Going Up? The Elevator-as-a-Service Business

A combination of analytics and sensor technologies identify any deviations from what would be considered a normal ride, from a slight temperature change in the shafts to a slow-closing door. When such anomalies are detected, the system sends alerts to hand-held devices carried by maintenance personnel. The setup helps Schindler analyze problems faster, said Chief Technology Officer Karl-Heinz Bauer. "We can do the jobs in a shorter period of time and with higher quality," he said. The transformation of elevators from just a mechanically efficient way to go up and down into data-spewing devices is helping Schindler, as well as rivals Otis Elevator Co. and Thyssenkrupp AG, predict and diagnose elevator problems and better attune rides with expected foot traffic.