Transforming Elevator Pit Inspections and Proposal Generation

A Case Study with Joint Seal Waterproofing

by Rick Rawlinson
images courtesy of Joint Seal Waterproofing

Elevator pit inspections and efficient repair proposal generation can be challenging without modern technology.

Inspectors face confined spaces, poor lighting and the pressure of tight schedules. The process doesn’t end with identifying issues like water intrusion or structural wear — it also requires thorough documentation to communicate findings quickly and effectively. Equally important is the ability to generate reliable repair proposals that present high-quality, cost-efficient solutions and ensure that work is executed according to specification.

Transitioning from Traditional Methods

Despite the critical nature of elevator pit inspections, many are still performed manually, relying on handwritten notes, standalone photographs and memory. This approach can result in inconsistent documentation, delays in data organization and longer turnaround times for repair proposals. Such inefficiencies hinder decision-making and create bottlenecks in the repair process, affecting both inspectors and their clients. For Joint Seal Waterproofing, these issues were a routine part of our operations, with inspections often requiring hours on-site and several days of follow-up work to generate proposals. Each one had to be created from scratch, and because different team members prepared them, the results often varied, leading to an inconsistent client experience. Seeking to streamline our workflows and enhance productivity, our team evaluated various solutions before adopting the Tenera Inspections App along with their custom inspection kit.

From On-Site Inspections to Same-Day Repair Proposals

As a result of this transition, we have transformed our inspection and proposal generation process at Joint Seal Waterproofing. The proprietary Tenera inspections helmet, integrated with their app and equipped with a high-resolution camera, embedded lighting and voice-activated controls, has enabled our inspectors to document each issue directly on-site. This setup has eliminated the need for handheld devices, allowing our team to focus on the task at hand. Even in elevator pits without internet connectivity, offline functionality has ensured that the work continued seamlessly.

After each inspection, our inspectors were able to join a live call with a Tenera back-office agent and their AI assistant. Together, they quickly categorized, documented and scoped all findings, which allowed for the rapid generation of accurate and detailed repair proposals based on Tenera’s pre-set work types. This collaborative process reduced the time needed to create our proposals from days to several hours, enabling us to consistently deliver proposals on the same day as the inspection.

Improving Proposal Quality and Driving Cost Savings

Consistency and quality have always been top priorities at Joint Seal Waterproofing, and the Tenera Inspections App allowed us to raise the bar. By incorporating Tenera’s standardized work types — predefined repair methods developed through extensive research and tailored for elevator shaft environments — we ensured that all proposals followed proven, tested approaches. These standardized methods eliminated variability, meaning that no matter who prepared the proposal, the recommendations were reliable and consistent. This has enhanced the quality of our proposals and improved the overall client experience.

We were happy to see that each work type integrated rigorously tested materials, such as polyaspartic surface coating, which provide long-term durability and protection. These specialized specifications, designed to extend the useful life of elevator pits, have allowed us to confidently offer an eight-year warranty on our repairs, giving clients peace of mind and assurance in the quality of our solutions.

The Impact on Efficiency and Client Satisfaction

Efficiency is a cornerstone of effective operations, and adopting the Tenera Inspections App enabled us to do more with less. Over the past three years, Joint Seal Waterproofing documented and categorized issues in more than 80 elevator pits across Toronto and the greater Toronto area, generating repair proposals faster than ever before. With increased efficiency, our team expanded its capacity to take on more projects while reacting more quickly to customer needs. The streamlined process also allowed us to submit tenders on time without overburdening our team or requiring late hours, creating a better work-life balance for everybody. Additionally, by reducing the time wasted on unnecessary travel for follow-ups or corrections, we were able to focus more energy on delivering high-quality service to our clients.

Customer satisfaction also improved as repairs and maintenance were completed on time and according to repair specifications, reducing elevator downtime and minimizing disruption for building occupants. “Adopting Tenera Inspections has been a game-changer for our business,” said Valeriy Gopka, a managing partner at Joint Seal Waterproofing. “It’s made a noticeable difference in both how we operate and how our clients perceive us.”

Lessons for the Industry

The challenges our team faced — tight spaces, poor lighting and large volumes of data — are not unique. Many inspectors encounter similar bottlenecks when transitioning from inspections to repair planning. The manual nature of traditional workflows often results in delays, errors and missed opportunities to provide faster service to clients.

This case highlights how integrating tools like custom hardware, AI and connected workflows can streamline inspection processes. The hands-free capabilities of the inspection helmet and streamlined documentation offered by the Tenera Inspection App simplify data collection, improve documentation accuracy and reduce administrative burdens. By adopting such tools, contractors and inspectors can focus on their core work, resulting in faster inspection-to-repair cycles and improved client trust.

Conclusion: A Better Way to Work

Joint Seal Waterproofing’s experience demonstrates how technology can address common pain points in elevator pit inspections, such as manual documentation and delayed repair proposals. By using tools like the Tenera Inspections App and inspection helmet, our team worked more efficiently and delivered better results.

As the industry continues to embrace smarter workflows, inspectors and contractors have the opportunity to rethink traditional processes. The integration of AI-powered assistants and connected hardware is reshaping how inspections are conducted, leading to improved efficiency and decision-making and paving the way for a more connected and streamlined future.