Abbee Limited is transforming commercial cleaning with its innovative robotic vacuum technology. Launched in 2024 after a rebrand from an earlier incarnation, the organisation focuses on developing robotic cleaning solutions tailored specifically for large commercial spaces, from offices to schools, and hotels. While most robotic vacuum companies focus on the domestic market, Abbee has carved a niche by designing robots that can operate at scale and provide an efficient, automated solution for businesses that need to clean large spaces with ease.
Abbee’s flagship product, the Abbee robot, is truly innovating commercial cleaning. The company imports the robot chassis from China and then reconfigures and remanufactures them in the UK, making key modifications for ease of use in commercial environments. But it doesn’t stop there. The company’s Hive system - a custom-built trolley designed to charge, store, and transport multiple robots simultaneously - is a key innovation that enables businesses to operate multiple cleaning robots at once, reducing the need for manual intervention.
“We don’t just provide robots for cleaning; we provide a complete solution for businesses that want to scale up their cleaning operations,” says Michael Richardson, founder of Abbee Limited.
\ Abbee’s journey started with a simple idea: bring robotics to the cleaning industry. Originally, the company thought it would focus on the domestic market, however, after a quick market assessment, the team realised that the UK’s residential demand wasn’t large enough to support long-term growth. That’s when Abbee pivoted to focus on the commercial market.
“We quickly realised that the domestic market wasn’t going to give us the scale we needed,” says Michael. “The commercial sector, on the other hand, was growing fast, and that’s when we started rethinking what cleaning robots could really do for businesses.”
This shift in focus sparked the development of Abbee’s signature robot, designed to meet the needs of large-scale commercial operations. It wasn’t enough to simply have a robot that cleaned - Abbee needed to create a product that could handle multiple robots operating simultaneously without causing disruption.
“We had to rethink everything design wise,” Michael explains. “In a home environment, a single robot is fine. But in a commercial environment, you need to think about managing multiple robots at once… for example, how they’re charged, how they’re stored, and how they’re operated.”
The answer was the Hive, a system that stores, charges, and transports robots seamlessly. It allows for large-scale deployment, making it easier for businesses to manage operations on a larger scale without worrying about logistical issues.
Michael adds: “Our customers are operating on a larger scale; for example we work with big companies in industries as diverse as energy, asset management and more and these organisations can have up to 150 robots running at once. That’s where the Hive system really comes into its own.”
\ Breaking into a competitive market wasn’t without its challenges. While domestic robots are designed to navigate a relatively straightforward space, commercial cleaning demands something different: flexibility, reliability, and the ability to handle multiple robots at once. Abbee’s approach was to design a system that could be expanded as needed, with the flexibility to adapt to various environments.
“When you’re cleaning large office buildings or hotels, you need robots that can get around freely without getting stuck on cables or obstacles,” says Michael, adding: “That’s where our design makes a real difference. We’ve redesigned our robots to be more adaptable, so they can navigate the kinds of environments that domestic robots simply can’t.”
The company also faced the issue of charging multiple robots simultaneously. Unlike domestic robots, which typically operate in one-off situations, commercial businesses need to have several robots running at once. The Hive system solves that problem by allowing the robots to be charged from a single source, reducing operational downtime.
“It’s about creating an ecosystem that works together,” says Michael. “Aside from our Hive system, we’re getting ready tointroduce our Colony Controller, which is a tablet that will manage fleets of robots. These have all been designed to ensure that commercial businesses can scale their operations efficiently.”
As well as its Colony Controller, the company is building up its product range, with a floor-cleaning robot that combines mopping and vacuuming. Over the coming 12 months Abbee also plans to launch a window-cleaning robot, a product that has huge potential, especially in airports and high-rise buildings.
Abbee is also expanding internationally - and while clients span as far north as Aberdeen and as far south as Madrid - with a particular focus on European markets.
“The demand for our robots is growing, and we’re excited about the future,” says Michael. “We’re already seeing huge interest, and our new products will open up even more opportunities in the commercial cleaning sector.”
\ As the business grew, Abbee faced the challenge of maintaining cash flow while expanding rapidly. The company started using Optimum Finance in 2019, well before its rebrand, and it has since become an integral part of the company’s growth strategy.
“Invoice finance has been a lifesaver for us,” says Michael. “As a growing business, cash flow is everything. Optimum Finance allows us to access the capital we need as soon as we issue an invoice, which gives us the flexibility to reinvest in our business without waiting for extended payment terms.”
The company also uses invoice discounting, which allows them to access funds quickly, ensuring they have the capital to meet increasing demand. “The invoice discounting model has worked perfectly for us,” says Michael. “We don’t have to wait 30, 60, or 90 days for payments - we get paid immediately, and that helps us stay ahead of the curve.”
Abbee’s relationship with Optimum Finance goes beyond just securing funds, as it’s a partnership that has helped Abbee navigate some of the complexities of growing a fast-moving business. From managing international transactions to finding flexible financial solutions, Optimum has “gone above and beyond to understand our business,” says Michael. “They’re not just about numbers, they understand our vision, our customers, and our industry. That’s made a huge difference as we’ve scaled.”
“And, as a company, we’re just getting started,” Michael adds as he discusses the future of Abbee. “We’ve got so many plans in the works, and we’re looking forward to seeing where this journey takes us. With the support of Optimum Finance and our dedicated team, the future is incredibly bright.”