Reshaping the future of crane rental and equipment sales

Digitalisation is transforming processes across industries and changing how businesses operate. Around the world, organisations are increasingly embracing digital tools and platforms to enhance efficiency and innovation - and the lifting industry is no exception. Leading this shift is Mycrane with its newly launched Marketplace solution. Lifting Africa finds out more about this game-changing development.

As the world’s first global platform for online crane rental, Mycrane has been at the forefront of innovation in the lifting industry. Three years ago, the company was founded with a clear vision: to unite global lifting equipment and create an ecosystem for the crane industry.

This is embodied in its innovative rental platform, which operates much like Uber - but for cranes, explains founder and CEO Andrei Geikalo.

“We were very ambitious in what we wanted to achieve, and that was to assemble the largest fleet of cranes available for hire globally,” he says. In 2024 the company announced that it had reached an impressive inventory of more than 12,000 lifting machines.

For Geikalo, however, it is about more than just the numbers. “It has been essential for us to change how crane rentals are conducted. We have more than 1500 registered crane rental companies offering lifting equipment on our platform, which has made doing business easier. Mycrane has eliminated the need for cumbersome offline inquiries by offering an easy-to-use, digital solution for finding the right crane for the job.”

More recently, the company has expanded its offering by introducing its newest platform – Marketplace. It draws on the strengths of the Mycrane crane rental platform. Companies - or individuals - can now buy and sell used and new lifting equipment on the Mycrane Marketplace, which promotes a shift from low-volume and costly trades to numerous, cost-efficient sales transactions.

No subscription fees apply; only competitive fees are payable after a sale. “Just as we’ve made crane rental easy and accessible for all, we now want to democratise the equipment sales process by supporting fast, global trading and providing access to a wide range of keenly-priced equipment,” says Geikalo. The Mycrane Marketplace sells lifting equipment, including mobile, crawler, tower, and speciality cranes, aerial work platforms and other lifting equipment.

“The Mycrane Marketplace is particularly valuable to individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), who will be empowered by the ability to source the right equipment at the right price – wherever they are internationally,” he says.

“The goal is to streamline the buying process, increase transparency and choice, and create a robust trading platform to benefit the entire industry.”

Unlocking Africa’s potential

Mycrane has achieved significant success across several emerging markets, with India and the Middle East standing out as fast-growing regions where Geikalo and his team continue to gain momentum. Now, they have set their sights on Africa, recognising it as the next frontier for expansion and innovation in the lifting industry.

According to Geikalo, Africa presents a unique crane and lifting equipment industry opportunity. “The continent has immense infrastructure demand, driven by population growth and large-scale investment projects like LNG developments,” he says.

“Annual growth in the lifting equipment sector is expected to reach around 6%, with countries like Ethiopia alone projected to grow by 5% annually over the next five years.”

However, Geikalo acknowledges the challenges businesses face in Africa. “Identifying suitable equipment can be chaotic due to limited local suppliers and fragmented markets. A lot of the equipment is prohibitively expensive, and brokers often dominate the industry,” he says.

Mycrane’s Marketplace is designed to address these issues by aggregating supply and providing a modern, user-friendly digital platform. “We’ve spent time in markets like China and now have a dedicated Chinese-speaking specialist to work with sellers,” says Geikalo. “This enables us to bring our users competitive pricing and better options.”

The platform allows African companies to connect with international equipment providers, streamlining the procurement process. “With our global footprint, users can compare bookings, filter transactions by price, and choose exactly what suits their needs—whether it’s a five-year-old crane or a more affordable option from the Middle East,” says Geikalo. “It’s all about empowering businesses with the tools to make informed decisions.”

Addressing rising costs and lead times

Geikalo emphasises that the high equipment and materials prices often inflate project costs in Africa. “These factors exaggerate the rising project costs, but Mycrane can help reduce some of that burden,” he says.

One significant advantage the platform offers is access to used equipment. “Extensive lead times and shipping delays can be major hurdles in Africa,” says Geikalo. With Mycrane, businesses can find used equipment that is widely available and can be delivered to their sites much faster. This not only saves time but also significantly reduces costs.”

Further benefits include the ability to filter lifting equipment by age and condition, obtain inspection reports, and verify crane documentation.“We are also able to offer logistics and transportation services, facilitating the sales process to final delivery at the customer’s project site anywhere in the world, as well as insurance and leasing (finance) to fund the purchase,” he says.

Geikalo, however, points out that Mycrane’s focus will always be on cranes. “While there’s a wide range of construction equipment, cranes are critical to lifting operations.”

“This market requires more engineering expertise and complexity than many others. It’s a significant target, with crane rentals accounting for up to 30% of overall site equipment expenditure.“

“My team and I have hands-on experience in the field, allowing us to understand the market’s needs truly. By focusing exclusively on cranes, we can bring real value to our customers, offering a diverse range of cranes.”

He says that by providing a platform that connects businesses with equipment that meets their specific needs, they can streamline operations and alleviate some of the challenges often experienced when renting or buying cranes.

MYCRANE,

Info@my-crane.com,

www.market.my-crane.com