Connected elevators in India are gaining importance as equipment manufacturers explore how artificial intelligence (AI), real-time monitoring, and predictive maintenance can improve lift reliability.
This shift highlights how smart technology is transforming industrial equipment management and improving operational efficiency across sectors.
KONE’s inauguration of the country’s first digital experience center in Pune on October 9, 2026, highlights this shift towards technology-driven building operations.
The development comes as KONE Elevator India plans to double its connected elevator fleet from approximately 50,000 to 100,000 units within a year.
The expansion could help the company identify technical issues earlier, reduce equipment downtime, and improve service response, while giving building owners greater visibility into elevator performance.
Unlike conventional maintenance approaches that rely heavily on scheduled inspections and reported faults, connected elevator systems can transmit equipment data for remote monitoring and analysis.
This information can help service teams identify potential problems and prioritize maintenance before a minor issue develops into a breakdown.
According to KONE President and CEO Philippe Delorme, connected elevator technology enables engineers to analyze equipment data and predict failures before they occur. He also highlighted its potential to support remote rescue operations when passengers become trapped in elevator cars.
The technology can offer several operational benefits:
These outcomes depend on the quality of monitoring, the nature of the fault, and the effectiveness of the maintenance response. Connectivity alone cannot eliminate breakdowns.
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KONE’s new Digital Experience Centre brings together digital tools designed to support customers across the building lifecycle, from elevator selection to ongoing service management.
The facility showcases four key solutions:
Together, these tools demonstrate how digital interfaces can improve information access and help customers make more informed decisions about building equipment.
KONE India Managing Director Amit Gossain said the center gives customers a first-hand view of how digital technologies can create value throughout a building’s lifecycle.
The initiative also reflects the company’s focus on using data, AI and digital innovation to make buildings more responsive and efficient.
KONE’s plan to increase its connected elevator base from around 50,000 to 100,000 units within a year indicates a push to extend digital services across its Indian operations.
The opportunity extends beyond new installations. Connecting more existing equipment could broaden the reach of remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance, depending on equipment compatibility and the connectivity solutions deployed.
For commercial buildings, hospitals, hotels, and residential complexes, elevator availability can directly affect daily operations and occupant experience. Better access to equipment data may help facility managers coordinate maintenance and respond to problems more efficiently.
KONE’s Pune center signals how elevator manufacturers are increasingly presenting digital services as part of the wider building infrastructure offering, rather than treating lifts solely as mechanical equipment.
As Indian cities expand vertically, building operators will need to manage equipment reliability alongside safety, energy efficiency and maintenance costs. Connected elevators could become an important component of this transition, although their value will ultimately depend on measurable improvements in service performance.
For KONE, the next test will be translating its connected-fleet expansion and digital demonstrations into consistent operational benefits for customers across India.
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