Schindler Lifts’ products can be found in many well-known buildings throughout Africa, including premium commercial offices, major airports, national shopping centre chains, exclusive residential apartments, and speciality structures. We get the full story from Managing Director of South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, Mayuir Bhairoparsad.
ELEVATING AFRICA
The ever-expanding African construction industry continues to diversify and present fresh opportunities, driven by significant urbanisation and an increased demand for infrastructure, including the need for elevators and escalators.
Capitalising on this wave of industry growth, Schindler Lifts (Schindler) has established a strong presence in the continent’s key markets such as Morocco, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Sudan, and South Africa.
Despite the sector’s economic challenges, Schindler continues to grow and invest in the market, capitalising on emerging trends such as urban expansion and technological advancements.
“Recent innovations like building information modelling (BIM) and virtual reality (VR) are enhancing the planning process as well as the overall customer experience,” opens Mayuir Bhairoparsad, Managing Director of South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Additionally, megatrends such as urbanisation and an ageing population are driving the industry forwards, despite challenges such as supply chain disruptions and material cost inflation,” he adds.
Overall, the industry in Africa shows promising growth and impressive levels of innovation, making it an exciting area for professionals and businesses alike.
COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE
A winning combination of traditional core values, elite customer service, quality, and safety, alongside a laser-sharp focus on smart, innovative, inclusive, and sustainable urban mobility is what helps Schindler stand out across this burgeoning sector.
“Today we are established as a leading global provider of elevators, escalators, and related services,” Bhairoparsad states.
The company’s main products and services include passenger elevators, which offer solutions for various market needs, from low-rise to high-rise buildings measuring up to 500 metres.
Additionally, Schindler provides freight elevators designed to transport volumes of light or heavy loads effectively. The company also specialises in escalators and moving walks, which are ideal for shopping malls, offices, hotels, airports, subways, and railway stations.
“We now offer modernisation products aimed at upgrading existing elevators and escalators, ensuring they meet current standards and efficiency,” he expands.
Furthermore, Schindler provides comprehensive services that cover every aspect of vertical transportation, from planning and installation to maintenance and upgrades, available 24/7 to ensure optimal performance and safety.
At present, the company employs over 300 individuals, collectively serving South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Kenya, and collaborates with 10 further business partners across the African continent.
A COMPETENT COMPETITOR
Schindler sets itself apart from the competition through a strong global presence, coupled with a firm focus on core competencies.
By expanding its service network and strengthening its worldwide footprint, the company exploits various global growth cycles, mitigating currency risks, reducing response times due to customer proximity, and enhancing service productivity.
Additionally, Schindler’s clear focus on its core competencies in the elevators and escalators business enables it to achieve cost leadership in an increasingly price-sensitive market.
“The company continuously optimises processes, reduces manufacturing depth by focusing on strategic core competencies, and limits the range of product families to a manageable number,” explains Bhairoparsad.
Furthermore, Schindler consistently develops leading products by incorporating the latest technology, ensuring it remains at the forefront of innovation and efficiency.
“These strategies collectively provide us with a competitive edge in the industry,” he reveals.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Across all facets of the business, Schindler places a strong emphasis on empowering its staff and recognising their valued contributions.
“We are committed to providing a friendly and transparent work environment where employees can grow to their full potential, regardless of their role,” Bhairoparsad affirms.
“The company respects its teammates as responsible professionals and takes care to recognise their individual contributions that foster collective success,” he follows up.
This includes considering flexible options around how and where jobs happen, accommodating different lifestyles and helping its employees strike the right work-life balance to ensure optimum health and maximum productivity.
Additionally, Schindler encourages diversity and inclusion, ensuring that each staff member is validated whilst motivating everyone to participate in discussions.
This inclusive approach helps recognise and embrace the differences amongst employees, further empowering them to contribute effectively to the overall success of the business.
In this way, Schindler is deeply committed to corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices.
“Our vision of leadership is rooted in providing exceptional customer service and maintaining uncompromising integrity. Personally, I find it fulfilling to support the cultural and charitable commitments of our team members.
“We’re dedicated to creating a healthy and safe workplace and believe in nurturing our employees’ skills through regular training and development opportunities. It’s incredibly rewarding to see how these efforts help us attract and retain the best talent,” Bhairoparsad prides.
“Being a part of Schindler means contributing to the well-being of the communities we serve, which is something I take great pride in.”
ADVANCING AFRICA
Looking ahead, Schindler’s key priorities for the coming year include translating its global environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments into actionable practices across its local operations in Africa.
“We aim to replicate the successful cross-functional structures seen in markets such as China, Germany, and the US to maximise our impact on the continent.
“A significant focus will be placed on expanding the coverage of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) to new geographical zones within Africa and increasing ESG disclosures in our annual report to meet the needs of our investors as well as ensure transparency in managing material risks and opportunities,” Bhairoparsad sets out.
Alongside this, Schindler is dedicated to advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives within its operations and continuing the company’s human rights due diligence project that was launched in 2020.
Another key priority is using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to guide its materiality analysis, which will shape Schindler’s 2030 sustainability roadmap specifically to the continent.
“Our goals for the upcoming year include implementing sustainability practices across all African operations, enhancing transparency and accountability through comprehensive ESG reporting, fostering a diverse and inclusive work culture, and advancing our human rights due diligence efforts,” Bhairoparsad confirms.
“Specifically, we plan to expand our EPD coverage, increase ESG disclosures, and replicate successful sustainability structures in additional African markets,” he concludes.
These priorities will undoubtedly help Schindler strengthen its commitment to sustainability, diversity, and responsible governance, ensuring long-term positive impacts for both the company and the broader community across Africa.
SCHINDLER LIFTS PARTNERS
