Internet of elevators - Elevator maintenance analytics

I was on a discussion board on Linked In and found some information on the “internet of elevators”.  Connecting elevators to the internet and giving alerts when there are issues is nothing new and the OEM’s and some larger independents have been utilizing this for some time.  We have been hearing about analytics for a bit now with Billy Bean and the Oakland A’s, Theo Epstein when he was at the Boston Red Sox[now Chicago Cubs], Google search, etc.  Analytics helps us use data to make better decisions using nontraditional correlations to get better value from decisions.

This is the post of someone selling a product to help independent companies similar product offerings as what the OEM’s are doing.

“Extreme market competition in recent years, the rise of union wages, and cost increases in parts; have had a negative impact on how elevator service was always performed in the past. No longer can service companies provide the preventative maintenance that they once were able to. 

There is a solutions though! By connecting your elevators to the cloud, we will have control like never before. Insuring higher profits, sales, customer satisfaction, and reliability/safety. We can transition to "targeted" and "predictive" maintenance, by using predictive analytic models and smart data from our elevators. 

I think the time has come for the Internet of Elevators! “

While I agree technology can aid in giving better maintenance to buildings, I don’t know if technology would pick up the items I got a text from a mechanic on Friday. 

36" of water in the elevator pit

  Hole in the elevator cab floor

The reason decision makers prefer to work independent companies rather than a multinational firm is because we will actually show up for maintenance, respond to elevator shut downs and return phone calls in a timely manner.  While there is value in technology aiding in maintenance, what I see is companies using technology for a reason to decrease man hours to buildings because “it is being monitored 24 hours a day”.  Monitoring this elevator 24 hours a day would not have picked up on 36" of water in the pit or the hole in the elevator cab floor.

I always ask building owners “how often do you want to see your elevator person in the building.” .  Most building owners are fairly specific in their expectations[if given options], we then can tailor a maintenance agreement to their desires[assuming their desires are reasonable].  When we go to a building that has a OEM maintaining the equipment I ask “how often is your elevator person at the building”.  They may say “once a month”, I ask “do you see them once a month or do you get a bill once a month”, typically the response is “I get a bill once a month and haven’t seen anyone in a long time” or “I don’t know when they come”.   Many companies do not leave maintenance records in the elevator machine room so it is impossible for building owners to know when their elevator is being visited by their maintenance provider. 

I agree there is a tremendous value in analytics and using technology to improve our services.  But, beware when the sale of technology moves more into smoke and mirrors in order to increase profits than to provide superior service.  I believe there is a benefit to having an experience person looking over critical building components on a regular basis.  Ultimately a building owner needs to have all of the information on benefits and service offering choices in order to make and an educated decision on what is best for their building.  If you’re a building owner START ASKING QUESTIONS about your elevator maintenance.  

Chicago Elevator Association meeting – October 8, 2015 6:30pm – Presenter is GAL

If you have any questions or would like information from Colley Elevator you can go to www.colleyelevator.com, email Craigz@colleyelevator.com or call 630-766-7230.