right now.”
Brandon Burk, U.S. director of distribution for Mark VII, concurs on the importance of tech within washes. Sensors can be placed throughout a facility, so that operators can monitor processes from afar. Burk says, “Our Mark VII Plus Remote Monitoring System allows operators to remotely reset the wash from a phone or tablet anywhere, anytime, eliminating downtime for both the operator and their customers.”
Business management apps, like Quivio from Sonny’s The Car Wash Factory, can also offer data to operators and managers on equipment performance, facilities maintenance, and security, as well as provide marketing automation.
Sustainability Means Savings
Sustainability is also trending. As more municipalities experience water shortages, particularly in the mid-west and western parts of the continent, carwashes are challenged in multiple ways. Verity explained that in Edmonton, a pump station went down earlier this year and all carwashes, laundromats, and some of the higher users were shut down for a significant period of time. More recently, the main water intake to Calgary failed, so as of mid-June, the city was under water restrictions. Not only do these conditions lead to lost profits, but they can also foster misunderstandings. The Canadian Carwash Association has been working to show “that the carwashes are not the heavy users that people perceive them to be.” Carwash water reclaim systems are part of a brighter future.
Mark VII and AquaDetox International are making strides in sustainability and water reclaim. At Mark VII, Burk says, “We pride ourselves on our efficiency on both water consumption and electrical consumption. Our touch-free rollover, the AquaJet XT uses as little as 18 gallons from start to finish compared to other leading touch-free systems that use 90-110+ gallons per wash. We also use VFD motors on our machines, and no hydraulics, meaning no risk of costly and unsafe hydraulic leaks. In May of 2023, we released our own water reclaim system, the AquaPur, for water recycling, cost savings and environmental considerations.”
The AquaPur system reduces freshwater consumption to as low as 15 gallons per wash by capturing used water and flowing it into an underground tank for sedimentation and deodorization. Recycled water is filtered in silica sand before being returned to the wash process. Mark VII says the system uses 75 per cent less energy than the leading competitor. “To top it all off,” says Burk, “a percentage of each machine sold is donated to One Tree Planted, a non-profit organization that plants trees around the world. So, your operators can know they are working with a reliable equipment manufacturer that is dedicated to giving back.”
AquaDetox International’s reclaim system uses a non-chemical (biological) process to turn wastewater clean. AquaDetox entered the North American market in 2024 after 30 years in Europe and elsewhere. Susan Hanson, director of marketing and finance for AquaDetox North America says, “The technology is based on the natural (biological) process of how a stream keeps clean. The bacteria on the rocks and plants eat up and destroy the dirt, like a Pacman. The founder, Roland Lorch was able to capture that biological process and duplicate it in the water tanks for cleaning.”
AquaDetox’s trademarked compact system requires fewer tanks than are typically used for settling, cleaning, and clarification. The reclaimed water is FTU <10, clean enough to be reused throughout the wash cycle. If a typical car wash uses 50 gallons of water per wash, their system reduces its overall water consumption to five gallons per wash and lowers wastewater costs by 90 per cent. AquaDetox has more than 6,000 clients including BMW, Audi, and Tesla, and its water reclaim technology is currently in use at 3,000 carwashes worldwide.’
‘Friendly’ is On the Rise
To be ‘friendly’ means to be kind – to people, to animals, to the planet. And in the car washing industry, it has many applications too. Both Hanson and Verity mentioned the importance of eco-friendly biodegradable soaps as an important trend for 2024, as they put less strain on municipal water systems and water treatment plants. Hanson and Verity also both pointed to work being done at TurtleWax. The company creates reclaim-compatible chemical formulations that are safe for wash water recycling systems and don’t use harsh dyes or heavy solvents, reducing wear and tear on equipment. TurtleWax does not use any hydrofluoric acid in its product formulations.
Friendly customer service representatives are also always appreciated. In 2024, as mobile apps run in the background collecting wash data on usage trends and customer preferences, operators zero in on areas where improvement is needed. Virtual reality (VR) for staff training is growing. It simulates workplace scenarios, enabling participants to practice tasks, role play difficult conversations, learn to follow procedures, and receive real-time feedback. Studies show that VR training leads to improved job performance.
Prudent Shopping Is Always In Style
For the remainder of 2024, expect continued growth and demand. As businesses expand, there will always be opportunities to try the latest and greatest trends. Burk offers sound advice in closing. He says, “The carwash industry is projected to continue to grow rapidly over the coming years. I believe the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is important for any new or seasoned operator when upgrading/investing in a site. Price is important, but I believe quality and longevity is crucial to being successful in this industry. I would encourage everyone to do their research thoroughly before making any long-term equipment purchases.”
Gretchen Matthews founded Chesapeake Quill to help businesspeople improve their writing skills. She has been a presenter at the biannual Women in Carwash conference and is a regular contributor to Convenience and Carwash Canada. Contact her at gmatthews@chesapeakequill.com.
