Smart elevator technology is no longer a concept reserved for luxury properties or futuristic office towers. At Kaiser Elevator, we see demand for touchless controls and IoT-powered solutions accelerating across commercial, residential, and mixed-use developments—driven by changing tenant expectations, regulatory shifts, and the fundamental need for safer, more efficient buildings. In this blog, we’ll dig into how these innovations are redefining the passenger experience, optimizing building operations, and offering tangible ROI for owners and facility managers. If you’re responsible for specifying, modernizing, or managing vertical transportation, understanding the role of connected, contactless elevators is essential for building value today—and future-proofing for tomorrow.
Why Touchless and IoT? Shifting Expectations and Industry Trends
Elevators move millions of people every day in dense urban centers. The events of the last several years highlighted hygiene risks associated with shared surfaces, putting pressure on owners and operators to rethink how riders interact with elevators. Building users—tenants, guests, front desk staff—want a streamlined, safe journey from lobby to office or home, while property managers look for ways to reduce maintenance disruption and keep systems compliant with evolving codes and standards. What’s emerged is a new definition of convenience: one that emphasizes seamless movement, reduced touch points, and smarter automation behind the scenes.
Understanding Touchless Elevator Controls
Touchless technology is fundamentally about minimizing physical contact while still providing robust access and control. Here’s how it transforms daily elevator use:
- Mobile and Wearable Integration: Users can summon elevators and select destinations through secure mobile apps or wearable devices. This means fewer hands on shared buttons, faster access for frequent riders, and streamlined entry for visitors.
- Hands-Free Sensor Activation: Proximity sensors and wave-to-call panels allow riders to activate the elevator car or select their floor by simply gesturing near the control surface.
- Voice-Enabled Controls: By enabling voice commands for calling elevators and selecting floors, accessibility is enhanced, especially for those with mobility or vision challenges. Voice solutions also help reduce bottlenecks at peak times by speeding up car assignments.
- Keycard and Badge Authentication: RFID-enabled systems or access control badges can be paired with elevator controls for secure and touch-free access—helpful for managing site security and elevator access in high-traffic buildings.
Ultimately, the value for stakeholders is immediate. Touchless solutions:
- Provide peace of mind and confidence in post-pandemic environments
- Simplify navigation for all building users, including those with disabilities
- Integrate with property-wide access control for better security
- Support compliance with new public health and accessibility guidelines
The IoT Advantage: Smart Elevators Go Beyond the Button
At the core of the next generation of elevator systems lies the Internet of Things (IoT)—the ability to capture real-time data, connect devices, and drive decision making via analytics. How does this come together in practice?
- Predictive Maintenance: IoT-equipped elevators use sensors to monitor motor health, doors, vibration, and more. When anomalies are detected, alerts trigger maintenance visits before breakdowns occur, reducing costly downtime and avoiding disruption for tenants.
- Remote Diagnostics: Many issues can be assessed and resolved without a site visit, saving both time and money. Remote access also allows for rapid system adjustments, keeping elevator operations steady even during unexpected events.
- Traffic Data and Analytics: Usage heatmaps help facility managers understand peak times, high-traffic floors, and building flow. These insights enable smarter staffing, plan future upgrades, and provide data to justify modernization investments.
- Integration with Building Automation: Elevators can communicate with HVAC, security, and lighting systems to adjust energy use based on occupancy—helping reduce the overall carbon footprint and operating costs of the building.
Design and Engineering Considerations for Smart, Touchless Elevator Systems
Implementing these technologies successfully requires close collaboration among developers, architects, elevator consultants, and system integrators. At Kaiser Elevator, we approach every installation and modernization project with an emphasis on value engineering and strict attention to code compliance.
- Flexible Cabin and Panel Design: Our elevator interiors and control panels are available in a range of finishes—including stainless steel, glass, or marble—with touchless or low-touch interfaces (such as capacitive or proximity panels) that blend harmoniously with modern aesthetics. Explore our passenger elevator options.
- Lifecycle Value and Serviceability: All Kaiser Elevator systems are designed for long-term reliability and ease of maintenance. This includes built-in redundancy for emergency communications, backup power, fire-rated doors, and comprehensive documentation to support monthly or quarterly service intervals.
- Custom Integration: We work with property IT and security teams to ensure that smart controls—including mobile, badge, and IoT interfaces—can be integrated with existing access management, visitor systems, or building operations platforms. This minimizes changeover risk and maximizes adoption.
Building Value: ROI for Owners, Operators, and Tenants
The shift to smart, touchless elevator systems isn’t just about hygiene or convenience—it’s a tangible business investment. Here’s how building owners and facility managers benefit:
- Tenant Retention and Satisfaction: Faster, more intuitive elevator journeys boost overall satisfaction—an important factor in attracting and retaining blue-chip tenants in premium properties.
- Operational Efficiency: With predictive maintenance and remote troubleshooting, elevator-related downtime and emergency costs are substantially reduced. This leads to smoother building operations and fewer complaint calls.
- Compliance and Risk Mitigation: Advanced safety systems, clear audit trails, and future-ready controls help owners meet stricter standards for accessibility, safety, and infection control.
- Premium Marketing and Asset Value: Buildings equipped with smart pedestrian movement and access control features often attract higher lease rates and stand out in competitive urban markets.
Modernization: Bringing Legacy Systems into the Future
Not every building has the luxury of starting from scratch. Many facilities rely on older elevator infrastructure that may not be compatible with IoT or touchless technology out of the box. However, thoughtful modernization can bring significant upgrades:
- Retrofitting new touchless control panels and sensors
- Adding IoT-based monitoring modules for predictive analytics
- Integrating with building-wide access control platforms for unified management
If you’re considering an upgrade, take a look at our blog on choosing between elevator modernization and full replacement for practical guidance.
Best Practices: What to Ask When Integrating Smart Elevator Solutions
- Compatibility: Will new touchless and IoT features integrate cleanly with your existing building systems—access control, fire safety, and property management?
- Customizability: Can the controls, panels, and interior finishes be tailored to your design intent and brand standards?
- Security: How is data from smart sensors protected? Are rider credentials and usage logs encrypted and isolated?
- Support and Compliance: Does your partner offer robust warranties, clearly defined SLAs, and training for building staff?
- Service Infrastructure: Access to responsive, local service technicians is crucial. Ask about 24/7 support lines and emergency protocols. Kaiser Elevator offers a dedicated 24/7 hotline.
The planning phase is the time to clarify these details. We encourage all stakeholders—owners, consultants, IT, and operations—to participate early for the best results.
Future-Proofing: Smart Elevators as Part of the BMS Ecosystem
Looking ahead, the integration of elevators with building management systems (BMS) will be central to energy efficiency, sustainability, and tenant experience. Kaiser Elevator’s solutions are designed to be BMS-friendly, supporting seamless handoff between elevators, lighting, HVAC, and digital occupancy analytics. As tenant needs evolve, so too can the elevator infrastructure.
For more strategies on ensuring operational reliability and uptime, see our post on designing elevator systems for maximum uptime.
In Conclusion: The Evolution Continues
Smart elevator technologies—touchless controls and IoT-driven intelligence—are not passing trends. They’re foundational shifts that deliver measurable gains for every building stakeholder, from developer to daily user. With attention to design, system compatibility, and best-in-class service and support, these solutions change the game for building value, compliance, and user satisfaction.
If you’re planning new construction, considering modernization, or simply want to learn more about what’s possible with vertical transportation in today’s connected world, talk to us at Kaiser Elevator. Our team will guide you through options for elevating safety, efficiency, and aesthetics—always with a focus on long-term value and code compliance.
Contact us at kaiserelevator.com/contact-us or visit our New York headquarters for a personalized assessment of your elevator system needs and an inside look at our precision-engineered solutions.
