Did we ever think there would be self-driving cars? Or that AI could write an entire book in under a minute? This month, we’re diving into tech trends, not just futuristic ideas, but ones that are (surprisingly) close to reality.

The heart of most innovation is imagination paired with problem solving. Technology, as of 2025, is moving in exciting, sometimes unexpected, directions. Let’s review a few fun tech trends shaping the future of fabricare.

Stain Scanning: The Future of Stain Removal?

You, or one of your technicians, has likely experienced the trouble of trying to remove a mystery stain. What if there was a technology that could simply scan the stain and know exactly what it is? Introducing X-Spect, a stain remover wand developed by Germany-based company Bosch. ‘The X-Spect is the world’s first multi-purpose connected household scanner designed to assist users in household laundry tasks.’ This innovative wand was intended to be used in conjunction with Bosch’s other appliances, like their smart washing machines, telling the machine what type of cycle to use. It can also be integrated into Bosch’s kitchen products, like refrigerators and ovens, to provide real-time cooking suggestions.

There’s been little information on the product since 2017, and perhaps it’s not as popular as was predicted. Maybe it could serve a more helpful purpose in our industry, to assist in training new dry cleaners and optimizing existing processes.

Seamless Delivery: Drones and the Gig Economy

From paper manifests to automatic sign-ups, route logistics software has come a long way and continues to advance. It might be a sci-fi pipe dream to some, but drone delivery for dry cleaning isn’t a new idea. In 2013, Harout Vartanian (owner of Manayunk Cleaners in Philadelphia) converted a four-bladed drone designed for taking aerial photography, into a device that could deliver a dry cleaning order. While the stunt was an impressive way to get media coverage and marketing – international media outlets covered it – it doesn’t look like the project took off (no pun intended).

One modern approach that has gained popularity is delivery through third-party services. Rather than owning your vans, your orders are picked up and delivered via an Uber-like service, where independent drivers pick up and delivery your orders as needed. Read more here about the pros and cons of this type of service, and why it might be a fit for your business

Personalized Shopping: Style Meets Smart Tech

If you remember the 1995 movie Clueless, Cher Horowitz had a computerized closet that helped her pick out her garments by finding the perfect outfit. If you’re unfamiliar with the visual, her closet looked identical to a dry cleaning conveyor system! While your storage space (grudgingly) may be operating as some customers’ closets, with the advances in bar code tracking and data collection, it’s not hard to imagine a place for our industry in the fashion industry or personal styling.

Perhaps one day we’ll be able to suggest to customers when to buy a new shirt after so many washes or even purchase a replacement directly from the retailer. I believe there are many uses for the data we collect. Traceability, or the tracking of raw products, for example, has become popularized in the luxury fashion world to trace the supply chain of an item. It’s also used for authentication and to identify counterfeit products. This data will continue to be a powerful tool for growth.

Customized Robots for Customer Service: AI at Your Service

At this point, you’re probably tired of hearing about AI, and it’s no surprise that AI is making its way into customer service. AI has become integrated into various customer service platforms, including website chatbots and integrated phone services. The goal is to see smartphone systems that can learn the nuances of your business, helping employees provide faster, more accurate service.

As these tools become more advanced, they can educate customers on complex quotes for unique services, and double check an address for pickup and delivery. Ask your phone technicians and POS provider how they incorporate AI into their services.

It’s essential to recognize how tech trends can impact our industry, even when some innovations don’t have an obvious relationship to fabricare. From stain scanning to drone deliveries and AI-driven personalized services, the future is shaping up to be much more high-tech than we ever imagined.

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