How AI is Revolutionising the Cleaning Industry (As Seen at ZenMaid Summit 2025)

If you landed here after searching for the ZenMaid Summit 2025, you’re in the right place. My name is Shania Gladwell, and I was honoured to be a guest speaker at this year’s summit, sharing exactly how cleaning businesses across Australia and around the world are using automation and AI to scale faster, work less, and win more clients.

But whether you attended my session or just discovered this blog, I want to give you a deeper dive into the exact systems we use to automate quoting, onboarding, reviews, hiring, and lead nurturing using Cornerstone AI.

This isn’t just theory. I’ve built multiple 7-figure service businesses using automation-first strategies, and this blog will show you how you can do the same — even if you’re not tech-savvy or don’t have a team.

Why AI Is the Next Frontier for Cleaning Business Owners

AI has officially arrived in the cleaning industry. But unlike other tech fads, this isn’t about robots doing cleans.

It’s about:

• Sending quotes instantly (before your competitor replies)

• Following up leads automatically (without sounding robotic)

• Onboarding new clients with a branded, professional experience

• Pre-screening job applicants and booking interviews

• Asking for reviews at the perfect time

All of this used to take hours. Now, it takes minutes — or nothing at all.

The businesses adopting automation now are the ones dominating their local markets. Why? Because AI isn’t replacing the personal touch. It’s just doing the boring stuff better, faster, and more consistently.

What I Shared at the ZenMaid Summit (And What It Means For You)

At the ZenMaid Summit, my talk focused on how to run a professional, high-converting backend system that makes your cleaning business feel like a franchise — even if you're just starting out.

Here are a few things I covered:

1. Your Admin Shouldn’t Be Manual

Still manually sending quotes at night after the kids are asleep? Still chasing late invoices or sending reminders by hand?

That was me once too. But it’s not sustainable. And it’s not scalable.

2. Automations Don’t Have to Be Cold

One of the biggest objections I hear is: “I don’t want to lose the human element.” The truth is: when done right, automations feel more personal than manual messaging because they happen on time every time.

With Cornerstone AI, the messages sound like you, use your branding, and deliver better communication than most human-run businesses.

3. You Can Still Be Small and Think Big

You don’t need a big team to act like a big brand. The reason most businesses stay stuck at $5k/month is because the owner is doing everything manually.

AI helps you step into the business owner role, not the cleaner/VA/admin/juggler role.

What Is Cornerstone AI and How Does It Work?

Cornerstone AI is a full backend automation system specifically designed for cleaning and service business owners.

It automates five key areas:

• Instant Quoting: Customised pricing calculator connected to AI-generated quotes

• Client Onboarding: Beautifully branded messages that include everything they need

• Follow-Ups: Strategic sequences that convert more leads into bookings

• Hiring Funnels: Auto-filtered applications and calendar integrations

• Review Collection: Timed reminders to boost your reputation without begging

And it all runs in your voice, tone, and brand style.

We do the full setup for you — you don’t need to learn Zapier, AI prompts, or tech jargon.

Real Cleaning Businesses Are Already Scaling With It

Here are just a few examples of what Cornerstone AI has done:

• One solo cleaner in Ballina closed over $12k in bookings in 3 weeks without ever replying to a lead herself.

• A commercial cleaning business in VIC saved 18 hours/week in admin time and had their first five-star review flow automated within days.

• A franchise group used it to roll out identical quoting and onboarding flows across 5 branches.

This isn’t theoretical. These are real results from real businesses.

How to Get Started With AI (Even If You're Tech-Shy)

1. Watch the demo on our Cornerstone AI page

2. Fill out the short form to let us know about your business

3. We’ll custom-build your backend so you can quote, onboard, follow-up, hire and grow — on autopilot

You can get started here:
👉

Still unsure? DM me on Instagram @shaniagladwell and I’ll send you a few of the templates we shared at the summit.

Final Word for ZenMaid Attendees

If you’re serious about getting out of the admin trap and building a scalable, professional business — this is your moment.

AI isn’t a threat. It’s the greatest opportunity we’ve had to finally work on the business, not just in it.

See you at the next summit, or in your inbox with a smarter, smoother backend.

"ZenMaid Summit speaker Shania Gladwell"

• "ZenMaid automation session blog"

• "cleaning business AI zenmaid"

• "how to automate quoting in my cleaning business"

• "zenmaid 2025 ai guest speaker"

— Shania Gladwell
Founder, Venture Mentors + Cornerstone AI
ZenMaid 2025 Guest Speaker