Team Touchless

Omega is a pioneer in non-contact elevator calls and advocates for the “Make in India” initiative.

The father-and-son team of Kumar Desai, managing director, and Sameep Desai, CEO, leads Omega Elevators, an Ahmedabad-based manufacturer of elevator and escalator systems. Your author (SSP) posed questions to the Omega team (OE) on making elevators contactless and other initiatives.

SSP: How do you see the process of making existing and new elevators contactless being implemented? What are the key challenges and opportunities?

OE: Existing elevators can be made contactless easily, without any modifications/civil works, by simply integrating mobile technology with the existing elevator system. In new elevators, we can also have contactless buttons installed. These will operate at a distance of 20-50 mm, making the elevator operation totally touch-free. Yet, a long-term benefit is possible only when such technologies are adopted widely as a hygiene factor, regardless of the pandemic.

SSP: Do you see developers opting for larger-capacity elevators or increasing the number of elevators in new projects due to social distancing norms as a result of COVID-19?

OE: We have always advocated that a service elevator capable of transporting a stretcher be provided in every building, notwithstanding the current scenario. However, with operating pressure on developers, it is unlikely that they would opt for larger-capacity elevators or increase the number of elevators for new projects due to COVID-19. Nevertheless, an increase in the speed of elevators would cater to this aspect of social distancing.

SSP: How should the ideal elevator requirement for a particular project be calculated in the present scenario? What are the parameters or processes followed by Omega?

OE: We have a time-study traffic analysis system on which the elevator requirement can be addressed. However, most of the time, we get this requirement from the architects and developers themselves. We also have a smart elevator Internet of Things (IoT)-based system that shows results based on dynamic data from lifts installed in the past. Hence, we would know the number of trips taken by the elevator between specific floors for specific days and times (weekdays and weekends, and peak hours and non-peak hours). We would also know the number of times the lobby operating panel and car operating panel buttons are pressed. We use this historical data to advise our clients on the size, speed and number of elevators that would suffice for their projects.

SSP: How do you see the demand for elevators at different locations and in various market segments? Do you see more high rises coming up?

OE: Land is and always will be a scarce commodity and, with the ever-increasing population, high rises are going to continue to increase. We also see more developments coming up in tier-2 and -3 cities.

SSP: How has the Real Estate Regulation and Development Act (RERA) impacted the demand for elevators in India, and to what extent are developers now paying greater attention to this aspect?

OE: RERA is a great comfort for the end customers, and it will pave the way for organized players in the market.

SSP: What are the challenges involved in modernizing or refurbishing elevators? Do you see this market growing faster, post-COVID-19?

OE: Modernizing will be an area of focus post-COVID-19. There will be many unorganized players trying to get modernization jobs at cheaper rates. The end customer should be diligent and not compromise on safety aspects for discounted prices. Omega has worked with several reputable developers in Mumbai, like Nahar, Raheja, Lodha, etc. Completion of Lodha “The Park” for 79 floors and 5 m/s was special for us.

SSP: What are your expectations from the government with regards to giving concessions, incentives or changes in policies to boost the real estate sector?

OE: The construction industry will face an acute shortage of manpower for the next six months. The government should provide incentives and concessions to products that can introduce improvements in construction, like providing soft loans for procurement of such equipment that will not only provide better quality, but also help reduce the cost of the project by quickening it.

SSP: What is Omega’s unique selling proposition?

OE: Our biggest differentiator is that we manufacture all our products under one roof and do not deal with contract-based installation. This gives us an advantage in timely delivery and timely installation. Secondly, we keep innovating and pioneering such concepts as touch-free elevator call systems and disinfection of elevator cabins with UV-C light. Thirdly — and, most importantly — we have systems in place for predictive and preventive maintenance, including smart elevator IoT-based monitoring in an effort to set a different standard of service. A breakdown complaint may very well be solved before the customer even realizes there was a breakdown.