ABAX Vision AI: Integrated dash cams for a safer fleet
ABAX Vision AI: Integrated dash cams for a safer fleet
Comparison: Consumer tag or professional tag for tool tracking
Are you tired of losing expensive tools or wasting valuable time searching for them? If so, you have probably already looked at cheap consumer trackers such as AirTags or similar alternatives. However, there is a big difference between a consumer-grade gadget and a professional tracking system. In this article, we explain why smart businesses choose a professional solution for tool tracking.
Contents
Costs and battery life of consumer trackersThe advantage of the ABAX LocatorSave time and increase your returnMore than just tool trackingCosts and battery life of consumer trackers
An average consumer tag costs between £15 and £30. This might look attractive on paper, but the total cost of ownership adds up quickly. The battery lasts a maximum of one year on average, and often drains even faster on cold or demanding construction sites. This means your team has to replace batteries regularly, leading to extra maintenance time and ongoing costs.
Furthermore, consumer tags rely on passing smartphones to update and share their location. If your tools are left on a remote construction site or stored in a quiet warehouse with minimal foot traffic, the location will rarely update, leaving you in the dark.
It is also worth noting that you can only link a maximum of 32 consumer tags (depending on provider) to a single account. For businesses managing dozens or hundreds of tools, this setup is simply not scalable. On top of that, you are often forced to log into multiple different platforms and apps just to locate your vehicles, tools, and assets. This results in fragmented information and a complete lack of operational oversight.
The advantage of the ABAX Locator
The ABAX Locator is purpose-built for professionals in the construction, installation, and service industries. Instead of relying on random passing smartphones, these trackers communicate seamlessly via the secure ABAX network, in-vehicle GPS trackers, and your team's smartphones using the ABAX app.
This setup means your fleet automatically creates a smart, reliable, and private network. The moment a company vehicle pulls up on-site or an employee with the ABAX app is nearby, the exact location of your tools updates instantly. This gives you real-time visibility over your assets, even in remote locations where consumer smartphones are nowhere to be found.
Additionally, the professional-grade battery is designed for long-term, heavy-duty use and lasts for years without ever needing a replacement.
"There was no need to look elsewhere, this company has it all. We ordered tracking devices for the fleet and tools, delivered to us in a couple of days. I’m already on the platform, logging vehicles and assets, ready to be used and the main hub is in our yard. The platform is easy to use, and the customer service has been great."
Save time and increase your return
Research reveals that tradespeople lose an average of 38 hours every single year searching for lost tools and materials. That is almost a full working week wasted per employee.
With the ABAX Locator, you eliminate unproductive search time and get immediate visibility over your assets. This not only saves time but also helps to:
Minimise project downtime
Reduce tool loss and theft
Lower expensive replacement costs
Boost your team's overall productivity
Use the Savings Calculator to easily calculate how much time and money your business can save with ABAX
More than just tool tracking
By connecting your tools, heavy machinery, and fleet vehicles, you establish a single, centralised overview of your entire business operations. You can track not only where your vehicles are, but also see exactly where machines, containers, and other valuable assets are parked.
You manage everything easily within one platform. No separate apps, no different logins, and no fragmented data. With an ABAX Locator you keep control over your tools and your operational costs.
"The ABAX tracking system is brilliant. I work for an offshore wind farm and it has allowed us to track our tools offshore with a high level of accuracy. The price is fair and their customer service is great."
About the author
Anna Edwards
Global Marketing Excellence Manager and UK Regional Marketing Manager
Anna Edwards is a B2B marketing expert at ABAX, specialising in content, campaigns and thought leadership across mobility and asset management.
Frequently asked questions
It uses the power of your existing vehicle trackers! Your vans (and our entire global network of 350,000+ units) act as scanners. When a van is near a tagged tool, it automatically updates its location on your map.
Time and money. On average, construction workers spend 38 hours a year just looking for tools. Basically, it helps you and the team get some of that time back. See the 38-hour breakdown here.
Our mobile apps and GPS devices, like those fitted to vehicles or equipment, constantly scan for our Bluetooth tags. Each tag will ping every 20 seconds and, if in the range of a device, will relay its data.
Our Bluetooth tags do not have their own GPS. Instead, they communicate with our global network of hubs, connected vehicles and machinery and mobile apps. When any ABAX-equipped vehicle drives past your tool, its location is automatically and anonymously updated on your map, giving you wide-scale coverage even on remote sites.
Modern tracking tags use a combination of technologies, such as Bluetooth and GPS, communicating through simple plug-and-play hubs. This means a Facilities Manager can track an asset's location whether it is outside in the loading bay or deep inside the stadium corridors, without needing expensive, complex IT infrastructure.
Yes, absolutely. Even if you only have a couple of vans and a few expensive machines, tracking will help you avoid delays and losses in your daily operations. The system is 100% scalable, so you can easily start small and add more tags as needed.