How Haltian and WhiffAway Are Transforming Facility Management with Data-Driven Smart Washrooms

Facility managers constantly struggle to keep high-traffic washrooms clean, accessible, and functional while minimizing disruptions. WhiffAway identified a gap in the market for effective washroom occupancy solutions that didn’t rely on complex or high-maintenance technology. Early attempts to develop an occupancy system based on lock and motion sensors proved challenging, with solutions prone to technical issues and lacking consistency.

Recognizing that smart washroom technology had to be reliable and low-maintenance, WhiffAway developed a prototype with basic detection capabilities. However, they needed an experienced IoT partner to make it connected, scalable, and robust.

To establish a reliable and connected IoT ecosystem for occupancy lighting, WhiffAway needed a partner with experience. Together, they refined the LooLights concept into a fully realized product within just nine months, creating a highly accurate smart occupancy system. This rapid development timeline was essential to meet market demand, allowing WhiffAway to quickly secure several major customers soon after the product launch.

The LooLights smart occupancy system works in a connected IoT mesh network: the occupancy sensor light sends the data to the Haltian gateway device and from there to the cloud, where the data is processed and then presented on Haltian Empathic Building digital twin or WhiffAway’s Smart Portal. The network is very stable and reliable, as in the mesh network, each device can communicate with multiple other devices, and if one connection fails or if there’s interference, the network automatically reroutes the data through another path.

The partnership also extended to Zurn, a leading provider of water solutions, enhancing the reach and adoption of smart washroom solutions in North America. With deployments at major U.S. airports such as DFW, JFK, and BWI, the system has demonstrated its value in high-traffic environments. BWI, notably, won the prestigious Restroom of the Year award, a testament to the positive impact of LooLights on user satisfaction and facility reputation.

Through real-time occupancy data, LooLights empowers facility managers to take a proactive, data-driven approach to washroom maintenance. The system provides insights that enable predictive cleaning, ensuring that facilities are serviced based on actual usage rather than rigid schedules. This approach enhances operational efficiency, optimizes resource allocation, and reduces waste—an increasingly important goal for sustainable facility management.

For airport operators and other high-traffic facility managers, the impact is immediate and substantial. Enhanced user experiences translate into better customer satisfaction, as passengers encounter clean, accessible, and well-maintained washrooms, especially during peak times. Meanwhile, the data-driven insights allow facility teams to anticipate needs, manage supplies, and focus efforts where they’re needed most, all of which contribute to a more streamlined, cost-effective operation.

Leading the Industry: Setting New Standards for Smart Washrooms

The success of LooLights has been widely recognized, earning WhiffAway the IWFM Impact Award for innovation in Europe. More than an award-winning solution, LooLights is a symbol of how smart facility management is evolving to meet modern needs. The system’s continuous improvement process ensures that it stays ahead of emerging trends, adding new features and enhancements as customer needs evolve.

The partnership between Haltian and WhiffAway highlights the power of collaboration in driving industry innovation. By combining IoT technology with practical facility management needs, they have created a system that not only meets customer expectations but also redefines them. As facilities worldwide look to enhance user experiences, improve efficiency, and promote sustainability, LooLights stands out as a cutting-edge solution for smart washrooms. The journey of Haltian and WhiffAway underscores their commitment to continuous improvement and customer satisfaction, setting a new standard in the rapidly advancing world of smart washroom technology.