A smart restroom is one in which IoT connectivity technology allows various restroom fixtures‐like paper towel dispensers, soap dispensers and faucets‐to communicate with each other and with custodial staff.

What’s the big deal? First and foremost, a connected restroom helps users have the best possible experience because custodial staff can remotely monitor and analyze restroom conditions in real time and quickly and proactively respond to potential problems and outages. For facility managers, consistent tracking and monitoring means the right staff are performing the right tasks at the right time, which helps improve labor efficiency and productivity. Plus, it helps improve sustainability by reducing partial paper rolls or soap bottles being discarded by well-intentioned staff too early.

These benefits were once just a distant dream, but due to a collaboration between GP PRO and leading plumbing manufacturer TOTO USA, that dream is now a reality.

The industry‐first collaboration is enabled by the KOLO^™ Smart Monitoring System, GP PRO’s new open architecture communication platform that provides reliable, customizable and secure monitoring and analysis of connected away‐from‐home restroom fixtures. The system was recently introduced at the ISSA Show North America 2018 in Dallas, where it won the Innovation Award in the Services & Technology category.

“GP PRO has invested two and a half years developing what we believe is the most dependable, insightful and scalable smart restroom communication system available to help facility managers deliver a better restroom experience,” said Mike Slawson, vice president and general manager, Restroom Services and Connected Devices for GP PRO.“We are thrilled to introduce this industry‐changing innovation, and we are equally excited to work with TOTO as this collaboration pairs two industry leaders known for reliability in a quest to create an unprecedented vision for the restroom of the future.”

Using secure, proprietary, cloud‐based wireless technologies and cutting‐edge sensors and sensing technology, the KOLO system allows for timely and customized communication between connected restroom fixtures and facility managers through a mobile and web application. As exemplified through its collaboration with TOTO, the KOLO system$s open architecture enables it to integrate with smart devices beyond GP PRO$s core product portfolio to provide a more robust and complete connected restroom management solution.

“GP PRO is not only a leader in paper products, but, like TOTO, is a leader in innovation–the kind of innovation that powerfully solves real customer problems,” said Shinya Tamura, CEO of TOTO USA.“We are excited to integrate GP PRO’s KOLO system into our smart sensor hydropower faucets and flush valves and, together, connect the entire bathroom ecosystem so as to improve the bathroom experience for facility managers, custodial staff, and users alike.”

The KOLO system is currently available on a number of GP PRO dispensers, including select enMotion^® and enMotion^® Flex paper towel dispensers, Compact Quad^® and enMotion^® tissue dispensers, and enMotion^® soap dispensers, as well as on TOTO’s EcoPower^® sensor faucets and flush valves.