Digital business processes and real-time data in modern lift service

The lift industry has been under increasing organisational pressure for years. Rising demands on documentation, maintenance, transparency and response times are coming up against a structure that is heavily dominated by small and medium-sized enterprises.

Many companies work in parallel with isolated applications, paper-based processes or software landscapes that have evolved over time. This is exactly where digitalisation comes in, not as an end in itself, but as a tool for simplifying complex work processes. A Berlin-based software company has developed a solution specifically for small and medium-sized lift companies. Mainteny sees itself as an industry-specific platform that digitally maps the entire day-to-day business. The approach is deliberately holistic: office applications and mobile apps interact with each other and together map the operational processes from quotation to invoicing.

Software as the central basis for office work

At the heart of the application is a web-based office interface that bundles all relevant key figures. Dispatchers and commercial staff receive an up-to-date overview of orders, equipment, customers and ongoing assignments. Real-time transparency is particularly relevant here. It is possible to see at any time which technicians are out in the field, which orders are being worked on and the status of individual assignments. The menu structure is designed to allow daily routine tasks to be completed without detours. Order management, customer master data, maintenance contracts, asset management, and quotation and invoice creation are all brought together in one system. Spare parts management, employee overviews, and customisable checklists are also part of the range of functions. This eliminates media breaks and duplicate data entries, which have been part of everyday life in many companies up to now.

Mobile application for use in the field

The office software is supplemented by an app for technicians. This is not intended as an isolated tool, but as direct access to the same data. Work orders, asset information, checklists and documentation are available on the go. Changes are synchronised immediately and are visible in the office in real time. This approach noticeably changes the way work is organised. Queries, phone calls and subsequent data entry in the office are reduced. At the same time, the quality of documentation increases as information is recorded directly on site. For service companies, this means greater transparency for customers and better internal control.

Real-time data from the systems

Beyond classic business processes, the software also offers the option of displaying real-time data from lift systems. This requires the existing sensor technology in the systems. Depending on the equipment, condition data, operating information or status messages can be integrated. The platform is open for connection to different hardware providers. This openness is crucial for many companies, as their equipment is often heterogeneous. Instead of proprietary isolated solutions, the software provides a central view of different systems. Real-time information thus becomes an additional tool for maintenance planning, fault management and customer communication.

Transparency as an organisational advantage

A significant added value lies in the structured presentation of complex interrelationships. Systems can not only be managed in list form, but also displayed geographically. Map views show at a glance where which systems are located. This makes resource planning and prioritisation easier, especially for companies operating regionally. All relevant information is stored within the individual systems. The year of manufacture, stops, technical details and histories are available centrally. Supplemented by real-time data, this creates a complete digital image of the systems being managed, which can be used both in the office and in the field. Typical functions of the platform include:

• Consistent mapping of all business processes in one system
• Real-time overview of orders, employees and assignments
• Mobile use thanks to an integrated technician app
• Centralised management of system and customer data
• Connection to different sensor and hardware providers

Digitalisation as a pragmatic step

The pragmatic approach is noteworthy. The software is not aimed at large corporations with their own IT departments, but at companies that want to simplify their processes and make them more transparent. Digitalisation is not seen here as a radical change, but as a gradual modernisation of existing structures. Mainteny thus positions itself as a tool for everyday lift service. The focus is on feasibility, clarity and integration into existing working methods. For small and medium-sized enterprises in particular, such a platform can help to reduce organisational complexity while increasing the quality of service and documentation. The combination of business process software, mobile application and optional real-time data usage shows what digitalisation can look like in lift service. Not in abstract terms, but along real workflows that have to be managed on a daily basis.