Do you remember what life was like before mobile phones ? Looking back , it ’ s hard to believe that electrical contractors working on a site often had to search for the nearest red phone box if they wanted to contact their base . And if the base needed to contact them , sometimes the only option was to drive to the site . Today your mobile phone not only keeps you in constant contact with people but connects you with the Internet and its endless possibilities . It can even link you to objects , in the ‘ Internet of Things ’. By making your tools part of a similar communications network , you can talk to them – and they can talk back .
Just as you now wonder how you ever got by without mobile phones , you will soon be wondering how you ran your business without connected tools .
Time is money
The benefits of connected tools mainly boil down to saving time . Bosch research shows that on average a tradesperson only spends 30 per cent of his or her working hours on productive activities . Much of the rest of the day is spent on preparatory and follow-up tasks , and it is here that tool connectivity can reduce wasted time . Needless to say , any increase in time efficiency means higher productivity and gives your company a competitive edge .
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Here are just a few examples of time consuming activities which tool connectivity can avoid or reduce :
• Determining the right tool configuration for a task and adjusting the settings manually each time .
• Replacing a tool which , unknown to you , has been overused and which has now broken down without warning .
• Copying out measurements and then dealing with problems caused by transfer errors .
• Checking you have the right tools in your van and searching for one that ’ s missing .
Harnessing the latest technology
All of the advances in tool connectivity described here are available today , or just around the corner .
The essential principle is that a tool is connected wirelessly to your communication device – a computer or , for mobile flexibility , your smartphone or tablet – and to the Internet . An App on your mobile device – such as the Bosch Toolbox – makes it simple to use those connections .
The network allows you to send instructions to the tool , to receive information and to access a variety of time saving digital aids . The system is cloud based , which means that the data and software are safely held by distant computers ‘ in the cloud ’ and can be reliably accessed using any connected communication device .
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The benefits of connected tools mainly boil down to saving time . |
Bosch has taken things further by linking the Toolbox App to its TrackMyTools facility , creating a complete system that not only networks the tools but provides the means to locate them and to manage tool inventories .
Making an impact every day
Tools and equipment already benefiting from this technology include powered screwdrivers , drills , angle grinders , laser measures , thermo detectors and workplace lights . Let ’ s look at a few common scenarios to show how connected tools like these will make a real difference to your working life .
You ’ re preparing for a particular task and you want to tell your drill or angle grinder to apply the appropriate configuration and your preferred performance settings . With wireless
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November 2016 | 33 |