As a legacy of its operations across multiple countries, KONE had acquired contracts with telecoms companies around the world which the company wanted to replace with a single global provider agreement. Regulations stipulate that a lift cannot be used unless it has a working phone in case of an emergency; however, KONE was experiencing delays in installation with fixed line operators, especially in new builds, and decided instead to opt for mobile communications technologies from Vodafone.
A Vodafone M2M SIM card is embedded into each KONE lift, enabling operational data to be sent and received wirelessly over the Vodafone network, including daily update logs with data such as the number of journeys and reports from microprocessors monitoring key components. That data is then compared with historical logs, enabling KONE to monitor trends and anticipate potential issues before they arise, in turn helping the company plan maintenance schedules more effectively and improve service quality.
Thomas Hietto, KONE’s senior vice president, maintenance services business, said: “We want to be the best maintenance partner for our customers and provide the highest quality level possible. Vodafone’s solution helps us to meet that aim. Being able to analyse data means we can also adopt an even more proactive approach to maintenance – and, because this is machine talking to machine, improve overall efficiency.”
Director Machine-to-Machine, Vodafone, Erik Brenneis, added: “Our global platform means that KONE can create a single repeatable technology operated across multiple countries through a partnership with just one provider rather than trying to manage a series of individual country contracts through numerous providers. We are delighted to help KONE achieve their goal of greater operational efficiency and a more seamless experience for their customers.”
