United Rentals is expanding its use of AI across service operations, deploying an AI-enabled application designed to reduce equipment downtime, improve fleet utilization, and support safer maintenance practices across jobsites.
The company announced enterprise-wide adoption of Manual Assist AI, a web-based platform developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services. The application delivers AI-powered diagnostics and on-demand access to thousands of manufacturer manuals, placing technical guidance directly in the hands of service technicians working in shops and in the field. The platform now supports more than 4,000 monthly users, signaling a shift from pilot testing to operational deployment at scale.
Manual Assist AI is designed to help technicians quickly locate the correct manuals, summarize service procedures, and surface the most relevant technical sections for deeper review. Built on AWS cloud infrastructure and generative AI services, the tool replaces time-consuming searches through static documents with targeted, real-time guidance.
For a company managing one of the largest equipment fleets in the world, faster diagnostics directly translate into shorter repair cycles and higher asset availability. According to Tony Leopold, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology and Strategy Officer at United Rentals, the platform helps service teams return equipment to operation more quickly, improving utilization across the fleet.
United Rentals operates more than 1,600 rental locations globally, serving construction, industrial, utility, and municipal customers. In this environment, even modest improvements in repair efficiency can have a meaningful impact on infrastructure delivery.
Equipment downtime affects project schedules, labor productivity, and cost control—particularly on large construction projects where specialized machinery is essential. By reducing the time required to diagnose and resolve equipment issues, Manual Assist AI supports more predictable equipment availability on jobsites and smoother project execution.
The platform also aligns with United Rentals’ broader Worksite Performance Solutions™ strategy, which integrates digital tools and analytics to improve jobsite outcomes.
While positioned primarily as a productivity tool, the application carries important environment, health, and safety (EHS) implications. Equipment maintenance is among the higher-risk activities on industrial and construction sites, often performed under time pressure and variable field conditions.
By providing faster access to manufacturer-specific instructions and highlighting safety-critical steps, Manual Assist AI supports more consistent and informed task execution. Reduced repair times also limit exposure to hazardous conditions and decrease the need for repeat service visits, aligning with core EHS objectives around risk reduction and procedural consistency.
United Rentals’ expansion of Manual Assist AI reflects a broader shift toward practical, embedded AI in asset-intensive industries. Rather than experimental deployments, the focus is on tools that quietly improve reliability, utilization, and safety—delivering operational gains that compound across fleets, jobsites, and workforces.
