Imagine. No more wasting time or energy manually controlling the torque on the hundreds of screws you plan to drill into your deck. Instead, configure tool output on your smartphone and tell your tool the exact amount of power and speed you need. Every screw goes into your deck perfectly, with little room for error or effort on your end.
The good news? This technology is a reality.
Milwaukee® is transforming the tool industry, bringing it into the new age of interconnectivity to cordless tools. “Before you know it, the entire jobsite is going to be a part of the ‘Internet of Things,’” explains Jeremy Ross, Assistant Product Manager for Milwaukee Tool. “That’s where we see ONE-KEY™ going. You have this new level of customization and productivity in the tools that you didn’t have before.”
An App that Connects the Tool to the User
Milwaukee introduced their ONE-KEY cloud-based system and app in September 2015, after about two years of development. The free app can be used in conjunction to manage existing tools, but unlocks a whole new level of customization with a new line of ONE-KEY enabled products unveiled this month.
ONE-KEY lets you configure a tool for any project you’re working on, big or small. Drill and impact settings sync wirelessly to help achieve the desired level of output with every single trigger pull. “While the new tools come with some presets, it’s really up to the user to figure out the best torque setting for their project. Once they test it out and find the right balance, they can save that setting, and re-access it later,” says Jeremy.
This new line of M18 FUEL™ drill drivers, hammer drills and compact impact drivers are the first smart tools for the jobsite. Professionals can dictate settings like RPM and torque level and work more efficiently and effectively by reducing re-work or stripping fasteners. These user profiles can then be saved directly to the tool’s memory, accessible through mode buttons on the tool, which means you don’t need your phone to use these settings.
Inventory Management, Simplified
Milwaukee recognized the immediate need for a free, easy, reliable inventory management system. Whether you’re a passionate tool user or a business-owner in charge of inventory for your company, tracking a tool can help extend the life of the product. Detailed notes—for any manufacturer, not just Milwaukee—can be saved and instantly accessed when needed. Information can also be shared easily between someone on the jobsite and someone in the office.
“This is one of the first user-developed inventory management solutions out there,” notes Jeremy. “You can track your tool’s category, location, serial number and more. If you need to understand the warranty on a tool or a reminder of when you bought it, you can look it up in the app too.”
Real-Time Updates
Milwaukee will continue to update their app, and users can reap the benefits of new features by simply updating what’s already downloaded on their phone. No need to purchase a new product. “The ability to roll out new features via an update from the app store to ONE-KEY will provide a lot of value to the consumer over time,” adds Jeremy.
Buyers Define the Extent of Use
When asked about ways professionals can benefit from this new line, Jeremy feels it’s largely up to the consumer, comparing the scenario to popular fitness trackers. He points out, “Most people never realized how many steps they took in a day until they paid attention and checked their wearable.”
The same can be said for the pros that use these tools. “In much the same way, before ONE-KEY, users may not have known how much faster they could be working and how much longer their accessories could last them,” Jeremy explains. Now users can better understand productivity and allocate resources better using data—increasing efficiency across multiple verticals.
“It’s such a new technology. It’ll be cool to see what our users do with this knowledge,” Jeremy remarks.
Milwaukee Tool has a pretty robust roadmap to enhance tool features through the app in the future, such as tool tracking capabilities.
Tool innovation is ramping up across the industry. Seven years passed from when Milwaukee introduced their first lithium ion battery to when they released their premium cordless line FUEL, and only three years passed before they launched ONE-KEY. “When we look at what we are doing and where we’re going—it’s definitely changing the industry,” says Jeremy. “The name ONE-KEY represents the technology used when looking at the broader picture: one key that’s unlocking the jobsite.”
