I just got back from the CLEAN Show 2025 in Orlando and let me tell you something — this wasn’t just another industry trade show. This was the moment where our industry stopped talking about the “future” of AI and robotics and started living it.
For years, we’ve been hearing buzzwords — automation, artificial intelligence, robotics. But this year, it became crystal clear: the future is no longer “coming soon.” It’s here. And if you’re not researching, investing, and embracing these technologies right now, you’re setting yourself up to be left behind by operators who are moving faster and smarter.
🤖 AI & Robotics: No Longer Hype, But Reality
Walking the floor in Orlando, you couldn’t turn a corner without seeing AI or robotics woven into laundry solutions. From folding to pressing, from customer service to operations management, these technologies are no longer futuristic “maybes.” They’re already being tested, installed, and used successfully.
Some of the standouts:
- DYNA AI Robotic Folding Machine — Watching laundry get folded with robotic precision was both fascinating and a little surreal. What used to take hours of manual labor is now being handled with consistent quality, speed, and efficiency.
- Presso Robotic Pressing Machine — If you’ve followed my journey, you know this one’s close to home. We installed a Presso unit just last month at Queen City Laundry. And in only a few weeks, it’s completely transformed how we handle our wholesale dry cleaning. For years, we outsourced pressing. Now, thanks to Presso, we’ve brought the majority of that work in-house. That means more control over operations, higher profit margins, and fewer headaches. That’s real-world impact, not theory.
- AI Agents & Automation — Beyond the equipment, AI-driven systems are changing the way we interact with our customers and run our businesses. It’s not just about machines doing manual labor — it’s about AI learning our customers, answering questions, taking calls, booking services, and even optimizing business decisions in real time.
🚀LaundroBoost Leading the Charge
One of the companies that really impressed me at CLEAN was LaundroBoost. Now, full disclosure: Carla and I are principal owners in LaundroBoost Digital Marketing, alongside our co-founder and CEO Brett Lyon. So yes, I’m biased. But let me be very clear — I’m also a customer of our own products at Queen City Laundry, and I wouldn’t be bragging on these tools if I didn’t know firsthand how powerful they are.
- Their AI Chatbot is already helping laundromats handle customer questions online 24/7.
- Their AI Call Center is answering phones, booking orders, and reducing the strain on human staff. At Queen City Laundry, we’re already using both — and the results are phenomenal. We’re seeing improved response times, happier customers, and a smoother workflow.
But the real game-changer is what’s coming next: LaundroBoost’s Agentic AI.
This isn’t just a tool. It’s an entire business assistant. Imagine an AI that doesn’t just answer questions, but actively manages, learns, and makes smart decisions across your entire operation. Staffing, scheduling, customer communication, equipment maintenance, marketing campaigns — all optimized by AI that never sleeps, never forgets, and never has a bad day.
Friends, this is the future. And it’s closer than you think.
🤔What This Means for You
I know what some of you are thinking: “Dave, this sounds amazing, but it also sounds expensive and complicated.”
Here’s the truth: early adopters always win.
When card systems came along, a lot of owners said, “Too complicated, too risky.” Today, cashless stores dominate. When pickup and delivery started growing, people said, “That’ll never work for laundry.” Today, it’s one of the fastest-growing segments in our industry.
AI and robotics are the next wave — and the wave is already crashing on the shore. The question is: are you surfing it, or are you about to get knocked over?
🏆The Opportunity of a Lifetime
At Queen City Laundry, I can tell you firsthand that embracing these tools has already given us a competitive advantage:
- Presso has cut outsourcing costs, tightened our quality control, and boosted margins.
- LaundroBoost’s Chatbot and Call Center have freed up our team and improved customer experience.
- And with Agentic AI on the horizon, I know we’ll be able to scale smarter and faster than ever before.
If you’re serious about growth — if you’re serious about protecting your business for the next 5, 10, 20 years — you need to be researching and planning your AI and robotics strategy right now.
🔮Looking Ahead: The Next 5 Years
Let me paint a picture of where I believe we’re headed:
- Fully Automated Back Rooms — Folding, pressing, sorting, and packaging handled by robotics with minimal human oversight.
- AI-Driven Customer Experience — Chatbots and call centers that not only answer questions but know your customers by name, preferences, and order history — anticipating their needs before they even ask.
- Predictive Maintenance — AI that tells you when your washers or dryers are about to fail before they do, preventing downtime and saving thousands.
- Dynamic Pricing — Systems that automatically adjust pricing based on demand, weather, and capacity — maximizing profits in real time.
- Business-Wide Integration — One AI brain orchestrating your entire laundromat, from equipment to employees to customer service.
Sounds bold? Maybe. But standing on the CLEAN Show floor in Orlando, surrounded by innovation, it was obvious: this isn’t science fiction anymore. It’s happening.
💭Final Thoughts
Friends, here’s the bottom line: AI and robotics aren’t coming. They’re here.
The question is no longer “if” but “how fast.” And the operators who embrace these tools today are the ones who will dominate tomorrow.
I’ve always said laundromats are one of the best-kept secrets in business. But now, with AI and robotics, that secret just got a whole lot more powerful.
So here’s my challenge: start learning, start testing, and start investing in these technologies. Don’t wait until you’re forced to play catch-up. Because by then, the leaders will already be miles ahead.
The future is here. Let’s own it.
You can do it. We can help. 🙏❤️
– Dave
