45 minutes. That's how much time employees spend each day searching for tools.
Imagine you are a construction manager with a big project. You have many tasks and deadlines to meet. Suddenly, you can't find important tools like a hammer drill, a compressor, a plate compactor or even a trailer. You spend these 45 minutes searching for your tool a day. It's stressful and could cause delays and money loss. But what if there was a solution to this common problem? Let's explore four alternative scenarios where Mini Tool Connect can save the day and revolutionize your construction site management.
The Forgetful Foreman
John, a seasoned foreman, is overseeing multiple job sites across the city. At the end of a hectic day, he realizes he's left an expensive power saw at one of the locations. Panic sets in as he tries to remember which site it was. With dozens of workers and multiple projects, pinpointing the tool's location seems impossible. The stress of potentially losing a valuable piece of equipment weighs heavily on his mind.
The Overwhelmed Depot Manager
Sarah manages a large equipment depot for a construction company. With hundreds of tools and machines coming in and out daily, keeping track of everything is a constant challenge. One morning, she discovers that a mobile crane is missing from the depot. Was it signed out properly? Is it at a job site or has it been misplaced? The pressure to locate the expensive machinery before it impacts ongoing projects is immense.
The Logistical Nightmare
Mark, a logistics coordinator, is responsible for ensuring that the right equipment reaches the right site at the right time. He's just received an urgent request for a plate compactor needed at a crucial stage of a project. However, the last known location of the compactor is unclear. As he frantically calls different site managers, the clock ticks away, potentially causing costly delays.
The Director's Dilemma
Emma, the director of a mid-sized construction firm, is reviewing the company's financial reports. She's alarmed by the increasing costs associated with equipment replacement and rental. Despite implementing strict sign-out procedures, tools and machinery still seem to go missing or are unavailable when needed. The stress of balancing the budget while maintaining operational efficiency is taking its toll. In each of these scenarios, the absence of real-time tracking leads to stress, inefficiency, and potential financial losses.
Mini Tool Connect offers a solution that can transform these challenging situations into manageable, streamlined processes. By providing instant location data for tools and equipment, it eliminates the guesswork and time-consuming searches that plague construction professionals daily.
In this article, we will explore:
Ready to streamline your operations? Let’s dive in!
Current Trends in Tool Management and Tracking of Small Assets in Construction
Tracking small tools and assets on a construction site has always been challenging. But new technology is making it easier. Let's look at the current trends that are changing how companies keep track of their tools.
Bluetooth is becoming very popular for tracking small tools. Small devices, called beacons, are attached to tools. These beacons send signals to nearby machines or vehicles. This helps you know exactly where your tools are. No more searching all over the site for that missing hammer drill!
Many tools now have smart sensors. These sensors collect information about the tool, like how often it’s used or if it needs maintenance. This data helps workers know when a tool might break or need repairs. Fixing tools early can prevent delays.
Mobile apps allow workers to check tool locations right from their phones. Workers can scan barcodes or use an app to track where the tools are on the site. This saves time and ensures that everyone knows where the equipment is.
Cloud-based systems store all the information about your tools in one place. This means workers and managers can see real-time updates about the tools on any device with internet access. It’s easier to manage tools across different sites with this system.
Some systems send automated alerts when tools are left unused or go missing. These alerts help workers take quick action if a tool is lost or not where it should be. This reduces the risk of losing valuable tools and saves money.
These trends are helping construction companies track and manage their small assets more easily. As technology continues to improve, tool tracking will get even better!
Managing motorized tools presents its own set of difficulties on a busy construction site. Here are some of the common challenges:
Even though tools like hammer drills and plate compactors are vital, they can still be easily misplaced on large sites. This often leads to delays, as workers spend time looking for them instead of staying productive.
Motorized tools need regular maintenance to run smoothly. Without a system in place, it’s difficult to keep track of how often each tool has been used or when it needs to be serviced. This can result in unexpected breakdowns at critical moments.
Motorized tools are often expensive and, without proper tracking, can be targets for theft. When tools like compressors or trailers go missing, the cost to replace them is high, and projects can face significant delays.
Moving motorized tools from one location to another can be a challenge, especially trailers and larger equipment. Keeping track of where each piece of equipment is and ensuring it is available when needed can become difficult without proper systems in place.
Bohnenblust AG is a family business located in St. Gallen. They specialize in transporting general cargo and steel. They have 20 vehicles and 16 trailers. This means they need careful planning to keep everything running smoothly.
We spoke to Marc Bohnenblust, the owner, about how Logifleet360° has helped their business. It helps connect the office and field operations in real time.
Tracking Vehicles with Vehicle Connect
Before using Logifleet360°, Bohnenblust AG had problems tracking where their vehicles were. Now, with Vehicle Connect, they can see exactly where each vehicle is. This means they can better estimate arrival times for customer deliveries.
They also use the data from Vehicle Connect to track running hours and downtime. This has helped them plan better and manage their resources more effectively.
Monitoring Trailers with Mini Tool Connect
Bohnenblust AG was one of the first companies to use Mini Tool Connect. This tool helps them track smaller equipment. However, Bohnenblust uses it to monitor which trailer is attached to which truck.
Before, they had to do this with lots of paperwork. Now, they can see the trailer-truck connection on a screen. This saves time and gets rid of the need for extra paperwork. Moving to a digital system has made their work easier and more accurate.
Geozone Feature
Logifleet’s geozone feature allows Bohnenblust AG to mark important places on the map. This helps them keep track of what happens in those areas.
They can see how often they visit certain places and how long they stay there. This gives them helpful data to improve their service and plan better.
User-Friendly Interface and Great Support
Marc Bohnenblust really likes the interface of Logifleet360°. It uses different symbols and colors to show vehicles, trailers, and key spots. This makes it easy to quickly spot the things they need on the live map.
He also says that Logifleet’s customer service is great. They are always available to help and respond quickly to any questions or problems. This has made it easier for Marc to run his day-to-day business.
Conclusion
Marc Bohnenblust shared his satisfaction with Logifleet. "Logifleet360° has played an important role as a partner. Understanding our distinct needs and assisting our pursuit of operational excellence. The innovative solutions provided have notably enhanced our capacities. Enabling us to deliver outstanding service while optimizing our operations. We confidently recommend Logifleet to any enterprise seeking to improve their fleet management."
The full case study you can discover here - Case Studies.
Logifleet Mini Tool Connect devices are a great solution for tracking tools and equipment on construction sites. These small devices send out Bluetooth signals that nearby gateways, such as Logifleet GPS trackers installed on vehicles or battery-powered gateways, can detect. The data is transmitted to a central system, providing real-time visibility of all tools and equipment. All vehicles used by Logifleet customers act as gateways, offering extensive coverage and ensuring you can locate your tools even if no other vehicles or machines are nearby.
In addition, vehicles or machines equipped with a Logifleet Telematic unit, or standalone battery-powered gateways (including 220W-powered gateways designed specifically for depots), further enhance tracking capabilities.
How it works?
This system saves a lot of time that would be wasted searching for misplaced items like plate compactors, floor saws, toolboxes, and generators. Workers, managers, and office staff no longer need to manually track tools or spend hours checking for them.
With Mini Tool Connect, companies can better manage their tool inventory. This ensures that equipment is always in the right place when it’s needed, reducing delays and helping projects get finished faster.
Real-time tracking also cuts down on the need to rent or replace expensive equipment, saving a lot of money. Knowing where each tool is means fewer unnecessary purchases and better use of the tools you already have.
Mini Tool Connect devices are tough and made for the construction environment. They are protected from dust and water with an IP67 rating, so they work well in harsh conditions. With long battery life and an easy-to-mount design, these devices require no maintenance once installed, making them even more cost-effective.
*Mini – BLE beacon is our tag vs First Tag (K12) which is a cheaper one.
In the world of the Internet of Things (e.g., the Logifleet 360° solution), we often hear the term "Mesh," which means "Network" or "Grid."In LF360°, the basic mesh is available through all vehicles (VC) and machines (MC) connected to LF360°, including those of other Logifleet customers*. To date, this represents 15,000 MTC gateways present in Switzerland.
This mesh network approach significantly enhances the tracking capabilities of the Mini Tool Connect system. By leveraging the interconnected network of vehicles, machines, and standalone gateways, Logifleet 360° creates a robust infrastructure for real-time asset tracking across construction sites and beyond.
Our "anti-noise" algorithms help reduce edge effects (e.g., false movements).
Benefits of the Mesh Network
Each GPS tracker can scan up to 100 Mini Tool Connect devices at the same time. But the real power is in its ability to grow. As tools and machinery move around the site, it can keep scanning as many Mini Tool Connect devices as needed, ensuring everything is covered. Just make sure your tracker has firmware version 03.29 or higher to use these features.
By using this tool and equipment tracking system, companies can fix inefficiencies and improve how they operate. This leads to big savings and better productivity across all parts of the business.
BENEFITS
Why Logifleet?
Logifleet is the perfect solution for tracking tools and equipment on construction sites. With real-time tracking, it prevents delays, saves time, and reduces costs. The Mini Tool Connect system is easy to set up, works with existing devices, and is built to handle tough environments. Plus, it gives managers peace of mind by ensuring they always know where their tools are. By choosing Logifleet, companies can boost their efficiency, stay on schedule, and complete projects with less stress and more confidence.