SMD Case Study – Lift autodialers

Modernising emergency lift communications for a property management company

Smart Mobile Data Case Study

Industry

Lift Autodialers

Location

United Kingdom

Solution

VoiceConnect

Setting the scene

A property management company overseeing multiple high-rise residential and commercial buildings was facing a significant challenge: their reliance on Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) lines for emergency lift communications.

As the phase-out of PSTN lines loomed, coupled with increasing maintenance costs and the unreliability of ageing infrastructure, the company urgently needed a connectivity alternative that could:

Ensure 24/7 availability of two-way communications in emergency situations
Lower ongoing operational and maintenance costs
Future-proof the autodialler technology and scale with the business
Comply with all local safety and communication regulations

The Solution

Our partner began by assessing the existing PSTN setup and the specific requirements for each lift. This involved:

Taking inventory of all lifts and their communication systems
Evaluating cellular network coverage in all buildings

We then planned a phased rollout of cellular IoT SIM cards that would be directly integrated into the lift autodialler systems to minimise disruption to building occupants.

The unsteered multi-network capability of the SIM cards would allow the system to automatically switch to the next best available network in the event of a network outage. This redundancy was crucial for maintaining safety and enhancing response times in potentially life-threatening situations.

To ensure the system’s long-term reliability and compliance, a robust monitoring and maintenance protocol was also implemented. The connectivity could be managed remotely, allowing for monitoring and configuration changes without needing physical access to the lifts. Regular connectivity checks and maintenance can now be conducted without the need to go on-site, and any potential issues addressed proactively to ensure continuous operation.

The results

The integration of cellular IoT connectivity has led to several significant improvements for the property management company:

1. Enhanced system resilience

The new system provided a dramatic improvement in resilience compared to the old PSTN lines, which were prone to outages and disruptions. The use of multiple cellular networks in a single SIM offers consistent and stable communications, crucial during emergency scenarios.

2. Cost savings

The transition resulted in substantial cost savings for the property management company. Pooling data across the SIMs, combined with reduced maintenance expenses, has contributed to a more cost-effective operation.

3. Scalability and future-proofing

The seamless integration process proved to be highly scalable, allowing for the easy addition of new lifts and buildings as the company has expanded. Remote management ensures that systems can be easily scaled up or down without incurring significant additional costs, providing a future-proof solution that evolves with the company’s needs.

4. Regulatory Compliance

The resilient connectivity helped the company easily meet all local regulatory requirements and safety standards for emergency lift communications, providing peace of mind to both the property management company and the building occupants.

The property management company’s shift from outdated PSTN lines to a modern cellular-based emergency communication system has marked a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and security of their building occupants.

By achieving their objectives of resilient communications, cost savings, scalability, and regulatory compliance, our partner helped the company not only address their immediate challenges but also position them for future growth.