Tsifrovoy Lift: A Unified Platform to Modernize Urban Elevator Infrastructure

The Core of the System: Digital Control of Elevator Infrastructure

At the II International Elevator Summit in Moscow, First Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Utilities Alexander Lomakin introduced the Tsifrovoy lift (Digital Lift) platform. Its primary objective is to consolidate all elevator operation and maintenance processes within a single digital environment.

The system will track the full life cycle of each elevator, generate a digital twin containing up-to-date condition data, and automatically issue alerts in case of malfunction. This approach reduces reliance on manual reporting, increases safety for residents, and helps property management companies lower operating costs through transparent oversight and predictive analytics. In practice, the platform would convert disconnected elevator units into a unified network of smart devices visible in real time.

Integration Into the Smart City Ecosystem

The project is not a standalone initiative. It fits within the broader strategy of digitizing the housing and utilities sector and construction industry, becoming a building block in the architecture of the smart city. Over time, the platform could serve as the foundation for a nationwide digital elevator registry. According to Deputy Minister Konstantin Mikhailik, the launch of such a registry could begin as early as 2026.

Further development envisions integration with other IoT-based monitoring systems for building engineering equipment. Data from elevators, energy supply systems, and water infrastructure could be analyzed collectively to improve operational efficiency, enhance resident comfort, and support energy savings. The result would be a comprehensive digital profile of a residential building, supporting coordinated management decisions.

All this will provide enormous capacity for manufacturers, enabling them to plan demand, maintenance cycles, and the production of safe components. For the state, it will ensure full transparency of an industry on which people’s lives often depend

Nikolay Kozak

Managing Director for IT and Digital Transformation at DOM.RF

Digitalization Context: Toward a Unified Registry

The Tsifrovoy lift initiative reflects a broader industry trend that has been building over the past five years. The Ministry of Construction has repeatedly emphasized the need for a unified national digital registry of elevator infrastructure, signaling a systemic approach to oversight.

At the same time, professional forums, including discussions in the Federation Council, have highlighted the concept of digital twins for engineering systems as part of a deeper transformation of the housing and utilities sector. The new platform consolidates these ideas into a practical implementation tool, beginning with Moscow. It also aligns with tightening regulatory requirements for maintenance providers, placing emphasis on transparency and accountability.

Planning Horizons

Tsifrovoy lift represents a serious attempt to define a new industry standard aimed at improving safety, transparency, and economic efficiency in elevator operations. Pilot implementation in Moscow is expected to begin in 2026 to 2027, alongside the rollout of the federal registry.

By the mid-2030s, accumulated operational data and technological development could enable the creation of an integrated digital infrastructure for monitoring all engineering systems in residential buildings using big data and predictive analytics. The success of the project will depend on coordination among regulators, management companies, and IT developers, as well as on resolving issues related to data standardization and financing. In this sense, the initiative establishes a clear and ambitious direction for long-term transformation of Russia’s housing and utilities sector.