The China Development Forum 2026 annual meeting was held in Beijing from March 22 to March 23. During a seminar on the digital and intelligent transformation of the manufacturing sector, Judy Marks, Chair, President, and CEO of Otis Worldwide Corp, stated that the global manufacturing industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Digital technology not only enhances efficiency but is also reshaping how products are designed, manufactured, operated, and maintained throughout their lifecycle, while simultaneously redefining the relationship between manufacturing and services across multiple industries.
Marks emphasized that factories are no longer just sites for product assembly; they are now deeply integrated with downstream services. This integration covers data generation, system implementation, and continuous operations, all tightly linked through digital systems. This connectivity helps improve quality, reduce variability, and support more timely services and longer equipment uptime.
Marks explained that digitization introduces greater flexibility into the manufacturing process. Intelligent production systems supported by automation and data enable manufacturers to meet the personalized needs of different building types and clients. In the vertical transportation industry, this adaptability is becoming increasingly vital as cities grow more complex and buildings become more customized. Concurrently, advancements in analytics and AI are progressively playing a significant role in equipment monitoring and maintenance.
She stressed that, when used responsibly, these technologies help identify operational patterns, predict maintenance needs, and enhance operational safety. Crucially, in the vertical transportation sector, AI will not replace technicians with specialized engineering knowledge but will instead serve as a complement to their work. Marks believes that technology delivers the greatest value when it enhances human judgment, experience, and accountability.
Marks highlighted that AI is a cornerstone for developing new quality productive forces in China. In the elevator industry, AI aids in managing logistics and passenger flow in real-time, predicts equipment maintenance needs weeks in advance, and improves safety through advanced monitoring. Artificial intelligence can transform data generated during manufacturing and service processes into actionable insights, thereby fostering new value-added service models and revenue streams, while also ensuring more robust long-term equipment operation.