The pandemic created challenges that all industries faced. Imposed lockdowns, restricted transportation, and shifts in work setup compelled businesses to implement strategies and changes to survive and later on, recover. As the country enters the next normal, industries like the construction industry, and consequently the indoor transportation industry, are experiencing a rapid rebound from the effects of the pandemic.

To ensure this momentum of growth continues, understanding the previous year’s challenges, leveraging on the solutions to these, and reinforcing the company’s strengths are critical. Creating a growth strategy based on these is essential to meet the market’s demands, which is progressive, inclusive, and modern vertical transport system for all.

Industry Challenges at the Peak of the Pandemic

The pandemic has caused major disruptions in people’s lives and business flow as well. In the construction industry alone, sub-industries such as the elevator industry are also affected by the challenges brought about by the restrictions and lockdowns during the pandemic.

Material and Supplier Challenges

Construction and elevator companies experienced challenges to materials procurement and the number of suppliers. Travel restrictions resulted in materials not being delivered immediately. Also, companies that relied on one supplier experienced difficulties particularly when the supplier that supplies critical items got shut down. As a result of these supply chain disruptions, projects took a while to complete and some were even put on hold.

Halted Construction Projects

Construction projects at the height of the pandemic were halted or shut down due to either low supplies, lack of manpower, or even as a means to curb the spread of the virus. Construction companies and elevator companies focused on the maintenance and repair of buildings already constructed. The plans for new establishments were moved to the coming years once the restrictions have eased.

Reduced Foot Traffic in Establishments

Because of the restrictions, establishments had to operate on a basic level. Essentials such as food, medicine, and groceries were the only stores open inside establishments. Offices that required on-ground staff operated as well while keeping the staff close by renting spaces near the office. Other non-essential items shifted to e-commerce and online shopping platforms to sell items. As a result, foot traffic was significantly reduced in establishments that were once high-traffic. Nevertheless, continued repair and maintenance was done to establishments, including elevators and other vertical transportation.

Opportunities to Explore

Recently, the country is slowly recovering from the pandemic’s effects. Malls, offices, and recreation spaces have reopened. Construction projects are set in motion, with new directives to create communities that have contingency measures in place. As such, the engineering, construction, and indoor transportation industries have a role in creating communities prepared for the next normal.

Increase Urbanization and Demand

Construction companies have restarted their projects that were halted during the pandemic. This time, they are more strategic with what projects to continue. Since the trend is urbanization, the demand for modern establishments in key areas is higher. Also, construction companies now place greater importance on designs that ensure their tenant’s health and safety. Lastly, establishments are also looking into investing in technology that will improve the tenant’s stay. This involves choosing quality elevators and energy-efficient lifts to reduce costs while also ensuring long-term quality performance.

Vertical Transport System Upgrades

Technological advancements also apply to the construction industry. For instance, elevators over the years have seen significant progress. From simply transporting people from one floor to the other, elevators now have other features like an elevator traffic system that allows for strategic movement of people across the whole establishment, and upgraded mechanisms that allow for faster travel.

In the case of Mitsubishi Electric Thailand, the company introduced contactless solutions such as facial recognition, touchless sensors, and infrared sensors to the vertical transport systems as a means to mitigate the spread of diseases. Due to being favorably received in Thailand, Mitsubishi Electric is now well-positioned to replicate these innovations in other countries as well.

These are some of the latest developments, and more are expected from the vertical transport system as more establishments embrace modernization. Implementing modern systems and protocols is essential to elevating the lives of its tenants.

Specialized Maintenance Required

Personnel with specialized skills are essential to ensuring the product’s maintenance and usability. In the case of modern indoor transportation, escalators and elevators over the years have drastically developed into systems with complex mechanisms. The same goes for air conditioning systems. Making sure that air conditioners are well-maintained will also result in better air quality within establishments.

Having personnel with the technical know-how and skills to maintain and repair infrastructure systems is crucial. They should have the expertise and training to guarantee the safety and comfort of tenants while complying with the establishment’s operational safety.

IEE: Rising to the Challenge

These opportunities are what International Elevator & Equipment, Inc. (IEE) is best at seizing. IEE, in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric, banks on its expertise, credibility, and drive for modernization to provide the best vertical transportation systems and building solutions that contribute to better services and ways of living.

Reliability over the Years

IEE, as a prominent player in the elevator and escalator market in the Philippines, has built a reputation for reliability and innovation over the past 50 years. Its partnership with Mitsubishi Electric has allowed the company to uphold its commitment to excellence by consistently delivering quality and innovative vertical transport and air conditioning systems to its clients. As a result of its long-standing track record in offering solutions and products to numerous industries within the country, IEE is continually relied on to deliver top-quality services to support operations amidst ever-changing circumstances and times.

Modern Solutions

Society employs technology to create infrastructures that exhibit the community’s progress. Air cooling, indoor transportation, and building management and automation are some of the marks of modern infrastructures. To stay ahead in the industry, IEE continuously works to address the evolving needs of urbanization and customer requirements through its products and services. The company embraces technologies that promote automation, energy efficiency, and sustainability for its products to remain at the forefront of the elevator and escalator industry. Additionally, the company also goes beyond vertical transport systems by promoting a holistic modernization of the establishment by providing cooling systems, building automation systems, and power-generating systems. All these are to show the company’s commitment to providing efficiency to its clients and comfort to their tenants.

Customer-Centric Approach

IEE recognizes the importance of addressing specialized maintenance requirements to provide an exceptional customer experience. As part of its commitment to modernization, the company has introduced training towers, which serve as innovative facilities for employee skill development. These towers not only benefit IEE's workforce but also offer valuable resources to clients. Through the training that employees receive in these facilities, IEE ensures that the specialized maintenance and service needs of clients are met.

Commitment to a Better Tomorrow

IEE and Mitsubishi Electric’s dedication to creating a better tomorrow shows through their reliability, innovation, and customer-centric approach. They aim to provide total customer satisfaction by aligning technological advancements with the specific needs of establishments and workplaces in the Philippines. By providing infrastructure solutions such as innovative lift systems, air-conditioning systems, and building automation and management, IEE contributes to the development of technology in the Philippines and supports the growth of the local workplace environment and society at large.