The collective estimated cost of tool theft in the UK totals £2.8 billion, which prompts the need for a more sophisticated approach when it comes to improving tool tracking methods.
Tool theft is an issue that affects most operations, from self-employed services to large construction sites. The latter averages a loss of £800 million a year in lost tools, equipment, and consumables.
For smaller businesses, keeping tools locked away in a safe location means fewer job delays and less time spent locating equipment. Not to mention the amount of money saved on replacing expensive tools.
In the UK alone, four in five tradespeople have experienced tool theft, which equates to an average loss of £4,470 per person in the self-employed sector.
The need for a more detailed approach when tracking tools is never more prevalent than it is among field service operations and self-employed tradespeople, who rely heavily on the availability and performance of their tools.
Essentially, three methods can be adopted to help reduce the risk of tools being stolen or misplaced;
- Hands-on security
- Manual inventory management
- Automated asset tracking
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Tool Tracking Approach #1: Hands-On Security
A hands-on approach to tool tracking will affect those working in the field and travelling between jobs. This method requires a lot of attention to detail when it comes to identifying and locating tools. It also demands that those responsible for the tracking of tools be switched on at all times. A hands-on tool tracking approach is key when:
- Leaving tools at a job
- Storing tools in a van
- Keeping tools in a yard or warehouse facility
Leaving Tools at a Job
To save time ferrying tools back and forth between jobs, they can be left at a job overnight. This means tools need to be accounted for when out of sight. To achieve this, site managers can:
- Produce tool checklists that are monitored daily on arrival and departure
- Make employees accountable for what tools they’re using by signing them out
- Ask the site owner to store the tools in a safe place
Storing Tools In a Van
Tool theft is most prevalent in vans, with more than a third of van drivers having tools stolen in 2022 alone. The same report found that loss or theft of equipment and tools meant tradespeople were unable to work for an average of six days while these were being replaced.
There are several security measures to combat tool theft from vans:
- Make sure a loud and secure alarm is fitted
- Fit new locks and alarms on older vans
- Secure tool safes inside the van body
- Keep keyless van remotes in a tin box or RFID-blocking wallet
- Remove tools altogether when left overnight
Source: Tradespeople Against Tool Theft Report
Keeping Tools In a Yard or Warehouse Facility
Most of the time, tools will be left at the workplace. Whether that be a yard or a warehouse facility. If this is the case, be sure to install:
- A working alarm
- 24/7 CCTV with night vision
- Motion detector floodlights
- Large tool safes with deadlocks
Tool Tracking Approach #2: Manual Inventory Management
While security measures are important to reduce the risk of theft, tools still need to be accounted for. This can be achieved by manually tracking your inventory, which is a cheap and easy way to gain good visibility of what you have. This helps to:
- See the quantity of each tool available in stock
- Know where each tool is located (on-site or at a job)
Manual tool inventory is typically carried out by using notepads, whiteboards, or spreadsheets. The latter is the most popular due to ease of use, affordability, familiarity with staff, and features for easy access whether on-site or off-site.
However, the use of asset tracking spreadsheets has its downsides. For starters, there is a considerable commitment needed to perform manual inventory management on a daily or weekly basis as it requires a lot of staff-hours
There’s also a high possibility of working with incorrect information, as the wrong data can be easily input into spreadsheets without being flagged. A Market Watch study found wrong formulas, misaligned rows, and duplicate cells were just a handful of inaccuracies accounting for the 88% of errors found in all spreadsheets.
However, there is a more reliable inventory management alternative; an automated asset tracking system.
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Tool Tracking Approach #3: Automated Asset Tracking
Automated tool tracking is by far the most efficient approach for any business with several loose tools. Although it can initially cost more than the alternative of using spreadsheets, the long-term benefits are undeniable:
- Accurately track the real-time location of each tool
- Have a clear view of tool availability when booking jobs
- Spend fewer work hours on inventory and auditing tasks
- Create an accurate asset register with desired tool information (last known user, real-time location, purchase price, etc.)
- Access tool information from various locations on mobile devices (phones, tablets, laptops)
- Implement an equipment checkout system to make users accountable when tools are overdue or missing
A digitalised approach to tool tracking requires you to have a tracking system installed on a computer or a mobile device, such as Tool Tracking Software or Asset Tracking Software. This system is then paired with asset tags that allow for real-time data updates.
Essentially, it works like this:
1. Tools Are Affixed With Asset Tags
An asset tag is attached to each tool or set of tools, this is known as asset tagging. There are several options available when it comes to choosing the right asset tag to use; Barcode, QR Code, RFID, GPS, and NFC.
Each tag has its own benefits and uses. Some tags are more suited for smaller budgets (like Barcodes) and some are suited for larger budgets with a vast inventory of tools (RFID tags). Whereas other tags are more suited to track large equipment such as vehicles (GPS tags).
Ultimately, for tool tracking, the choice comes down to using either Barcodes and QR codes or RFID tags.
| Barcode Labels | RFID Tags | |
| Cost | Labels start at just 5p each | The chips inside RFID tags make them a pricey option |
| Range | Within the line of sight | Up to 15 meters and no line of sight required |
| Speed of Scanning | Can scan only one label at a time | Can scan multiple RFID tags at once |
| Durability | Can be easily damaged when placed on the outside of an asset | Difficult to damage and designed for adverse environments |
| Storage Space | Up to 2000 characters (2D barcodes) | Up to 4 million characters |
| Universality | Barcodes are used globally | RFID frequencies and tag types depend on location |
2. Each Tool Is Assigned a Unique ID
With the chosen asset tag attached to a tool, that tag – and subsequently that tool – is assigned a unique identification number and inputted into the asset tracking system. This is the basis of creating a detailed asset register that will display the individual information for each tool.
Source: gigatrak.com
3. A Profile Is Built for Each Tool
Once a tool and its unique ID have been created in the system, further information can be added. That includes:
- Serial numbers
- Manufacturer details
- Purchase date and price
- Last known location
- Current condition
- Insurance and compliance details
- Safety and risk documents
- Downloadable PDF tool manuals
There is now a profile for each tool that can be viewed and edited by all users with access to the system.
4. Tools Are Tracked and Accounted For In Real-Time
Each time a tool is checked out for a job or moved location, its tag will be scanned. This allows the relevant information to be updated and synced across the system, letting all users know where a tool is and who is using it.
Shared calendars between teams can also be built to know when a tool is available for a specific job, before committing to booking that job and risking a delay due to the tool being unavailable.
There are multiple success stories of using an automated tool tracking system. Nene Valley Tree Services, a small tree surgeon company, implemented an asset tracking solution to prevent the theft of expensive equipment. This helped them recover a chipper that would have cost thousands of pounds to replace and caused severe job delays.
Large oil and gas technology company, Tracerco, also installed an automated tracking service, which enabled them to switch from a manual inventory approach and saved staff three hours a day on locating equipment.
Why It’s Time to Upgrade Your Tool Tracking Efforts
No matter what tool tracking approach appeals most or suits your budget, the undeniable fact is that the loss of tools is impacted businesses now more than ever. This leads to:
- Expensive tool replacement costs
- Delayed or cancelled jobs
- Wasted work hours spent locating tools
- Delayed maintenance & a loss in production for in-house maintenance teams requiring MRO inventory
Although there are hands-on and manual inventory methods to choose from, the most efficient solution is to incorporate an automated tool tracking solution into your day-to-day activities.
By affixing a network of barcodes, RFID tags, or GPS trackers to expensive tools, self-employed workers and tradespeople have a greater chance of combating the £5.2 billion that UK businesses lose each year through delayed and cancelled jobs due to the sudden unavailability of tools.