Milwaukee® ONE-KEY™ + PACKOUT™ = A Productiveness Energy Duo

Productiveness is a common, if ambiguous, metric that companies throughout each {industry} intention to measure, perceive, and enhance. 

Within the cubicle-filled office, meaning workplace managers trying to enhance environmental elements and ergonomics that would in any other case drive desk staff to lose focus. On the jobsite, it means changing ineffective processes that, if left alone, can result in development downtime, a serious productiveness staller.  

Autodesk lists a number of “challenges in productiveness” within the development {industry}. To call a few: 

1. 60% of basic contractors see issues with coordination and communication between undertaking workforce members and points with the standard of contract paperwork as the important thing contributors to decreased labor productiveness. 
2. 35% of development professionals’ time (over 14 hours per week) is spent on non-productive actions together with in search of undertaking info, battle decision, and coping with errors and rework. 
3. 68% of trades level to poor schedule administration as the important thing contributors to decreased labor productiveness. 

Tools breakdowns, ready for supplies to reach, and communication silos rank excessive among the many culprits to undertaking downtime that stalls productiveness on jobs. 

To forestall these issues from arising, conventional knowledge would let you know that you just should give attention to enhancing how you keep forward of servicing your instruments, the way you retailer and transport your instruments, and the way you handle the method (and folks) which can be utilizing your instruments on the job. 

On this article, we’d prefer to share a pair recommendations on tips on how to just do that in each the bodily and digital worlds—an vital steadiness to strike to maximise your productiveness potential (see: digital twins idea, outlined). Significantly, we’ll present how two of product platforms from Milwaukee®, ONE-KEY™ and PACKOUT™, work higher collectively—and eventually, we’ll share a few tales of finish customers within the subject who use these platforms in tandem to get extra work accomplished. 

Let’s dive in!  

Bounce Forward:  

1. Constructing Product Ecosystems: Merchandise Superpowered When They Work “System-Large” 
2. What Is Milwaukee Software’s ONE-KEY? 
3. What Is Milwaukee Software’s PACKOUT?  
4. A Profitable Combo Finish Customers Are Implementing 
   1. Use Case: Derek T., Heavy-Responsibility Mechanic 
   2. Use Case: Mitch V., Union Carpenter  
5. ONE-KEY Options to Get the Most Out of PACKOUT 
6. ONE-KEY Merchandise to Get the Most Out of PACKOUT 
7. PACKOUT Merchandise to Get the Most Out of ONE-KEY 
8. Closing Consideration: One-Key Suitable Instruments: Baseline vs Experiences and Full Customization 

Consulting agency EY reported in a examine that 91% of enterprise leaders agree that “ecosystems” have elevated the resilience of their enterprise. 

What Is a Product Ecosystem? 

The time period “ecosystem” is oft related to highschool science class. Nationwide Geographic defines the time period as such: “A geographic space the place vegetation, animals, and different organisms, in addition to climate and landscapes, work collectively to type a bubble of life.” 

Such an outline could summon grand landscapes—forests the place bears roam; deserts the place cacti thrive in scorching solar and rattlesnakes slither; the deep blue the place faculties of fish swim.  

However the identical “organisms [… that] work collectively to type a bubble of life” are acknowledged interlocking within the merchandise we use from the businesses we admire.  

HubSpot defines “Product Ecosystem” as “when a enterprise presents a number of complementary services or products for his or her prospects to buy and use in tandem,” to be able to “simplify the lives of shoppers by offering services or products that can be utilized for quite a lot of wants.”   

“These services or products,” they clarify, “can coexist peacefully and combine or join with one another which makes them extra highly effective and beneficial for customers.” 

Product Ecosystem Examples 

HubSpot presents Apple as an “Instance of a Product Ecosystem,” explaining how this works in follow: 

“Plug your iPhone into your MacBook Professional to view all particulars associated to the cellphone together with your storage, totally different features of your cellphone’s historical past, your music library, and extra through your laptop computer. And talking of your music, join your AirPods in simply seconds to your iPhone and your MacBook for seamless listening alternatives cross-device.” 

At Milwaukee Software, our “system-wide” mantra that unifies our battery platforms (e.g., M12™, M18™, MX FUEL™) speaks to the breadth of line in our product ecosystems designed to assist finish customers full a job, from begin to end, on one battery system.  

For instance, the high-output, “performance-driven” M18 FUEL™ battery pack that powers the precision woodworking onsite is similar one which helps with cleanup on the finish of the day. Then again, the “moveable productiveness” provided out of your M12 battery pack that heats your jacket within the chilly can equally fill your automobile’s tires which have misplaced tire strain as temps drop. 

Nevertheless, simply as one battery system works to energy a full-scale job given the appliance, our product ecosystems work finest in tandem—identical to how jobsite storage within the bodily house will be mirrored digitally, and the way in truth our gear monitoring merchandise can assist maintain tabs in your whole stock, no matter whether or not your instruments are Bluetooth®-enabled or are flanked by a lightning bolt. 

One-Key is Milwaukee Software’s connectivity platform that goals to place jobsite administration squarely in your fingers.  

The platform combines good energy instruments; processes like barcoding, gear tagging and Bluetooth® tagging; and utilization information to drive smarter outcomes onsite and increase productiveness. 

The free-to-use, digital product is outlined by 4 tenets:  

1. Accessible Development Software program: The One-Key app is free-to-use (no month-to-month or subscription charges!) and offers real-time entry to stock information (device service information, receipts, documentation, and so on.) and undertaking particulars (workforce administration, multi-user admin) from your laptop (internet app), iPad, or smartphone (Android and iOS apps). 
2. Software & Tools Monitoring: One-Key monitoring makes use of a Bluetooth® monitoring group, the biggest within the {industry}, to securely crowdsource merchandise finding and create an Web of Issues. You may safe One-Key suitable instruments; entry historic merchandise location info; geofence jobsites and get alerted when One-Key suitable instruments or gadgets with Bluetooth® trackers begin to wander; and we provide application-specific monitoring {hardware} (e.g., Asset ID Tags, Bluetooth® Monitoring Tag) that is purpose-built to outlive development web site circumstances, whereas packing industry-leading tech, like  accelerometers  and  NFC. 
3. Linked Sensible Energy Instruments & Gadgets: Our One-Key suitable instruments optimize productiveness with customary Bluetooth® monitoring and safety constructed proper in, in addition to customized device controls to dial in precision software specs for repeatability, in addition to utilization information and (on sure fashions) the flexibility to drag customizable stories for high quality assurance, proof of labor, and accountability. 
4. Knowledge & Integrations: At Milwaukee Software, we leverage information to simplify your difficult tasks and unify processes by means of linked digital expertise. Which means utilizing information connectors and integration to attach software program packages; lowering errors from information transfers by means of automation; working with {industry} leaders to streamline jobsite workflows, automate handbook entry, and drive insights; and providing modern expertise partnerships and pilot packages to place you within the driver’s seat of transferring the {industry} ahead.  

PACKOUT is Milwaukee Software’s Modular Storage System, which revolutionizes device transportation, group, and storage for the trades, offering customers with the flexibility to interchange and interlock a large assortment of heavy-duty toolboxes, organizers, and storage totes in a number of totally different configurations. The PACKOUT modular storage system can be probably the most versatile and sturdy modular storage system within the {industry}. 

 Key Options and Improvements from PACKOUT: 

1. Modularity: Whereas conventional device storage is usually monolithic, every resolution staying squarely in its established zone, PACKOUT introduced forth a much-needed innovation to a drained house with the event of modularity. Every PACKOUT options locking factors, common to the system, that are used to construct PACKOUT “stacks” of just about any configuration an finish person may presumably assume up or want, comparable how LEGO® blocks snap into one another, or how “modular development” strategies can be utilized on a job to preassemble modules which can be later transported and put collectively onsite.  
2. Versatility: The modularity of PACKOUTs additionally make them fairly versatile. These PACKOUT stacks can be utilized in a store, in a device crib, in a service van, and we’ve even seen hyper-specific PACKOUT kits which mix One-Key kitting (which we’ll focus on a bit later) to cart and maintain monitor of job-ready stock (e.g., plumbing rough-in equipment, demo day equipment, woodworking equipment, electrical service equipment, mechanical equipment, and so on.). 
3. PACKOUT Builder: Along with PACKOUTs within the bodily world, our PACKOUT workforce has additionally entered the digital house by just lately unveiling the “PACKOUT Builder,” accessible on the PACKOUT touchdown web page in addition to on choose distributor websites. That is a digital product our PACKOUT workforce constructed from the bottom up, which permits potential PACKOUT patrons and followers to digitally configure a PACKOUT stack, including any PACKOUTs throughout the system and figuring out correct fitment even previous to getting into a Depot retailer. Extra just lately, the PACKOUT “Wall Plate Builder” part of the PACKOUT Builder permits finish customers to configure wall-mounted PACKOUTs using our just lately introduced store options that let you fully customise your store storage with wall plates, hooks, device racks, device holders, and a cupboard that join with all PACKOUT options.   

The One-Key app permits customers so as to add limitless service information, device identification, and different vital documentation, even the flexibility to set a recurring service reminder to automate preventive upkeep. 

“One-Key on the whole is one thing that no different firms are actually doing. [Milwaukee] is pioneering the electronics aspect of the electrical device house, the place it’s not solely straightforward to trace the receipts and monitor warranties, get your stuff repaired on time, however it has undoubtedly made it higher for a corporation to work higher with their staff and say, ‘Hey, that is the stuff that you just’re getting, and now it’s your duty, and it’s all logged.’” 

When requested whether or not he and his workforce had been utilizing the “service reminders” function in One-Key, Derek confirmed that they had been. “Sure, completely!” 

Utilizing One-Key and PACKOUT Collectively  

Derek confirmed he’s additionally a PACKOUT person, each at house in addition to within the store. 

He estimates that he has 12 PACKOUTS that he makes use of at house for private use, whereas his workforce has constructed 8 or 9 PACKOUTs within the store.   

They’re presently utilizing 5 of the bigger, clear-top organizers and two of the bigger stationary toolboxes. One among their techs, he added, makes use of his personal smaller black prime toolboxes. 

His workforce makes use of the PACKOUT modular storage system in tandem with One-Key. 

He explains that they’ve just lately started buying PACKOUTS to construct strain take a look at kits and hydraulic becoming kits. The reasoning for purchasing PACKOUTS, he ties to the system’s superior sturdiness and flexibility.    

“They’re much more heavy obligation than a lot of the stuff you should buy, and so they carry higher, and general they’re a greater solution to carry and home a bunch of our extra vital stuff.” 

The PACKOUTs are utilized in live performance with the One-Key “kitting” function within the app. These preassembled “kits” they construct in PACKOUTS, he explains, are then “kitted out” within the app. 

Pictured Above: Software Kitting Characteristic in One-Key app. You may add gadgets you are sending to the job in bulk through Software Kitting.

He explains, “Our service kits can have a few our extra steadily used sockets, an affect gun, a pair socket lock-on rings,” including, “Once we ship the kits out, we can have our man undergo it to verify every little thing matches what’s on the app—and if not, then they’ll refill as wanted.” 

“It offers a very good start line on the place our kits are, and works as our personal inventory system principally,” he provides. 

Exterior of service van kits, he notes that they use PACKOUT and One-Key kitting for kitting out totally different “kinds of kits—becoming kits and o-ring kits,” for example.   

On One-Key general, Derek concludes, the app “has added extra usability to the top person in addition to the corporate to work extra cohesively collectively.”  

“It has helped with merchandise monitoring, and I feel it has undoubtedly helped throughout the board with the lack of instruments, as a result of as the worth goes up, theft all the time will increase, so having the ability to discover the place it’s and lock it out has been a serious steppingstone.”  

A Milwaukee Software and One-Key Advocate  

Derek famous that he’s advocated the One-Key app whereas working together with his father-in-law’s firm, a homebuilder.  

“They had been closely into Makita, and I’ve slowly been getting them modified over,” he shares, including: “They’re now about 80% modified over, and I received him began on the One-Key app. They’re beginning to purchase One-Key instruments, as a result of they lose fairly a bit – and [One-Key] is beginning to assist them on device restoration.” 

He remembers assembly with Tennyson, a Milwaukee Software Consumer Expertise Researcher that works on the One-Key app, who turned him onto the “device kitting” function inside One-Key.  

“The kits are a lot simpler. It was immediate. I didn’t need to manually transfer each. They’re within the PACKOUT already, so I can simply click on the PACKOUT, click on within the equipment. It takes 2 seconds as an alternative of taking 20 minutes to do every little thing. I like the function of having the ability to simply transfer stuff immediately.”  

Since then, he’s damaged all his instruments into particular person, application-specific PACKOUT stacks which can be “kitted out” within the app. “I’m capable of transfer them right here, transfer them there—if I take them to a different jobsite, I simply switch it over. It’s straightforward. Then I do know precisely the place they’re.” 

A PACKOUT Superuser  

Mitch says he presently makes use of the PACKOUT rolling device chest, the rolling toolbox, a few the extra-large PACKOUTS, in addition to a few the big PACKOUTS, 8 common PACKOUTs, the PACKOUT crate, and the PACKOUT backpack.    

The rolling PACKOUTS particularly permit him to roll his stacks onto the job for simpler transportation of instruments to the job. 

He explains his use of PACKOUT is especially for “transportation to and from the jobsite in addition to once I’m not there.” 

What’s extra, he’s foamed-lined his PACKOUTs and made cutouts for every device. This makes it straightforward to maintain monitor of every little thing, apparent when every little thing’s in its proper place, equally apparent when a device is lacking from its cutout slot. 

A One-Key Bluetooth® Monitoring Superuser  

Mitch says he makes use of Milwaukee’s TICK™ Software & Tools Trackers to maintain eyes on his PACKOUT stacks and instruments within the app.  

We frequently suggest, for finish customers trying to get probably the most out of One-Key and enhance their Bluetooth vary, to create a mini-Bluetooth monitoring group onsite, which can assist improve the frequency of location updates (particularly in distant areas). Paired with options like “Discover Merchandise” can assist slim in-vicinity merchandise discovering inside 100-ft.  

Mitch confirms his workforce is following these tips to the letter.   

“All my coworkers do have the One-Key app.” He provides that the workforce is utilizing geofencing, an in-app function the place customers can set a digital perimeter round a bodily deal with in the actual world.  

When gadgets assigned to those geofences—both One-Key suitable instruments or instruments which were TICK’ed or tagged with a Bluetooth tracker—these things, if seen transferring exterior of their assigned borders, are pinged, alerting their homeowners that they had been seen exterior their geofence. 

“They present as much as work, and it pops up and is like ‘Hey, there’s a TICK displaying up,’ and it’ll inform me, ‘Hey, your PACKOUT was discovered right here, and I say, ‘Excellent, I do know precisely the place it’s.” 

Concluding his ideas on One-Key, Mitch famous, “It’s helped me loads, understanding the place my instruments are.” He added, “I get 4 or 5 notifications on daily basis of ‘Hey, that is right here,’ and I do know ‘Nicely, it’s locked, it’s within the trailer, we’re okay.’” 

PACKOUT, he concludes, has helped him having the ability to keep organized. “If I open up my PACKOUT and see one thing is lacking, I do know it’s lacking. It’s not simply all thrown in there. That’s another excuse why I exploit the froth inserts, and chopping them out. If I see one thing’s not in its spot, and I do know precisely what I’m in search of, and the place I ought to have the ability to discover it.”  

Combining these two platforms, he agrees, is a strong duo, serving to him mix the bodily and digital device group, having the ability to immediately switch his instruments to the job, and maintain eyes on them whether or not he’s on the job or they’re within the trailer.   

Ought to something look amiss or he get an alert that appears suspicious, he’s received the digital breadcrumbs to seek out his approach again to the place his instruments are within the bodily world.  

1. Software Kitting (and Audits): Software kitting took a legacy One-Key function, the cellular stock audit to the subsequent stage. As Mitch defined earlier in his personal use case and impression of it, it took helps to immediately transfer and maintain document of bulk stock sends. Chances are you’ll be sending a gang field with a full jobsite “stock.” Kitting permits you to immediately ship all of this without delay, but additionally simply maintain document of this stock—every little thing that’s despatched, something that’s lacking—and, as in Derek’s use-case, refill as wanted, a type of inventory system. Whenever you add barcoding into the combo (see under), all it’s a must to do is scan the equipment’s barcode to get a full stock of every little thing that’s in there, and test for any discrepancies.  
2. Geofencing: As beforehand mentioned, geofencing (notably helpful together with device kitting and PACKOUT) helps you identify zones to assign One-Key suitable instruments and TICK’ed or Bluetooth tagged gear to. If these things begin to wander, you’ll be alerted.   
3. Barcoding: Barcoding is a typical follow in massive device cribs, manufacturing warehouses, and the like. The One-Key app attracts on a person’s built-in digicam to scan in- and -out gadgets to replace merchandise areas. We frequently suggest this type of monitoring for smaller, lower-value gadgets hyperlink hand instruments. By utilizing a smartphone’s built-in digicam, what’s extra, customers can ditch oftentimes costly barcoding {hardware} that might usually be required. Moreover, choosing heavy-duty One-Key Asset ID Tags (which we’ll focus on within the subsequent part of this text) can enhance the longevity of those labels. When you’re on the fence and unsure which form of monitoring product is finest for you, we’ve written up a useful resource chances are you’ll discover useful that breaks down the variations of the merchandise we presently supply. 
4. Transfers: Transfers, much like kitting, transfer an merchandise (or gadgets) from one job to a different. You may as well switch “kits” now and get an in depth historical past of all of your transfers. 
5. 30-Day Historical past: “Software Location Historical past” offers a 30-day document of the place your gadgets have been seen, serving to present higher historic context to the place instruments have come and gone.  
6. Discover Merchandise: The “Discover Merchandise” function, as beforehand mentioned, offers an in-app proximity device that can assist you discover gadgets inside 100-ft, which will be useful if an merchandise is close by, however out of sight, similar to hidden in a pile of instruments in a job field, on a cluttered desk, and so on. In case your device is outfitted with a One-Key Bluetooth Monitoring Tag (which we’ll focus on within the subsequent part of this text), you possibly can even ring your tag and listen to whereabouts it’s chirping from.  
7. Alerts: The alerts inbox ought to enable you keep on prime of your gadgets in stock—from the geofencing alerts we mentioned above to vital device standing updates like a low coin cell stage that warrants altering. 
8. Job Costing Software: If your organization is about up for leases, the job costing function in One-Key (a free-to-use device) permits you to set every day and weekly rental charges for gadgets you’re sending out. This manner, you can begin to calculate your stock {dollars}. Be taught extra about job costing in development tasks.  

If One-Key software program merchandise and PACKOUT {hardware} go collectively like lamb and tuna fish, then tying the 2 platforms along with One-Key monitoring {hardware} merchandise is just like the exact pasta noodles you must tie your spaghetti and meatballs dish collectively.   

1. Asset ID Tags: One-Key Asset ID Tags supply an answer for device gear tagging and small device monitoring conditions. They provide superior, construction-grade sturdiness and ease-of-use/scanning that conventional barcodes don’t supply. The place conventional barcodes put on out, fall off, and must be commonly changed in addition to requiring costly exterior {hardware}, One-Key Asset ID Tags supply longevity that lasts the lifetime of the device, and in-app barcoding performance that enables customers to solely want the smartphone of their pocket to scan these tags on the go.  
2. One-Key Bluetooth Monitoring Tag: This Professional Software Innovation Award and Chicago Innovation-winning product provides superior monitoring performance, together with cutting-edge tech like built-in Close to-Discipline-Communication (NFC), an accelerometer, a built-in speaker (with 3 buzzer sounds) for locating close by gadgets that aren’t in sight, construction-grade sturdiness, a 300ft Bluetooth vary (3X its predecessor), a compact design (30% smaller than its predecessor), and extra!  
   

1. Organizers: The common organizer could also be used for small consumables, drill bits, screws, and different fasteners.  Deep organizers could also be used for fittings. 
2. Toolboxes: Toolboxes, from massive to extra-large, could also be kitted out for job-specific kits, from woodworking (like circ saws and Sawzall®s ) to plumbing to electrical service and HVAC service kits. We even supply device circumstances w/ foam inserts to start out your PACKOUT superuser group like Mitch mentioned he customizes himself in all his PACKOUTs. Additional, PACKOUT toolbox cupboards could also be helpful within the store (see under).   
3. Mountings Plate, Racks, Hooks, & Holders (for van or in store): We provide an assortment of mounts, racks, and holders to customise your store storage, in addition to your service van. This may very well be something from cupboards for the store to holders for instruments within the crib. Heck, we even supply kits (like first assist kits) and suitable battery chargers, and the much-needed PACKOUT Radio + Charger to stream your on-the-job playlist by means of.  
4. Rolling Storage (onsite or in transit): Like Mitch mentioned, the rolling PACKOUTs lend properly to constructing your PACKOUT stack on for straightforward on- and -off the job transportation for carting these job-specific kits you’re rolling onsite.  

The ultimate consideration: One-Key suitable good instruments supply a stage above customary Milwaukee® energy instruments to drive productiveness by means of customary monitoring & safety, in addition to (on choose fashions—see under) superior reporting and customization to drive smarter insights, maximize uptime, and increase productiveness.

• Baseline Performance: Baseline One-Key performance contains customary device safety (lockout) and Bluetooth monitoring built-in.  
• Report. Monitor. Handle: A few of our good instruments, like our Digital Torque Wrench and our hydraulic instruments, supply the flexibility to drag utilization information and create customized stories that may be helpful to offer proof-of-work, high quality assurance, and accountability to stakeholders. In different phrases, in the event you’re required to lock to a precision specification, these reporting dashboards permit for you to have the ability to show, to the occasion, that these specs had been correctly fixed to spec. 
• Customise. Monitor. Handle: Customized device controls on our top-of-the-line good instruments supply customers the flexibility to drill in application-specific “modes” that provide accuracy and repeatability. The “mode library,” what’s extra, permits customers to log just about limitless settings to the cloud—relying on the day and the work wanted onsite, they’ll apply these modes to their on-tool modes, enabling them to pick out the suitable mode and work all day with out skipping a beat. 

Backside Line 

Milwaukee Software’s One-Key and PACKOUT platforms are highly effective by themselves—PACKOUT serving as a company device within the bodily, One-Key as a company, inventorying, and connectivity device within the digital—however these two platforms, like many product ecosystems, work infinitively extra powerfully collectively.   

As evidenced by their pure compatibility and these finish customers’ tales utilizing these platforms collectively, it’s clearer Milwaukee Software’s dedication to being a options supplier, driving the {industry} ahead with productiveness platforms that work each system-wide and cross-system extensive.