Exploring how connected workflows, people flow data, and digital solutions are improving efficiency across construction and building operations
Walking through the streets of Helsinki, you notice a unique balance. The city feels calm and connected to nature, yet forward-looking, shaped by a strong culture of design. It is a place where architecture, nature, and everyday life come together in a functional and thoughtful way.
That same mindset carries into the headquarters of KONE. What’s remarkable is the scale behind its impact. Every day, KONE systems move more than 2 billion people around the world, playing a critical role in how buildings and cities function.
During my visit, I sat down with Amy Chen, SVP and Chief Innovation Officer, and Tero Hottinen, VP and Head of Strategic Partnerships, to discuss how connected construction, digital workflows, and data are reshaping both project delivery and building operations.
What stood out is a clear shift: elevators are no longer just equipment. They are becoming connected platforms for vertical logistics that improve efficiency across construction and operations.
Watch the full interview below:
Construction projects continue to face fragmented workflows and limited visibility across trades.
KONE is addressing this by improving vertical logistics on site, helping teams better manage how people and materials move throughout a building.
When aligned with planning, site operations, and early coordination workflows, including constructability reviews and long-lead item planning, this approach has demonstrated:
The key opportunity lies in connecting logistics with broader site planning. This remains a largely underutilized area with significant potential to improve productivity and reduce delays.
KONE’s approach goes beyond manufacturing and installation, focusing on the full lifecycle of a building. Construction is just the starting point, and buildings are in use for decades. By leveraging connected systems and data, buildings can shift from reactive maintenance to proactive performance management, improving reliability and reducing disruptions.
One of the most impactful ideas discussed was how KONE is using people flow data from elevator systems to better understand how buildings operate. In a fully integrated approach, existing data can often be leveraged without requiring sensor deployments later in the process, enabling real-time insights such as occupancy patterns and energy optimization, resulting in overall improvements in building performance.
This approach has enabled up to 36% reduction in building energy use, making it particularly powerful for existing buildings, where unlocking value from current systems can significantly improve efficiency and sustainability without major infrastructure upgrades.
A consistent theme throughout the conversation was the importance of collaboration. KONE’s approach is not to solve challenges in silos, but to deliver outcomes through partnerships. By providing reliable people flow data and working closely with AEC partners who optimize building systems, they are able to deliver measurable results that extend beyond a single solution. This reflects a broader shift across the industry toward connected ecosystems, where value is created through integration rather than standalone technologies.
Looking ahead, the biggest opportunity lies in strengthening the connection between construction and operations. As projects become more complex, aligning site planning with logistics and using data to support better decision-making will be critical, while the evolution of smarter building operations continues to accelerate.
While progress is being made, fully connected construction workflows are still evolving. Bridging this gap represents a significant opportunity for the industry to reduce inefficiencies, improve predictability, and deliver better outcomes across the full building lifecycle.
My visit to Helsinki and KONE’s headquarters reinforced a clear direction for the built environment. Real impact comes from connecting workflows, using data effectively, and focusing on measurable outcomes.
What stood out most is not just the technology itself, but how it is applied to solve real challenges across construction and operations. From improving construction efficiency to enhancing building performance and sustainability, connected solutions are becoming essential to how we design, build, and operate buildings across their full lifecycle.
