How Consolidation and Globalization Are Reshaping Elevator Maintenance—and What That Means for Your Building
In recent years, the elevator industry has undergone rapid consolidation and globalization. Major multinational corporations now dominate the field, acquiring smaller companies and expanding their global reach. While this might sound like a sign of progress, it has introduced a host of new challenges for building owners, property managers, and facility directors—especially when it comes to elevator maintenance.
At KDA Elevator Consultants, we’ve seen firsthand how these structural changes have shifted priorities, sometimes to the detriment of building performance, service reliability, and cost-efficiency. Here’s how the pursuit of profit through consolidation and globalization is impacting elevator maintenance—and what you can do about it.
The Industry Has Changed—And So Have Its Priorities
As elevator manufacturers merge and expand globally, their core business model has increasingly focused on recurring revenue from service contracts rather than equipment sales. This has led to several concerning trends:
1. Reduced Technician Time On-Site
To meet internal profit targets, large elevator companies often limit the time technicians are allowed to spend on each visit. What used to be comprehensive maintenance is now reduced to quick inspections or basic checks. This practice can:
- Lead to overlooked wear and tear
- Increase the likelihood of breakdowns
- Shorten the overall lifespan of your equipment
2. Standardized Maintenance Over Personalized Care
Multinational elevator firms often rely on cookie-cutter maintenance schedules dictated from corporate headquarters. These may not be tailored to the unique operating conditions of your elevator—such as traffic patterns, age, or environmental factors.
3. Delayed Responses Due to Centralized Operations
Global companies often consolidate their dispatching, parts inventory, and technical support across broad regions. The result? Longer wait times for parts, slower emergency responses, and less personalized service.
4. Pressure on Technicians
Elevator technicians working for these companies are under significant pressure to complete more jobs in less time, often without adequate support. This can lead to rushed diagnostics, missed issues, and a reactive maintenance culture.
The Financial Incentive: Service Revenue Over System Health
Profit-driven maintenance models reward frequent billable repairs rather than long-term reliability. In many cases, maintenance is deferred or minimized to reduce service costs—only for the customer to face higher expenses later when major components fail unexpectedly.
Worse still, proprietary technologies and systems are often used to lock building owners into specific service providers, further reducing competitive pressure to perform quality work.
How KDA Elevator Consultants Can Help
At KDA, our mission is to advocate for building owners and managers, not the bottom lines of global corporations. We help you cut through the complexity of modern elevator service models by:
✅ Auditing Maintenance Performance
We assess whether you’re getting the service you’re paying for and ensure contractual obligations are met.
✅ Evaluating Service Contracts
We review and negotiate your service agreements to ensure fair terms and coverage that match your needs.
✅ Identifying Gaps in Care
We look at service logs, downtime history, and technical reports to identify missed maintenance and emerging issues.
✅ Recommending Independent Maintenance Providers
In cases where multinational service providers aren’t meeting expectations, we help connect you with qualified local companies who offer personalized, high-quality service.
✅ Ensuring Transparency and Accountability
With KDA on your side, you’re never left wondering what was done—or why a repair is suddenly needed.
Elevator Maintenance Shouldn’t Be a Profit Center—It Should Be a Safety Priority
Global consolidation may be inevitable, but that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. With the right consultant, you can protect your investment, extend the life of your equipment, and ensure your elevators are safe and reliable.
KDA Elevator Consultants provides the experience, objectivity, and technical knowledge to help you navigate a changing industry without compromising on service quality or safety.
📞 #484-995-3642 | 📧 john@kdaelevatorconsultants.com | 🌐 kdaelevatorconsultants.com
Don’t let corporate strategy undermine your building’s vertical transportation. Let KDA put your interests first.