zremb

Transforming elevator systems with AI-driven personalization and 84% cost savings

We helped ZREMB launch Martha – an award-winning elevator assistant that combines facial recognition, voice control, and predictive behavior. Delivered in 6 months instead of 2 years, at just 16% of the original budget.

Key Requirements

We helped secure an innovation grant of PLN 3 million for ZREMB.
Thanks to a Lean approach, we successfully decreased the project budget for the MVP version from PLN 3 million projected by the client to PLN 500 thousand, optimizing the budget use.
Martha won the PropTech Festival 2022 competition among the likes of Żabka Nano and Park Cash.
We greatly optimized the estimated implementation time for an MVP from 2 years to just 6 months.

About the client

ZREMB (eng. ZREMB Elevator Equipment Company) is an established company with over 70 years of successful presence in the Polish market. ZREMB excels in providing holistic technological solutions for elevators, with a distinct emphasis on sustainability and environmental preservation. Their expertise lies in delivering cutting-edge elevator systems engineered for heavy-duty use, ensuring prolonged operational lifespans without the necessity for frequent replacements.
What truly distinguishes ZREMB and contributes to their success are seamlessly integrated lift control systems. These systems boast universal compatibility with equipment manufacturers worldwide, setting a new standard for industry synergy. Their broad offer included extensive elevator solutions, encompassing small freight elevators, accessible platforms, passenger and freight elevators, escalators, moving walkways, and steel construction elevator shafts. From installation and modernization to repair and maintenance – they've got you covered.

About the project

Operating in a highly specialized field of industrial automation and seeking innovation that would further confirm their role as an industry leader, ZREMB has envisioned a state-of-the-art elevator management system.

Here comes Martha – an AI-powered robot with a mission to offer a personalized, human-like approach instead of the simple press-the-button interaction we know from elevators installed in our buildings. To turn our client’s vision into reality, Martha needed to utilize a well-rounded machine-human interface, incorporating automatic recognition and voice & touch interfaces.
Yet – that’s not all. It was necessary to introduce graceful degradation so that when one interface is not preferred by the user, the other one takes over. The users are, therefore, empowered to switch interfaces as they see fit. Combined with a must-have support for the Polish language and offline accessibility, Martha called for a custom solution.

The ZREMB project wouldn’t have been possible without ITCorner. It all started when Rafał Pisz, CEO of QuantUp, shared information about the Martha project within our community. With vast experience and a proven track record of successfully navigating innovative projects, Vazco was strongly recommended as a business & technology partner for ZREMB.

What client challenges did the team have to overcome?

Balancing budget constraints with ambitious project goals
Vazco had to find innovative ways to optimize costs and deliver a feature-rich MVP that would meet business objectives.
Acquiring an innovation grant to fuel long-term growth
Martha is a system designed with scalability in mind, and its growth was dependent on attracting investors.
Introduce complex machine vision algorithms
This intricate endeavor necessitated integrating cutting-edge technology to enable facial recognition and behavioral pattern analysis within the elevator control system.
Optimizing the timeframe
The two-year timeline for the original plan could harm the project by allowing competitors enough time to replicate the idea.
Integrating complex and diverse technologies
Combining facial recognition, voice interaction, and touch interfaces posed technical challenges. Moreover, graceful degradation was required.
Overcoming hardware compatibility issues
Ensuring seamless integration between the software solution and the elevator's hardware components.

Team Perspective

“When ZREMB approached us with their innovative project, we immediately saw great potential in their vision – however, we also noticed that they needed to refine their plan to become clearer. Also, the project required a software, hardware, and machine learning company, so we had to find trusted partners.
Moreover, we also knew that the original two-year timeframe would pose a threat to the project’s success, as it gave much time for the competitors to outperform ZREMB by executing a similar idea. We wouldn’t have allowed that to happen.

Starting with an in-depth discovery session and analysis, we restructured our client’s business plan. We reached out to our most trusted community – ITCorner – to arrange and orchestrate a smooth collaboration with world-class experts. We also created a concrete plan that produced the MVP within 3 months. This allowed our client to gain a competitive advantage and outperform potential competitors. The time was now on ZREMB’s side.
Michał Zacher
CEO of Vazco

The scope delivered

The comprehensive scope of the project reflected an intricate interplay between hardware, machine vision algorithms, communication protocols, and software. The endeavor necessitated a meticulous selection process, an informed algorithmic approach, and a strategic perspective on future system development, all synergistically contributing to realizing the project's overarching objectives.
We can segment the scope of work into two distinct projects: the Martha project and ADA -  elevator audit application. It is worth noting that ADA is an integral component of the communication part within the Martha system.
Martha
Architecture plan for key system elements:
  • the hardware driver,
  • the gateway on Raspberry Pi to the hardware driver,
  • guidelines for panel and hardware setup,
  • the cabin app and communication infrastructure, taking into account environmental constraints like electromagnetic interference, etc
Developing sophisticated machine vision algorithms for facial recognition and behavioral patterns.
Analysis of the Controller Area Network open 417 standards and implementation of the CAN node for the gateway.
Implementation of the system communication API.
Implementation of the cabin Kiosk application.
ADA
Preparation of a comprehensive requirement specification for the elevator audit application.
Analysis of the elevator audit document based on detailed & very specific requirements.
Implementation of the audit application for administrators, including testing, iterative improvements, and bug fixes.
Successful deployment of the audit application.

The Martha project

Martha is not just a machine; she is a robot that continuously learns the building's dynamics by understanding user habits and predicting their intentions. She follows users, navigates them without the need for buttons, and always knows where she’s needed next. Martha’s self-learning capabilities allow her to continuously acquire new skills, making it easy to add functionalities based on property owners' needs – similar to downloading an app on a smartphone.
Martha can also display personalized offers on in-cabin screens, or serve as a real-time bulletin board for building administrators to update content, including videos, images, and information. With AI-driven automation, Martha self-diagnoses any issues, alerts handlers, and can even facilitate remote repairs, minimizing downtime and additional costs. Furthermore, Martha enhances security by capturing images in-cabin and on floors, ensuring that the building remains secure.

Some of Martha’s capabilities include:

Human-like experience thanks to AI

Martha learns user habits, predicts intentions, and delivers personalized assistance in real-time thanks to advanced features such as voice interaction and facial recognition. It recognizes users thanks to infrared-based devices and can interact with them or propose personalized content. Martha's programming allows for continuous skill expansion, adapting to new functions as needed.

Universal Compatibility

Martha is compatible with various elevator systems, streamlining management through a single interface. It’a also possible to integrate Martha with building devices and systems, like automatic cleaning machines and medical robots.

Customized Content

Martha's recognition technology provides a remarkable advantage through its ability to deliver tailored content and information display, which also presents opportunities for advertising. Building administrators can efficiently manage content updates across multiple elevators via Martha's system.

Accessibility & Security

Elevator trips are simplified as Martha allocates floors without the need for buttons, ensuring smooth passenger journeys. Thanks to graceful degradation, it’s also more accessible to users with disabilities or limited mobility. With in-cabin and floor image capture, Martha enhances building security and monitoring capabilities.

Automated Maintenance & Security

This innovation also aimed to reduce crane usage by automatically allocating floors to users, which makes it less prone to human error. Simply put, less usage means fewer breakdowns. Moreover, Marthaself-diagnoses faults, alerts handlers, and facilitates remote repairs and updates, minimizing downtime. Her design and proactive maintenance minimize malfunctions, ensuring a dependable and efficient service.

How did the client perceive our cooperation?

“Support from a consortium of ITCorner companies was important to us because everything was done under one umbrella. The team of these companies was so complimentary that we were able to implement each of the "digital" stages without worrying that we would have to look for another partner. This was beneficial for us in terms of time and finances.”
Paweł Tymowski
CEO of ZREMB sp.z.o.o (for ITCorner)

Key values delivered

84%
Reduction in budget
75%
Reduction in timeframe
PLN 3 M
Grant acquired

Next Steps

Through our cultivated and collaborative relationship with ZREMB, we have not only achieved successful project delivery but have also initiated endeavors to expand their horizons within the industry. Leveraging our network, we are actively exploring opportunities to forge connections between ZREMB and esteemed entities we cooperate with, like CBRE, fostering potential synergies and partnerships.
Our engagement extends beyond the confines of the current system, manifesting as discussions about continued collaboration on system enhancements and extending advisory support on diverse subjects. Our strong rapport is a testament to the rapport we have diligently nurtured, grounded in mutual respect and shared objectives.ZREMB, thank you for this exciting journey. Now – to the future!

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