# Make Existing Lifts Faster | SES Smart Elevator System > SES makes existing lifts faster without replacing them: 20–50% better efficiency, under AED 500k, about a day per lift. Live with Damac Developers in Dubai. Canonical page: https://www.widesystems.com/smart-elevator-system.html Last updated: 2026-11-09 Built by Wide CS in Dubai [Solutions](https://www.widesystems.com/#solutions) / SES · Smart Elevator System # Faster lifts, *without replacing them.* SES, the Smart Elevator System by Wide CS, makes existing lifts faster. Cameras and AI see how many people are waiting and how full each car is, and a retrofitted module tells your current lift controller what to do. Wide CS projects have seen 20 to 50 percent better lift efficiency, for under AED 500,000 and about a day of installation per lift. SES – نظام المصاعد الذكي [Book a free assessment](#contact) [Compare the costs](#compare) What it is : AI lift control retrofitted to existing elevators Improvement : 20–50% lift efficiency in Wide CS projects Cost : Typically under AED 500,000 per building Installation : About 1 working day per lift Live at : A Damac Developers building, Dubai The problem ## Long lift queues are *a Dubai problem.* In 2024 Khaleej Times reported Dubai residents losing up to 30 minutes waiting for a lift, with complaints from towers in Barsha Heights, Business Bay, Al Barsha, Deira and Bur Dubai. Buildings are designed to last decades, but the technology inside them ages within a few years, and lifts are the most expensive part to modernise. Most existing elevators run on basic controllers with no intelligence: they only know which buttons were pressed, not how many people are waiting or how full each car is. That is why full cars keep stopping and queues build at peak times. [Read why lifts are slow](https://www.widesystems.com/insights/why-are-lifts-slow-dubai-buildings.html). How SES works ## It sees the queue, *then directs the lifts.* SES watches how people actually use your lifts and tells the existing controller what to do, in real time. ### Sees the whole journey Human and object detection with spatial reasoning counts people waiting in each lobby and on board each car. ### Commands your existing lifts A retrofitted command module activates and deactivates triggers in your current elevator system. ### Commands as required By activating and deactivating triggers, SES sets how the lifts respond to your building's real traffic. ### Learns your building A two to four week machine-learning stage sets the best operating flow for your traffic. ### Works with your lift company Recommendations are made together with your elevator service provider. ### Clear results A simple dashboard shows waiting times, traffic and the efficiency gained. **20–50%**improvement in lift efficiency in Wide CS projects **< AED 500k**typical investment for a whole building **~1 day**installation per lift, 6–8 working days in total **6 weeks**from first meeting to full operation Figures from Wide CS projects. Results depend on the building, its traffic and the elevator system. Lift modernisation costs ## The usual fixes cost *millions.* When lifts cannot keep up with footfall, the standard options are slow, expensive and disruptive. SES works with what you already have. | Option | Typical cost | Typical time | | --- | --- | --- | | Replace with a new elevator system | AED 5M+ | ~18 months | | Upgrade elevator engines | AED 3M+ | ~6 months | | Enlarge cabins by two people | AED 2M+ | ~3 months per lift | | **SES retrofit** | < AED 500k | 6–8 working days | Indicative figures from Wide CS assessments of buildings in Dubai. [Read the full cost guide](https://www.widesystems.com/insights/lift-modernisation-cost-uae.html). In operation ## Live with *Damac Developers.* SES is installed and running in a Damac Developers building in Dubai, on the building's existing elevators. A full case study will follow. [Ask about the installation](#contact) Who it is for ## Built for buildings *that cannot wait.* ### Residential towers Shorter queues at the morning and school-run peaks, without months of works for residents. ### Office towers Faster lunchtime and arrival peaks, and data to show tenants the improvement. ### Hotels and serviced apartments Guests and staff move faster, without changing how anyone calls a lift. The SES process ## Six weeks from first meeting to *faster lifts.* Our consultants and engineers run every step with your building management and elevator service provider. 1. 01 ### Meet We sit down with building management to understand the challenge. 2. 02 ### Discover We work with your elevator provider to understand the existing system. 3. 03 ### Plan An in-depth action plan, cost and timeline for your building. 4. 04 ### Install SES is retrofitted to your existing lifts, about a day per lift. 5. 05 ### Learn A two to four week machine-learning stage tunes the system. 6. 06 ### Run Fully operational, with results visible on your dashboard. Questions ## SES *FAQ.* ### Does SES replace my lifts? No. SES is retrofitted to your existing elevator system. Your lifts, cabins and machinery stay in place; SES changes how they are controlled. ### Will it work with my lift company? Yes. Wide CS works with your elevator service provider to understand the existing system, and recommendations are made together with them. ### How long does installation take? About one working day per lift, typically 6 to 8 working days for a building, followed by a two to four week machine-learning stage. Full operation is usually reached within about six weeks of the first meeting. ### Do residents lose lift access during installation? SES is fitted one lift at a time, so the other lifts stay in service while each one is installed. ### How much does SES cost? A typical building installation costs under AED 500,000, compared with AED 2 million to over AED 5 million for conventional upgrades. Every building is different, so we provide a written assessment first. ### What improvement can I expect? Wide CS projects have seen lift efficiency improve by 20 to 50 percent, with results visible on the SES dashboard within about two months. The result depends on the building, its traffic and the existing system. ### Where is SES installed? SES is live in a Damac Developers building in Dubai. Wide CS can arrange a conversation about the installation. Guides ## Lift guides for *building managers.* [Lifts and elevators ### Why Are the Lifts in My Dubai Building So Slow? The real causes of long lift waiting times in Dubai towers, what good looks like, and how to fix slow lifts without replacing them. Read the guide](https://www.widesystems.com/insights/why-are-lifts-slow-dubai-buildings.html) [Costs and timelines ### Lift Modernisation Cost in the UAE vs an AI Retrofit Indicative AED costs and timelines for lift replacement, engine upgrades and cabin enlargement in the UAE, compared with an SES AI retrofit. Read the guide](https://www.widesystems.com/insights/lift-modernisation-cost-uae.html) [Comparing technologies ### Destination Dispatch Retrofit vs AI Camera-Based Lift Control How destination dispatch retrofits compare with AI camera-based lift control such as SES: passenger experience, hardware, installation and when each fits. Read the guide](https://www.widesystems.com/insights/destination-dispatch-vs-ai-lift-control.html) [Measuring performance ### How to Measure Lift Waiting Times in an Existing Building A practical method for building managers to measure lift waiting times, intervals and peak demand in an existing building, with a simple survey template. Read the guide](https://www.widesystems.com/insights/how-to-measure-lift-waiting-times.html) Get in touch ## Book a free *SES assessment.* Tell us about your building, the number of lifts and when queues are worst. We will arrange a meeting and a written assessment. Office : #2108, Damac Executive Heights Al Barsha Heights, Dubai, UAE P.O. Box 32614 Telephone : +971 4 452 7776Copy Email : sales@widesystems.comCopy --- Wide CS (Wide Computer Systems L.L.C.) · #2108 Damac Executive Heights, Al Barsha Heights, Dubai, UAE · +971 4 452 7776 · sales@widesystems.com