CanLift Rolls Out AI Across Rental Operations With Employee-Led Innovation

Ontario-based rental company introduces AI across customer and internal functions while maintaining its people-first culture

Burlington, ON, Sept. 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CanLift Equipment Ltd. (“CanLift” or the “Company”) has introduced artificial intelligence (AI) across customer-facing and internal operations, transforming how customers access support and staff work day-to-day. The independently-owned Company is one of the first in Canada’s MEWP (Mobile Elevated Work Platform) rental industry to integrate AI in this capacity. This comes as the Canadian Rental Association has projected continued growth for construction rental, which is expected to rise four percent in 2025 to $6.6 billion.

To enhance service, CanLift deployed Clive (CanLift Intelligent Virtual Expert), its AI chatbot, which provides 24/7 online support and has reduced web inquiry response times to instant replies. The Company also implemented AI-powered call routing, connecting customers to the right department faster, improving response times and reducing missed calls. Together, these tools have led to faster quote turnaround and less downtime for rental customers.

In addition to customer-facing improvements, CanLift has fostered internal adoption of AI through an employee-led “AI Club,” where staff collaborate on new applications for emerging technologies. Several custom GPTs have been developed in-house to support fleet optimization, prioritize urgent repairs, and manage cash flow. CanLift’s 50-person staff report real gains, from faster collections in accounts receivable to quicker service calls and more accurate dispatching. The Company also uses AI video generation to create training and onboarding videos, making knowledge transfer faster and more scalable. 

“There’s no doubt that professionals across Canada are feeling anxious about AI replacing their jobs, but CanLift took the opposite stance. Instead of seeing AI as a threat, the Company treated it as an engagement lever that helps us do our best work,” says Paul Cavert, Rental Coordinator at CanLift. “We’ve been able to take an active role in shaping how AI is used on the team, and the tools we’ve helped implement to automate repetitive tasks have made my work more rewarding.”

CanLift’s culture has supported the smooth integration of AI into daily operations, reinforcing the Company’s commitment to employee satisfaction and retention. Recognized nationally as a Great Place to Work®, CanLift continues to invest in its people while adopting new tools to strengthen service, which matters at a time when Canadian businesses face growing economic pressure. 

“Our AI innovation is empowering people, not replacing them. The industry relies on individual knowledge, which AI cannot replicate. Combining AI with our team’s expertise allows us to serve customers more effectively than companies that haven’t adopted these tools. We’ve done this while staying true to our people-first culture that earned us a Great Place to Work® certification,” says Ryan Fitzgibbon, Director of Technology and Marketing at CanLift. “These tools free our team to do what they do best, which is build relationships and deliver exceptional service.”

Looking ahead, the Company plans to expand its use of AI into predictive maintenance and personalized rental recommendations, ensuring even greater efficiency and customer value in the future.

About CanLift Equipment Ltd.
Established in 2009, CanLift Equipment Ltd. rents, sells, and services aerial lift and material handling equipment from top industry manufacturers like Genie, JLG, Skyjack, and more. Headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, with a second branch located in London, CanLift is proud to be one of the largest independently owned lift equipment providers in the province. CanLift’s experienced sales team and highly skilled service team go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity. For more information, visit https://www.canlift.ca/.

Attachments

• Staff who helped shape the AI rollout
• CanLift’s Clive

Brooke Russell
Marigold Marketing & PR
Tel: 905-510-3204
Email: brussell@marigoldpr.com 

Staff who helped shape the AI rollout

Recognized as a Great Place to Work®.

CanLift’s Clive

AI chatbot provides 24/7 online support.

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