Hannover, Germany – Otis Elevator Company and its parent company, United Technologies Corp. (UTC) are exploring opportunities with Microsoft Corp. for a strategic alliance to accelerate development of digital solutions for smart building equipment, such as elevators, to improve energy efficiency and make people more productive. The alliance has potential to use Microsoft technology to extend the benefits of connectivity and remote monitoring. 

Otis has already expanded its relationship with Microsoft to develop state-of-the art connectivity and analytics solutions that will transform one of the world’s largest and most sophisticated equipment service networks.

With nearly two million units under contract and more than 30,000 mechanics spending approximately 60 million hours servicing elevator and escalator equipment annually, Otis is transforming elevator service by applying new digital tools to better serve and connect with customers. Utilising Microsoft technology, Otis will expand use of the Microsoft cloud (Microsoft Azure IoT Suite), Customer Relationship Management system (Microsoft Dynamics CRM) and stream analytics (Cortana Intelligence Suite), using big data to drive condition based monitoring and maintenance.

“Working with industry leaders like Microsoft to transform our service business strategy allows Otis to be among the first to use digital tools to deliver increased customer value and enhanced service efficiency globally,” said Otis President Philippe Delpech. “We invented this industry more than 160 years ago with safety hardware innovation. Today Otis transports over two billion people every day. To better serve them, we are focused on transforming the servicing and reliability of equipment through innovation with new digital tools and enhanced connectivity,” he added.

Working with Microsoft, Otis will accelerate efforts underway across the organisation to expand the use of internal productivity apps being developed by field teams around the world and the use of a powerful global CRM system that will link operations in the more than 200 countries and territories that Otis offers its products and services. This significant Otis deployment of Microsoft Dynamics CRM will offer a comprehensive cloud-based solution to enhance the customer experience and accelerate business productivity.