DIEGO IBAÑEZ*
Technology progresses at a pace that is sometimes difficult to keep up with. New developments emerge daily, transforming entire industries. Vertical transportation is no exception. Today, we talk about Artificial Intelligence (AI) not only as a trend, but also as a reality that is already present in everyday life.
AI can be defined, in simple terms, as the ability of a machine or software to learn from data and make decisions or generate content, the same way a person would. This progress happens in medicine, where algorithms are applied to detect diseases in images; in transportation, with self-driving cars; and in energy, optimizing consumption and anticipating failures.
At the invitation of this prestigious magazine, I want to share how AI is already transforming the elevator industry worldwide and more importantly, what concrete and accessible tools local small and medium-sized businesses can adopt to modernize without the need for large investments.
Global Advances: What is Already Happening in Other Countries
China is leading the way in implementing AI in elevators. There, some systems incorporate in-cabin cameras capable of detecting emergencies in real time. If a passenger becomes trapped or develops a medical complication, the system automatically initiates protocols: it sends a notice to the maintenance operator, alerts medical services, and maintains a dialogue with the person to monitor their stress level.
Major brands in the sector are also making progress in this direction:
- Kone uses AI for predictive maintenance, monitoring equipment data in real time and anticipating which spare part the technician should bring before arriving on site.
- Otis develops “destination dispatch” algorithms that group passengers by floor, reducing wait times and energy consumption.
- Schindler offers a cloud-based monitoring platform that integrates data from elevators, escalators, and moving walkways.
These examples show how AI is not a futuristic concept, but a tool that is already changing the way elevators are maintained, used, and managed in different parts of the world.
Uses of AI in Elevators
Internationally, the main uses of AI in vertical transportation can be grouped into six areas:
- Predictive Maintenance
- Sensors that analyze vibrations, temperature, and opening/closing cycles.
- Fault prediction and automatic generation of maintenance orders.
- Practical example: an escalator begins to vibrate more than normal; AI detects this pattern and generates a preventive warning before it breaks down.
- Monitoring and Security
- Detection of vandalism, overloading, or forced doors.
- Automatic identification of entrapment using cameras or biometric sensors.
- Dynamic speed adjustment based on passenger flow.
- Traffic Optimization
- Intelligent dispatch algorithms that group passengers by destination.
- Adaptation to peak times (work start, school end, events).
- Energy Savings
- AI that turns off equipment during low-demand times and reactivates it when it detects a flow of people.
- Optimizing counterweight use and regenerating energy during braking.
- Customer Service and Experience
- Voice systems for making room reservations without the need for buttons.
- Automatic translation in the booth and accessibility for people with visual or hearing impairments.
- Predictive information for the user: estimated time of arrival or occupancy level.
- Data and Regulatory Management
- Cloud-based recording of all interventions and failures for audits.
- Trend analysis by equipment, line, or manufacturer.
- Virtual assistants that generate maintenance reports or respond to inspection notes.
Generative and Non-Generative AI: Understanding the Basics
To apply these technologies, it is important to distinguish between two types of AI:
Generative AI: creates new content from data (e.g., ChatGPT writing texts, MidJourney generating images, or models that produce music and code). Its advantage lies in creativity and personalization.
- Practical application in the sector: an SME can use a generative model to automatically write maintenance reports, respond to inspections, or prepare quotes.
Non-Generative AI: analyzes and classifies existing information to provide objective results (e.g., facial recognition, fault prediction, fraud detection). Its advantage lies in accuracy and decision-making based on real data.
- Practical application in the sector: algorithms that detect abnormal patterns in an elevator’s power consumption and warn the technician that something is about to fail.
How to Apply AI to Elevator SMEs
Although many of these advances seem reserved for large corporations, the reality is that today there are simple and accessible tools that any SME can implement at a low cost:
- WhatsApp Business + n8n: centralize complaints into a single number, generate automatic tickets, and notify the on-call technician without the need for calls.
- Google Sheets: automatically log each complaint, view recurring faults, and measure response times.
- Looker Studio (Google Data Studio): obtain clear graphs with handled complaints, recovery times, and the most problematic equipment.
- Smart Notifications: the technician receives a WhatsApp notification and confirms with a click whether they are on their way or whether the equipment has been restored.
Hypothetical case: A company with five technicians servicing 60 elevators receives complaints via WhatsApp. The system automatically records the date, time, and equipment. At the end of the month, the owner discovers that an elevator has failed five times and can decide on a more extensive repair or request a modernization quote.
These tools allow:
✔ To handle complaints 24/7 without adding staff.
✔ To avoid data loss.
✔ To reduce operational stress.
✔ To project a professional and trustworthy image.
All this at a very low cost and without the need for advanced technical knowledge.
AI is already here and among us to stay. There is still a long way to go, but the future is promising: never before have there been so many opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses in the sector to adopt technology that allows them to be more efficient, safer, and more competitive.
This is not about replacing technicians or business owners, but rather about giving them better tools so they can work with less stress, greater safety, and greater efficiency.
Ultimately, it is about improving the experience of those who use elevators every day.
With my 29 years of experience in lifting equipment, I am convinced that this is the time to open the door to a new era in the industry.
As a great Argentine thinker said: “The future arrived a long time ago… and it’s in our hands to seize it.”
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*Lifting Specialist.
Innovation and Automation Consultant for SMEs in the sector
Instagram: @mediosdeelevacion
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diego-ibañez/
