OAK BROOK TERRACE, Ill. — Technology has been creeping into the everyday operations of laundromats for more than a decade, but in 2026 and beyond, a tipping point has arrived. Between the powerful capabilities of AI software, machine connectivity, and customer-facing automation tools, laundromat owners have more technology available to them than ever before — and it’s advancing far faster than most expected.
That acceleration was the centerpiece of “The Future of Laundromats: Integrating AI and Smart Technology for Maximum Efficiency,” a recent CLA webinar. A panel of early adopters and tech-focused operators laid out what’s possible right now — and what’s coming soon. Their message was clear: Tech is no longer a luxury or “nice to have.” It may soon define who grows and who gets left behind.
The group featured operators Alex Bloom of Wash Works in New England, Ross Dodds of Luxe Laundries in Los Angeles, and Nicholas Gomez of Super Clean Laundry in Michigan, along with marketer Trey Bowden of Spynr.
Together, they paint a picture of an industry shifting into a smarter gear — where decisions are driven by data instead of instinct, customer communication runs without an owner picking up the phone, and even maintenance schedules are planned by machines themselves. Let’s conclude:
IS THE INVESTMENT WORTH IT?
When operators talk about new technology, one question looms: Does it pay off?
Bloom, who replaced decades-old equipment with modern touchscreen units, doesn’t hesitate: Revenue multiplied nearly eightfold. Utilities? Barely increased.
Cycle modifiers — pay-to-upgrade wash options — deliver “3% of gross sales automatically,” he adds. No additional labor, no additional marketing.
The formula is straightforward: Modern machinery plus smart software plus customer convenience equals measurable ROI.
KEEP DATA SAFE — IT’S YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET
Technology creates a new responsibility for owners: protecting information. Gomez takes this quite seriously.
“Our customer list is more valuable than our building,” he says.
His advice:
- Vet the security policies of every tech vendor
- Maintain ownership backups of your customer database
- Avoid tools that claim rights to use or redistribute your data
If a catastrophe forces a store to relocate, a protected customer list ensures business continuity.
Tech unlocks advantages — but only if operators remain in control.
A NEW FRONTIER IN CUSTOMER SERVICE
Both Gomez and Dodds use AI phone assistants — digital agents that answer calls, resolve issues, and escalate only when necessary.
Dodds transitioned from a human receptionist to Sense AI. Calls are routed to the AI, which answers questions automatically. It texts management about any other issues, and refunds are handled instantly through the loyalty card system.
There are no ringing phones pulling attendants away from customers. No voicemail black holes.
Gomez has gone even further. His AI assistant, Bella, now conducts first-round employee screening. He considers Bella part of the staff — and trains her like one.
There is skepticism, and some customers still demand a human. But consistent service wins most skeptics over.
This automation allows teams to stay focused on the in-store experience — not juggling phone calls.
CHATBOTS AND MULTI-CHANNEL SUPPORT
Website chatbots are becoming more common, and Bowden expects widespread adoption soon. The key to success: ensuring every system within your operation communicates with every other system.
Owners must avoid creating parallel sets of FAQs for the phone, web and laundromat staff that could contradict one another. Consistent data equals consistent service.
If implemented wisely, AI tools free laundromats from the most repetitive customer interactions — and create a smoother path to self-service support.
LOOKING AHEAD: LAUNDROMATS THAT ‘RUN THEMSELVES’
Bowden sees the next evolution of smart laundromats combining automation with real-time decision-making. Imagine a store that:
- Adjusts pricing based on weather, traffic, or seasonal trends
- Identifies unhappy customers and automatically issues retention offers
- Monitors machine stress in advance — and schedules tech visits accordingly
- Launches targeted marketing campaigns triggered by operational insights
This is no longer science fiction.
“Instead of just saying to an AI agent, ‘Hey, go analyze my machine uptime data,’ that’s just step one,” Bowden describes. Complete the audit, but then have steps two and three ‘suggest marketing opportunities based off of that data, suggest how I might interact better with my equipment distributor to come up with a better service plan’ if the data is showing that there’s some service challenge.
“There’s a lot of opportunity to use those agents to kind of push further.”
Automation won’t eliminate owners. It will eliminate inefficiency.
SO WHERE SHOULD OWNERS BEGIN?
The panel’s final advice was surprisingly simple:
Start somewhere — and start early. Learning curves only get steeper as businesses grow.
Stay “hybrid” in offering payment options. Customers deserve multiple choices. Flexibility and convenience win loyalty.
Understand your competition. Technology doesn’t just reduce costs — it differentiates your store.
Think beyond today. Gomez put it bluntly: “Ask yourself, are you in a futuristic mindset?”
The laundromat of the future won’t look radically different. Washers will still wash. Dryers will still dry. But every process around them — from the way customers pay to how operators make decisions — is being reengineered for speed, clarity and profitability.
Owners waiting for the trend to settle are likely to discover a new truth: the future isn’t coming later. It’s already happening in stores just like theirs.
CLA frequently offers webinars that cover topics such as marketing, store operations and management, and new investor education. Visit https://laundryassociation.org/webinars to learn more.
Miss Part 1? You can read it HERE.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].
