SMART Elevators as Standard

Product offering causes a paradigm shift in customer expectations.

Manish Sikka (MSK), president, ECE Elevators — Birla Group, elaborates on the unique selling points of their SMART elevators and demand trends influencing growth for the company and vertical-transportation (VT) industry in conversation with your author (SSP).

SSP: What aspects set SMART elevators by the Elevator Division, ECE Industries Ltd. apart? How do you see Internet of Things (IoT), AI and smart diagnostics shaping the future of elevators?

MSK: ECE Elevators is the first in India to offer SMART elevators as a standard in our product and service offerings. We are walking the talk of our vision/charter and ensuring every user reaps the benefits of a SMART connected elevator.

IoT, AI and smart diagnostics enable real-time health monitoring of the elevators, reduces down time, increases safety and allows convenience and transparency for facility managers and users.

Smart IoT-enabled elevators are a growing need for elevator users. Our offering is causing a paradigm shift in our customer expectations, and we see our standard SMART elevators making the biggest impact in our growth story.

SSP: What demand patterns and real estate trends do you envisage influencing the VT industry’s development in India during 2024 and beyond?

MSK: Infrastructure development across the country sets the path for our growth trends. India is shining in the global context, and investments in India continue to grow. Availability and global access to our talent is attracting global offshore centers in India; this, coupled with the internet technology (IT) sector will result in continuous growth in commercial space absorption.

Hybrid working has spread urbanization from Tier 1 cities to Tier 2 and beyond. This major factor post-pandemic is fueling residential sector growth across the nation. Buyer preference has also changed subsequently and that, too, is driving the residential sector.

Municipalities across cities have started to increase FSI (floor space index) norms exponentially, which will fuel vertical growth in years to come. Modern villas are now designed to have elevators, and green field projects will drive this segment’s growth. Our metro cities have an aged elevator population that will now be rapidly requiring major modernization and replacements.

SSP: How do you see these elements and trends influencing demand for offerings from the Elevator Division, ECE Industries Ltd. during this year and going forward?

MSK: ECE is the fastest-growing elevator company Pan India, and our 30% year-over-year growth in the last few years has been driven by all-of-the-above sector growth.

We have focused on reach and service organization across the length and breadth of our business, thus bringing Tier 2 growth upon us. Our digitalization footprint allows us to efficiently and effectively manage our operations across the markets we serve.

ECE has been focusing on being self-reliant, and truly “Make in India.” Our import content is around 15%, and by 2025, we will be reducing it to around 5%. We have designed and released elevators up to speeds of 2.5 m/s and will now be starting high-speed lift development in India. This allows us to provide industry-best manufacturing lead times that remain consistent with growth.

We have transformed the industry with our value additions of frameless and framed glass door elevators for the villa segment.

Our SMART offering is providing enormous success in large cluster projects. Our biggest project in row housing is for 882 elevators, which is a mega project and a testament to our ability.

We provide one of the highest life cycles in the industry, and our new age technology provides best-in-class ride comfort for mid- and high-rise buildings, and this is driving our mid-rise market growth.

The transparency, convenience and customer connection we bring to our operations are helping us increase our repeat business and references, purely on basis of the experience we provide to our clients.

SSP: What is the significance of the Elevator Division and the VT market for the Birla Group in the present scenario?

MSK: ECE Elevators in its new avatar is smart, modern, agile and decisive, and our deliverables encapsulate the legacy of trust in the Birla Group.

Our purpose is to be globally admired for our sustainable, safe smart mobility solutions, recognized for our people and best-in-class customer experience.

Our resurgence is based on being fully self-reliant, and this is one aspect that we have learned from our experience in this industry, an experience that makes us the first Indian elevator manufacturer with our first plant that was set up in 1961.

The Elevator Division’s success makes this a key entity focus for the Birla Group. 

SSP: What key verticals does the Elevator Division, ECE Industries Ltd. cater to, and which of them have witnessed the greatest demand during 2023? Which verticals do you envisage driving demand growth during 2024 and why?

MSK: Our growth in 2023 was fueled by the residential and villa segments. We see growth in the future coming from our rapid expansion into new markets in India, exports, infrastructure projects, the mid-rise segment, villas and Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

About Manish Sikka

Mr. Manish Sikka, currently at the helm as the president of ECE Elevators, a Birla group company, stands out as a visionary leader renowned for orchestrating organizational turnarounds and adept change management. Boasting a wealth of experience spanning more than three decades, Sikka has been in a significant leadership role in the world’s leading international elevator company in India for more than a decade and a half. His distinguished career includes roles as CEO of Delhi Circle at Indus Towers Ltd. and co-founder of Matrix Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd., a VT solution provider, where he achieved noteworthy milestones as managing director.

About ECE Elevators

ECE Elevators, a Birla group company, embodying the “Make in India” philosophy, has embraced a new transformative avatar. From being one of the first Indian elevator manufacturers since 1961 to make SMART elevators a standard offering in India, it takes pride in delivering smart elevators equipped with digital technology, with a focus on safety, sustainability and best-in-class customer experience. Emerging as a trailblazer, ECE Elevators is determined to redefine the elevator industry with its commitment to excellence and futuristic solutions.