ATIS Consulting: Breaking the Cycle: A Case Study on the RFP Process for Elevator Maintenance
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This case study highlights how ATIS helped a shopping mall for a large real estate firm reduce elevator maintenance costs by nearly $220,000 annually while improving service quality. By replacing a decadesold auto-renewing OEM contract with a competitively bid agreement, ATIS delivered over $2.2 million in projected savings across a 10-year term—achieving a return of more than 15x on consulting fees.
Introduction
For property owners with large, multi-elevator complexes, legacy maintenance agreements can quietly escalate costs over time. At this mall, a 30-year-old auto-renewing OEM contract had locked ownership into ever-increasing expenses and inconsistent service. ATIS’s strategic bidding and contract oversight turned that around—unlocking significant savings and better performance.
PROBLEM & SOLUTION
Problem Statement
The mall, with approximately 20 elevators, had relied on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) maintenance contract tied to the building’s construction. The agreement had auto-renewed since 1990, with annual cost escalations of 2–3%. By the time ATIS was engaged, the owner was paying:
$209,000 annually for basic maintenance (approximately $875/elevator/month)
$105,000 annually in extra charges for callbacks and repairs
Total: $315,000 per year for subpar service
Solution Overview
ATIS approached the challenge by leading a full competitive RFP process, developing a custom maintenance specification that reflected the client’s true operational needs. By moving away from the long-standing OEM contract and opening the market to competitive bids, ATIS helped the client secure a new agreement that reduced the base maintenance cost to $87,000 per year—less than half of the previous spend. Additional charges for taxes and extras fell below $11,000 annually. The result was a dramatically lower total cost of ownership, with improved service quality locked in through a 10-year contract.
Case Study Details
ATIS’s process included:
Detailed review of the legacy contract terms and cost escalations
Development of a competitive maintenance specification
Management of the RFP process to secure the best value provider
Support in contract negotiations to ensure service quality guarantees
Ongoing asset management services to monitor performance
The client paid ATIS an upfront fee of approximately $18,000, with annual asset management support at ~$12,000—a fraction of the savings realized.
RESULTS
Annual cost savings: Nearly $220,000 per year
10-year savings projection: Over $2.2 million
Consulting ROI: More than 15x on ATIS fees
Service level: Significant improvement with fewer callbacks and extras
Conclusion
This engagement shows the power of breaking free from outdated, auto-renewing contracts through expert competitive bidding and contract oversight. ATIS delivered not just immediate cost reductions, but sustained value and better elevator performance for the client’s portfolio.
The ATIS Advantage
ATIS is the largest full-service vertical transportation management company in North America, managing over 100,000 devices and inspecting more than 100,000 elevators annually. Our comprehensive services include compliance management, maintenance oversight, capital planning, and asset lifecycle solutions—supported by industry-leading technology and a dedicated team of 85+ consultants. Clients rely on ATIS for full-service portfolio management, from scheduling and tracking to tailored consulting that addresses every stage of their equipment’s life.