66 | In an era where smart technology is transforming every aspect of urban living, global elevator and escalator leader KONE is at the forefront of innovation with its suite of digital services designed to revolutionise building management across New Zealand. "Our digital services use the power of AI and cutting-edge analytics to help building owners and managers make their properties the best they can be," says Timo Skog, Regional Director, KONE New Zealand. "We're essentially upgrading existing systems with solutions designed for more intelligent service that increases building life cycle value and transforms the user experience." At the heart of KONE's digital transformation is its 24/7 Connected Services, which connects elevators, escalators, and automatic doors to a cloud service that employs AI-based analytics to anticipate maintenance needs. This predictive approach represents a signi cant shift from traditional reactive maintenance models. "What we're o ering is fundamentally di erent from conventional elevator servicing," explains Timo. "Rather than waiting for problems to occur, our systems constantly monitor equipment performance, identifying potential issues before they can cause disruptions." The results speak for themselves. Buildings using KONE's 24/7 Connected Services have seen a 70% increase in proactive fault identi cation during the rst two years of implementation, alongside a 30% reduction in faults visible to end users. The KONE digital ecosystem also includes KONE 24/7 Alert, a round-the-clock diagnostics service that continuously monitors and analyses the operating status of escalators and automatic doors. If a problem occurs, building managers are noti ed immediately with instructions on how to safely restart the equipment and details of what caused the issue. KONE 24/7 Planner is a tool that will take asset management planning to new heights by providing fact-based recommendations to prolong elevator lifetimes. The system combines AI-driven data collection with the expertise of KONE technicians to help building managers base future repair and modernisation investment needs on actual equipment usage and health data. "You won't need to guess where to invest," says Timo. “A transparent view into the health of your equipment is crucial to planning and budgeting accurately for upcoming repairs and modernisations. With predictive elevator analytics and human expertise, it's easy to stay on top of asset management planning based on concrete data rather than guesswork.” Another innovation is KONE Remote Rescue, which means if someone gets stuck in a lift KONE can rescue the passengers remotely when they press the alarm button that connects to the KONE Call Centre, from where the customer service agents can drive the lift remotely to the nearest oor and open the doors letting the passengers out within one minute of them getting stuck. Timo says KONE also aims to enhance the entire elevator experience through solutions that create a smoother, more personalised journey for users. This includes technologies such as KONE Information, which shares important building information while enhancing the elevator experience and KONE Elevator Call, allowing users to summon an elevator from their smartphone without touching buttons. Perhaps most exciting for forward-thinking building owners are KONE's Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which open up new possibilities for integration with other smart building systems. The Equipment Status API and Service Info API bring maintenance status and history of KONE equipment directly into building or asset management systems, while the Elevator Call API enables integration of elevator call features into end-user applications. The Elevator Call API opens up a range of possibilities, as an example way nding apps for sight impaired, such as BindiMaps, can connect to the Elevator Call API, e ectively allowing people to navigate seamlessly through buildings with BindiMaps. “The lift is called automatically as the person approaches and takes them to the destination they have selected,” says Aaron Taylor, KONE sales manager new building solutions. “We are always working with companies to connect our technology with theirs. Aaron says the Service Robot API is particularly innovative. An early adopter of the technology in New Zealand is Sudima Auckland and Christchurch. "It lets building managers integrate autonomous robots – used for services like cleaning, delivery, and security – with KONE elevators, creating a seamless experience as these robots move throughout the building.” Timo says KONE’s commitment to digital transformation is underpinned by robust attention to cybersecurity. "To bring peace of mind in the digital world, cybersecurity and privacy are designed into our digital services and connections," says Timo. "We monitor our digital environments around the clock to take proper care of them now and in the future." Timo says that for building owners looking to future-proof their properties, connected elevators represent a signi cant value proposition. “Smart elevator experiences make buildings more attractive prospects for tenants and visitors alike, potentially increasing property values and rental yields.” As New Zealand's cities continue to grow upward rather than outward, Timo says the importance of intelligent, predictive elevator maintenance will only increase. With its suite of digital services, KONE is not merely maintaining elevators – it is elevating the entire concept of urban mobility. KONE Revolutionises Elevator Management with AI-Powered Digital Services
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