The team at Reliable Cleaning Services has never been content to do things the way they’ve always been done.
For more than 70 years, the Northern Ontario company has tackled industry innovation while keeping an eye on tradition— a mix that continues to shape how it leads in an evolving cleaning field.
“Reliable has always believed that innovation and tradition can — and should — work hand in hand,” Alex Bertuzzi, one of the owners of Reliable Group, said. “Window cleaning has been part of our DNA since 1952, but we’ve never stopped looking for ways to make it safer, faster, and more efficient.”
That philosophy has propelled the company to the forefront — from adopting robotic floor cleaners to developing its own line of cleaning solutions. The team’s most recent leap came when it introduced drone technology for high-access window cleaning, utilizing the Sherpa, a model designed by U.S.-based AI robotics company Lucid Bots.
“When we first saw the Sherpa drone system in action, we recognized its potential to revolutionize the way we approached high-access cleaning,” Bertuzzi said.
“We saw not only a technological advancement but a safety breakthrough — one that could keep our people’s feet on the ground while still reaching the highest windows in Northern Ontario.”
The decision to incorporate high-flying drones into its toolbox started with curiosity, Bertuzzi said.
“Our leadership team had been tracking innovation in the cleaning industry for several years, especially through ISSA expos and trade publications,” he said. “We kept seeing drone-assisted cleaning pop up as a trend in Europe and the U.S., so we decided to dig deeper.”
Conversations with the South Carolina-based company followed. Bertuzzi said they were impressed with the technology, and the deal to bring the Sherpa on board was quickly sealed.
“It wasn’t just about keeping up with the industry — it was about bringing something truly groundbreaking to Northern Ontario.”
Reliable’s approach to innovation, Bertuzzi said, always comes back to the company’s core standards. And introducing drones into the mix didn’t mean they were content with relying on tech to make things easier.
“Innovation is exciting, but it only matters if it meets our Reliable standards for quality and safety,” he said.
“When we started drone cleaning, our team noticed the finish wasn’t up to our usual standard. Instead of shelving the idea, our team collaborated with our manufacturing division to create SkyShine Drone Glass Cleaner — a product made by our Reliable Maintenance Products division specifically for drone cleaning.”
“That solution didn’t just solve the problem — it became a commercial product now available for purchase.”
That’s just one example of how leadership at Reliable is less about hierarchy and more about creating space for ideas to grow, Bertuzzi said.
“Leadership’s job is to create the conditions where great ideas can grow,” he said. “A perfect example is our drone pilot, John. He’s been with Reliable for over a decade and has always been ahead of the curve in improving how we work.”
“When he brought his expertise to drone operations, we gave him the support, training, and resources to lead that program.”
“Our difference is in how we integrate innovation across the business,” Bertuzzi said. “We don’t just buy new gadgets — we build on them. Innovation here isn’t a side project; it’s part of our culture. And because we also manufacture our own cleaning products, we have the flexibility to design complete solutions — not just adopt them.”
Bertuzzi said Reliable’s culture of experimentation has driven innovation within the company and also brought the team closer together.
“We show our team how technology makes their jobs safer, easier, and more rewarding,” he said. “When employees see that we’re not replacing them — we’re empowering them — the buy-in happens naturally.”
Looking ahead, Bertuzzi believes the next decade will transform the industry in ways few could have imagined.
“To me, leadership means being willing to challenge the status quo,” Bertuzzi said. “The cleaning industry has been around forever, and that often means slow change. But I see endless opportunity here. Leadership isn’t just about maintaining what works — it’s about imagining what could work better and having the courage to make it happen. That’s what we’re doing at Reliable every day.”
So what kinds of changes does Bertuzzi see happening in the industry?
“I think technology will redefine how the industry operates — from automation and robotics to AI-powered management systems,” he said. “But the real shift will be in how we use those tools to create safer, more sustainable workplaces.”
Reliable Cleaning Services continues to redefine what leadership looks like in the cleaning industry — where technology, training, and trust come together to deliver results that last.
To explore Reliable’s services or its newest innovations, visit reliableclean.ca or connect with the team for a consultation.