Today, building owners and managers around the world are in various stages of returning to a new normal and rethinking how people and buildings will interact. Many management teams are also focused on ensuring cleanliness, which according to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, is top of mind for tenants and building visitors alike. To that end, both elevators and hygiene are critical to the conversation as building owners, their tenants and the public consider ways to move people through buildings and cities safely. 

In working with building owners and managers on a global scale, Otis teams have seen many interesting ideas developed that experts have recommended will help smooth the transition, including: 

Regardless of their approach, building owners and managers around the globe are writing operation manuals to help tenants and passengers move safely throughout buildings. 

Otis, which in normal times moves more than 2 billion people a day, is working with its customers to support building reopenings all around the globe. These efforts position the company to serve as a trusted adviser to the building’s management team.

It can be difficult to keep a handle on the many scientific terms used while planning for tomorrow’s buildings. At Otis, this was made apparent when working with customers and listening to their needs for increased hygiene, but hearing similar needs described very differently.  To better navigate those conversations, a team of Otis engineers and other experts sought clarity. This group worked to define how some of its products may reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases for passengers riding its elevators and escalators.

The information and definitions that this group found proved invaluable. Not only did it help employees differentiate between terms such as “pathogen,” “microbe,” and “virus” and explain distinctions between COVID-19 and other pandemics such as the SARS outbreak of 2003; but it also helped strengthen companywide perspectives on the products and guidance that customers needed most. 

Despite the unprecedented times and steep learning curve of details, Otis continued to innovate solutions for its customers and their tenants. As this work went on, it became clear that there are several main categories in which building owners and managers wanted Otis’ support. Those categories are purification products, touchless solutions, passenger communications, which includes promotion of social distancing, and remote monitoring services. 

The solution seemed simple as Otis had offerings that fit each category. The plus side? Many of these offerings could be retrofitted. 

When looking at touchless elevator technologies, Otis features the eCall™ app, which allows passengers to call elevators directly from their smartphone. Beyond eCall, Otis offers what it calls “Special System Operations,” which allow elevators to be programmed to continuously stop at selected floors. This helps reduce passenger touchpoints. Its IoT platform, called Otis ONE™, uses elevator data collected via the cloud to offer predictive maintenance services that can enhance equipment uptime and reduce in-person visits from field professionals, thus reducing the number of necessary building visitors.

In addition to its touchless technologies, Otis also offers an elevator and escalator purification products and services for its customers looking for increased cleanliness. For example, the company has developed and is now offering products such as:

Finally, the Otis Compass® 360 Destination Dispatching System can help limit the number of passengers assigned to each elevator, helping to improve social distancing. Consideration should be given to the overall performance of the elevators as waiting times may increase. Otis can help by performing a traffic analysis study to get a better understanding of the impact on the building.

Today, there are many different paths that building owners, tenants and the riding public can pursue, yet there is no universal solution applicable to all. Despite this time of uncertainty, one thing remains clear: building owners, tenants and companies must all come together to emphasize passenger safety. 

Otis was founded with a focus on safety and that remains its top priority today. From promoting on-the-job safety by providing the proper personal protective equipment and hygienic guidelines to its field professionals to working with customers in supporting reopening plans, Otis is a dynamic partner in any reopening discussion. The company remains committed to safety and is well-positioned for growth. 

While the global pandemic has been challenging for everyone, Otis remains strong and resilient – the company has seen a lot in its 167 years and has weathered many storms.

To stay updated on Otis’ COVID-19-related customer support, visit www.otis.com/corporate/covid-19-response/