We recently had the opportunity to interview Andrei Chekan, Co-founder of LIIS, a company that deals with automation and development. Andrei and his team create smart, comfortable spaces through services, engineering, and mobile app development for automated building management and software.
LIIS, an industry leader with 18 years of experience, has successfully finished 200+ projects worldwide, excelling in automated engineering systems and software. Numerous awards over the years have validated their exceptional performance in this sector.
In this insightful interview, Andrei speaks about the advent of his business and expansion to the UAE region and shares his vision of taking the company on a continuous path of success.
The Genesis Of Andrei’s Journey
We started the session by asking, “What key milestones in your career led you to where you are today?”
Andrei shared, “In 2006, my brother and I founded – LIIS Engineering Solutions, specializing in home and office automation. We started our journey by creating a smart home for a friend who worked at Vkontakte, a leading IT company in Russia. Impressed by the result, his colleague requested the same, leading to a high client retention rate. We then expanded to automating their office space, our first major project.
Over 18 years, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones, such as developing a smart office for a major IT company in Russia, automating Europe’s tallest skyscraper, the Lakhta Center, and creating presidential suites at the Grand Hotel Europe.”
Andrei Chekan added, “At Lakhta Center, we developed Europe’s largest automation and dispatch system. Initially invited for an audit, we proposed optimizations that led to a significant contract. This was a major achievement for our small company, with an annual turnover of 200 million rubles, securing a billion-plus contract.
We received the Crestron Integration Award for our hotel management system, the only Russian company to do so. Our portfolio includes over 2,000 residential projects and more than 1 million sq. meters of commercial automation across the CIS and Europe. These achievements and our expertise encouraged us to enter the Emirates market.”
Garnering Fresh Experience
We were intrigued to learn more about the experience Andrei Chekan is gathering in this new market. So, we asked, “What new experiences have you had in the UAE market?”
Andrei Chekan shared, “Entering the UAE market meant starting from scratch, where no one knew or believed in us. Despite the numerous automation companies in the Emirates, our experience in complex engineering systems and programming helped us compete. Our strong engineering team with proven experience enables us to provide solutions for clients of all scales, from private homes to large corporations and even the Saint Petersburg Stadium, with 68,000 people capacity.
Recently, our engineer successfully fixed a malfunctioning smart home system in Atlantis the Royal, which four previous companies couldn’t. They identified the incorrect setup, explained it to the client, and resolved the issue within a day at a reasonable cost. In the UAE, we customized automation scenarios by developing pool cooling systems to prevent mold growth and reduce electricity bills. We prioritized proper ventilation and air conditioning programming for better results.”
Team Empowerment
To gather insights on Andrei’s team and their core ethics of leading the business, we asked, “Who is in your team, and what principles does the company adhere to?”
“Our employees are our greatest asset. We take pride in our team’s engineering expertise, with certifications from Lutron, Jung, Loxone, Crestron, KNX, Cisco, and others.
Our team includes 20 leaders, not counting my brother and me, who started as junior employees or programmers and have become managers.
We have many young members who bring fresh ideas, speak concisely, and contribute tremendous energy and value. Our core principle is working together as a team, always sharing expertise and ready to assist each other.
Our employees possess the determination and drive to achieve results.” Andrei Chekan replied.
Success Stories Of LIIS
We further asked, “Can you share a successful story from your business that you are particularly proud of?”
Andrei Chekan replied, “Yes, we have several innovative solutions, such as AI-camera license plate recognition for parking barrier access. Our most outstanding project is the BMS for Lakhta Center, Europe’s tallest building. This unique system handles 250,000 signals, scalable to 1 million. The project involved automating facade lighting, safety sensors, automatic windows, climate control, and more across 462 meters and 146 floors.
Despite tight deadlines, we successfully delivered a robust system for over 630 installations, proving our efficiency and reliability. This automation project is one of Europe’s most complex. Moreover, our client-centric approach and professionalism allow us to optimize costs without compromising quality, as validated by client feedback. Our products have helped reduce electricity bills by 30%, providing 7.6 extra days of free time and improving the quality of life for clients in large residential complexes, bringing us immense satisfaction.”
Envisioning The Future
Eager to learn more about the perspective of Andrei Chekan on the growth of his industry, we inquired, “Share your views on the future of this industry.”
Andrei Chekan responded, “People often say smart homes are the future. I believe they are already our present. Many are surprised to learn that ideas they thought were futuristic are already possible today. In 2008 the automatic adaptation of the microclimate (temperature, lighting, etc.) to the outdoor weather conditions seemed like something extraordinary. Now it is available to almost everyone: a combination of specialized sensors and automatic smart home scenarios easily provides this functionality.
Many of our projects are under non-disclosure agreements, but we can provide references to demonstrate our work. For example, we completed a project for a 1,071-square-meter apartment, including a winter garden and an additional summer garden of approximately 26,778 square meters. This project included 432 automation units and a comprehensive dispatch system (OPC server, SCADA system), ensuring full compliance without the need for modifications.
Key features included:
French window control: added a function to lock external door opening buttons at the request of the security service, with control only from wall switches.
Comprehensive weather station: measuring wind speed and direction, air humidity, temperature, light intensity, and rain detection.
Awning control: automatically opens awnings upon receiving a ‘Rain’ signal from the weather station to prevent water accumulation.
Lighting control: automatic schedules for turning garden lights on and off based on sunrise and sunset, and various lighting scenarios.
Climate control: comprehensive internal climate management for comfort and efficiency.
Curtain control: automatic adjustment for optimal light and privacy.
Leak protection: sensors in all ‘wet areas’ and collector nodes, automatically close relevant ball valves upon detecting leaks.
We are ready to provide tailored, effective solutions for specific needs.
Smart Homes For All, we asked Andrei Chekan
Lastly, to get a glimpse of the priorities of LIIS, we asked Andrei Chekan, “What is your company’s goal?”
He shared, “Our goal is a ‘smart home for every home.’ Many believe smart homes are expensive, prone to failure, and hard to use. We created a solution that is easy to use and we also provide a warranty for it. We aim to make this technology more accessible and improve people’s lives.
In the UAE, we prioritize delivering durable, energy-efficient solutions tailored to the local environment. By leveraging unique local factors, we enhance comfort and efficiency. Our certified engineers and advanced technologies make this possible.
For instance, an investor sought an economical and quality solution. We provided a quick, high-quality solution with reasonable management. Our attention to detail leaves clients satisfied. Our solutions suit every home, saving energy, time, and money. We have a showroom in Dubai and welcome everyone to see how different scenarios work in our mini villa. We truly enjoy working in the UAE market. Thank you for your trust.”
Follow Andrei Chekan on LinkedIn.
Find LIIS on LinkedIn and visit their website https://liistech.com/?utm_campaign=int&utm_content=link
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