Tooshlights, the only smart restroom traffic management system that helps guests "know where to go," has officially launched its new product design at Light Show West 2017 and announced that it has secured a total of $3 million in Series A funding, led by Buc-ee's, LTD., a division of the Texas-based major regional convenience store chain that prides itself on their immaculate restrooms.

(Image: Tooshlights)

The industry's first-of-its-kind smart restroom solution will help venues and commercial spaces across the U.S. such as arenas, stadiums, airports, malls, hotels, convention centers, casinos, theme parks and office buildings enhance the guest experience and fundamentally improve traffic flow in public restrooms. The funding will enable Tooshlights to expand its product development to meet the already strong high customer demand.

"A common problem in facility design is flow of movement, which affects customer satisfaction and, in turn, profits," said Allen Klevens, president and chief executive officer, Modus Systems LLC, the parent company of Tooshlights. "Tooshlights is changing the way commercial spaces are navigated, an essential part of the consumer experience. Our mission is to build transformative products that are positioned at the intersection of architecture and technology."

Tooshlights is addressing one of the biggest pain points in the public restroom experience; long lines and the awkward experience of having to peek under stalls to see if they are free. Each Tooshlights unit consists of a sleekly designed smart latch and indicator light, easy to install in new bathrooms or as an upgrade in existing facilities. The smart latch communicates wirelessly with the indicator light. When the stall is available, the light is green. When the stall is occupied and the smart latch activated, the light turns red.

"Buc-ee's is excited to be an investor in Modus Systems because we see the enormous appeal of the Tooshlights solution and we recognize that this new technology will provide Buc-ee's customers an even better bathroom experience," said Jeff Nadalo, general counsel, Buc-ee's.

The Internet of Things (IoT) now extends to restrooms and Tooshlights is playing a leading role in this transformation. The smart restrooms category has experienced a surge based on the increased importance of conserving natural resources and the advent of advanced technologies to improve the overall restroom experience. According to a recent report, the smart restrooms market is expected to see a 10 percent compound annual growth rate through 2020.

The company's chief design officer and architect, Ella Hazard, added, "Our product was designed with both form and function top of mind. We are solving a critical pain point for consumers – long wait times – but we are also providing facilities operators and venues with a unique customer differentiator. Design aesthetic and tech innovation is central to our business, and we are excited to bring Tooshlights to the public."

Tooshlights, powered by Modus Systems, was awarded a U.S. patent for its restroom stall occupancy indicator system and technology. This smart room technology increases privacy in stalls and makes restrooms more efficient. Through the Tooshlights dashboard, venue owners and facility managers can access real-time, venue-specific information about restroom usage. Modus Systems' patented technology harnesses the critical data that allows managers to make smarter decisions that ultimately improve guest experience and improve profit margins.