Why The CoBuilders built SCRUB to serve the people most often left behind by AI

When most people talk about AI, they talk about developers, marketers, and executives.

At The CoBuilders, we talk about cleaners.

We serve thousands of residential and commercial cleaners, janitors, and facility care professionals across the country. And for the last year, we’ve been quietly solving a problem that AI platforms like ChatGPT rarely address:

What happens when the people who need AI most can’t use it effectively?

That’s the reality we see in the cleaning industry every day.

And it’s why we built SCRUB—a GPT-powered assistant designed specifically for cleaners and facility pros. It helps them quote faster, reply to clients in real time, create social content, and even onboard new staff. All powered by AI.

But here’s the challenge: AI is only as helpful as your ability to prompt it. And prompting—at least how it exists today—isn’t built for cleaners.

The Gap Between GPT and Real-World Work

Let’s talk plainly: prompting is technical.

It’s a learned skill, and one that most small business owners, field workers, and service professionals don’t have time to master. They're already running the business, doing the job, and trying to stay afloat.

Expecting someone to “speak GPT” is like handing them a high-performance car with a stick shift and no driving lesson.

And yet, that’s exactly what many GPT tools are doing.

We’ve even heard tech managers say:

“We’re declaring war on employees who can’t use AI.”

But that mindset completely misses the point. The real problem isn’t a lack of motivation. It’s a lack of accessibility and design that meets people where they are.

What Is Smart Prompting?

At the heart of SCRUB is a simple but powerful innovation: Smart prompting.

Here’s what that means:

When a cleaner types a request—say, “I need a social media post for spring specials”—SCRUB responds with a well-crafted output. But it doesn’t stop there.

SCRUB then empathetically suggests the next logical action, like:

“Want to turn this into an SMS message?”
“Would you like to schedule this for next week?”
“Need a version with local pricing?”

These are not just suggestions—they’re clickable call-to-actions (CTAs) that the user can tap to generate the next step.

No need to guess.

No need to re-prompt or think, “What now?”

SCRUB gently leads the way—keeping the user in flow and out of frustration.

It’s like having a business coach in your pocket—one that listens, responds, and moves with you.

What It Feels Like in the Product

Every interaction is designed to remove the guesswork:

“Want to turn this quote into a post?”
“Would you like a version for SMS or Facebook?”
“Need to adjust pricing for your city?”

Cleaners tap, choose, and move on.

No confusion. No prompt anxiety.

Just clean, usable output—fast.

Why It Matters for Cleaners

This approach is rooted in two simple truths:

1. Most cleaners don’t have time to experiment with AI.

They’re mobile. They’re hands-on. They need results, not theory.

2. When AI feels intuitive, people actually use it.

That’s how you build trust. That’s how you drive impact.

By turning AI from something intimidating into something familiar and practical, we’re bridging the gap between innovation and inclusion.

What’s Next: Predictive Prompting with MCP

We’re now piloting an internal feature called Model Context Protocol (MCP). It allows SCRUB to anticipate the user’s next best action based on their goals, their role (e.g. solo cleaner, franchise owner), and even the time of year.

It’s a step toward predictive AI that doesn’t just react to input—it guides action.

Because the real power of AI isn’t automation.

It’s empowerment.

Final Thought: Cleaners Deserve Better AI

At The CoBuilders, we’ve never believed that tech should replace workers.

We believe it should amplify them.

And when it comes to AI, that means going beyond “chat.” It means designing experiences that feel natural, helpful, and respectful of real-world work.

SCRUB is more than a product.

It’s a platform built to help cleaners grow, communicate, and lead—without needing to learn the language of machines.

Because they already know how to clean.

We’re just giving them tools that speak their language.

Learn more about SCRUB on The CoBuilders website.