Best of LinkedIn: Digital Powertools CW 43/ 44

00:00:00: This episode is provided by Thomas Allgeier and Franis, based on the most relevant LinkedIn posts about digital power tools in calendar weeks forty-three and forty-four.

00:00:09: Franis is a B-to-B market research company that supports enterprises in the power tools sector with a market, customer and competitive insights.

00:00:16: they need to navigate dynamic markets and drive customer-centric product development.

00:00:21: Welcome to the deep dive.

00:00:23: Yeah, that context is perfect.

00:00:24: We've basically boiled down the key signals around digital power tools that we saw popping up on LinkedIn during those couple of weeks.

00:00:31: And we're not just reading off product lists here.

00:00:33: We're looking at the strategic place, where the value is shifting.

00:00:36: It's moving beyond just the tool itself, more towards these integrated digital services.

00:00:41: Exactly.

00:00:42: Our mission today is really understanding the momentum we're seeing, things like platform strategies, that heavy duty cordless power we keep hearing about, and sustainability claims too.

00:00:53: We want to dig into what ecosystem scale actually means for the bottom line, and how manufacturers are really pushing to connect the job site and maybe even the factory floor.

00:01:05: The argument we're making is that the cordless tool is basically becoming a digital service platform.

00:01:10: Everything kind of flows from that.

00:01:12: Okay, so let's start where every contractor starts thinking.

00:01:15: Total cost of ownership, TCO, this whole connectivity thing.

00:01:18: It just seems like the biggest factor now.

00:01:20: The reach of the ecosystem, compatibility across brands.

00:01:23: It's not just nice anymore, is it?

00:01:25: It's fundamental for keeping fleets simple.

00:01:27: It is.

00:01:28: And what's really interesting is this split sort of between consolidating through alliances and really deep vertical integration.

00:01:35: So on one side, you've got Bosch, they were using their platform to talk about the longevity of their ATV system, stressing that tools from way back in two thousand eight still work with the new batteries.

00:01:44: That's quite a statement.

00:01:46: Yeah.

00:01:47: But even more than that, they were really pushing the scale of the amp-share battery alliance.

00:01:52: They explicitly mentioned having thirty five partners now.

00:01:56: promoting that key message.

00:01:58: One battery for multiple brands.

00:02:00: Thirty-five partners, that's a huge coalition.

00:02:03: It almost makes you wonder if the battery hardware itself is becoming like... a commodity, a shared utility.

00:02:09: But then, is that scale actually a drawback if you really need deep integration and specialized performance?

00:02:15: That seems to be Milwaukee's angle, right?

00:02:17: Exactly.

00:02:17: That's the counterplay.

00:02:19: Milwaukee's content really hammered home the strength of their own proprietary ecosystem.

00:02:23: They weren't really talking alliances.

00:02:25: They focused inward.

00:02:27: on the breath.

00:02:28: Using M-twelve and MSFUL to show off all sorts of use cases from specialized pipe cutting to heavy cutoff saws and even that big push into outdoor gear.

00:02:36: Their message is basically we've got everything you need and we control that whole performance stack.

00:02:40: Right.

00:02:41: So the choice for the user is kind of like join this big shared battery pool, less risk maybe upfront, or commit to one massive integrated system that promises specialization and Seamless connection for very specific jobs.

00:02:58: both solve the fleet complexity issue.

00:03:00: just you know different ways of thinking about it.

00:03:02: Yeah,

00:03:02: it sets up a really interesting dynamic in the market.

00:03:05: Okay, so if we shift from the big picture the system scale down to the actual tools We start seeing how that digital side translates into smarter products things that genuinely help with efficiency and importantly user control on site.

00:03:18: This

00:03:18: is where the engineering really shines, I think.

00:03:20: Hilltide, they're always focused on the operator, health and safety, right?

00:03:22: They launched the TE-Six Hundred AVR wall breaker.

00:03:25: The specs really jumped out, not just power, but the comfort stuff.

00:03:28: It's twenty-five percent lighter than the old one.

00:03:30: And they got the vibration down to just three point eight meters per second squared, which is incredibly low.

00:03:35: Yeah, three point eight meters, some capsule.

00:03:37: You can't just gloss over that.

00:03:38: For a tool designed to break concrete.

00:03:41: That is exceptionally low.

00:03:42: I mean, sometimes you see numbers approaching that on lighter drills like drills or sanders.

00:03:46: So for a breaker, that's a huge win for H&S compliance.

00:03:50: Less fatigue over a full shift.

00:03:52: And they added that user force control too.

00:03:54: Basically tells the operator how hard to push for the best results.

00:03:57: That's smart tech built right in.

00:03:59: Hmm, smart tech.

00:04:01: And while Hiltai is working on demolition comfort, DeWalt seems to be zeroing in on precision, especially for installation work where mistakes get costly fast.

00:04:09: They were spotlighting the DCF-Eightfifty's precision drive mode.

00:04:13: It's specifically designed to give you control, stop you from overfastening things.

00:04:17: Yeah, overfastening is such a headache.

00:04:19: You waste material, or worse, cause hidden problems down the line.

00:04:22: So having a dedicated mode for that shows they get that efficiency isn't just about raw speed.

00:04:27: Sometimes it's about cutting down errors.

00:04:29: Good point.

00:04:31: Speaking of different focuses, Milwaukee's really expanding its territory, aren't they?

00:04:35: Saw presentations showcasing new outdoor power equipment in the UK.

00:04:40: Really positioning battery solutions against petrol for groundskeeping, site maintenance, that sort of thing.

00:04:45: That's

00:04:45: a huge strategic move.

00:04:47: And it links perfectly to our next theme, actually.

00:04:49: Yeah.

00:04:49: Heavy duty cordless performance.

00:04:51: For years, it felt like there was always that but.

00:04:54: You needed real raw power.

00:04:55: You reached for a cord or for gas.

00:04:57: But now the stuff we saw suggests cordless genuinely handle the toughest jobs.

00:05:02: It cuts the constraints, you know, cords, generators without ditching performance or safety.

00:05:08: Yeah, the conversation's definitely shifted.

00:05:09: It's not, can battery do it anymore?

00:05:11: It's more like, how much better can battery do it?

00:05:14: Holsy's promotion of the TE- Three Thousand Twenty-Two, that demolition tool, that's a prime example.

00:05:19: They're positioning it for unmatched breaking power on tough demo jobs, but fully cordless.

00:05:24: That's a bold claim.

00:05:25: Unmatched power on battery.

00:05:27: And with that kind of power, you absolutely need solid safety features baked in.

00:05:33: We saw Milwaukee highlighting a really critical one on their MX if you wheel, fourteen inch cutoff saw.

00:05:39: That's their line for replacing the high voltage and petrol gear.

00:05:42: This saw has a rapid blade stop.

00:05:45: It halts the blade in less than three seconds.

00:05:47: Under three seconds is quick.

00:05:49: For anyone using that tool, that's direct risk reduction.

00:05:52: Cuts down the chance of accidents when you finish a cut or if, you know, the tool gets dropped.

00:05:56: It's tech serving output and safety.

00:05:58: Exactly.

00:06:00: And.

00:06:01: Thinking about that whole life cycle, how the operator interacts with the tool, that brings us nicely to sustainability.

00:06:06: We're definitely seeing brands use circularity programs, these big fleet services as real differentiators now.

00:06:12: It's about the whole ownership experience, not just a recycling bin in the corner.

00:06:16: Hilti gave a really fascinating look at this.

00:06:18: They detailed their closed loop process just for the tool cases.

00:06:22: Part of their fleet management program is the whole workflow.

00:06:24: Collect the old case, check if it may reuse, shred what can't, and then actually remanufacture that into new cases.

00:06:30: That kind of logistical effort, it turns sustainability from just a buzzword into something measurable in the supply chain.

00:06:38: If you're running a big fleet, that means certified disposal resource efficiency.

00:06:43: That stuff hits your own corporate sustainability reports.

00:06:45: It builds the environmental part right into the TCO.

00:06:48: Right.

00:06:48: And then Milwaukee, their event stuff, it was reinforcing the more immediate benefits right there on the job site.

00:06:55: They were really emphasizing the zero tailpipe emissions from their battery-powered outdoor gear.

00:07:01: That message plays well in cities or confined spaces with air quality rules.

00:07:05: Yeah, the shift is clear.

00:07:07: The relationship doesn't just stop when the tool ships out.

00:07:09: Which brings us to that post-sale value.

00:07:11: All the services, programs, the enablement content being pushed alongside the hardware.

00:07:15: This is where that digital platform idea really comes together.

00:07:25: three-year warranty extension, the Pro three sixty fleet management all in one app, apparently online spares and repairs, even an application advisor with device testing.

00:07:36: that's way beyond just customer service.

00:07:38: It's like an operational support system.

00:07:40: It really is about owning that whole user experience through the entire life of the tool.

00:07:46: But it's also about enablement, right?

00:07:48: Helping people pick can use the right tool effectively.

00:07:51: We saw Milwaukee doing that well with guidance comparing their M-twelve Raptor pipe cutters, the standard in the XL.

00:07:56: They broke it down by pipe size, work context.

00:07:59: That kind of specific advice cuts down hesitation, helps users get faster, cleaner cuts.

00:08:04: It's practical help.

00:08:05: That practical guidance, helping choose the right tool, it links nicely into our next theme.

00:08:09: these precision investments.

00:08:11: We're seeing partnerships focused on workflows that boost accuracy and throughput.

00:08:15: It's going beyond just the handheld tool itself, looking at the whole tool management stack.

00:08:19: Yeah, this is super relevant in high precision manufacturing settings.

00:08:22: We saw a great example from Hamer and Machine and Bialystront GMBH.

00:08:26: They were showing off a complete tool management stack.

00:08:29: It combined, let's see, a pre-setter, a shrink machine, wind tool software, and tool-based output systems.

00:08:36: Four pieces working together.

00:08:37: Okay, so for anyone listening who isn't deep in machining, that stack is basically designed to eliminate manual setup errors, right?

00:08:44: It treats the tool holder almost like a network device.

00:08:47: The idea is automated calibration and setup before the tool even gets near the machine, ensuring just absolute repeatable precision.

00:08:55: And it wasn't just theoretical.

00:08:56: They pointed to a real-world install, the new Hammer UNO-II-Seventy automatic drive unit in Finland.

00:09:02: the stated goal, exactly that.

00:09:03: Reduce setup time, improve repeatable precision in tooling.

00:09:07: So people are clearly spending real money on digital quality control.

00:09:10: Okay, so finally, we saw quite a bit of content showing how manufacturers are trying to connect all these high-tech specs with, you know, actual use on the ground adoption.

00:09:19: And that seems to come down to community, tours, training, getting tools into people's hands to show the practical benefits.

00:09:26: Absolutely essential.

00:09:28: The sources had some good examples, like the Bosch Pro Tour truck visiting Slovenia, giving partners, professionals that vital hands-on time live demos.

00:09:37: It makes the spec sheet real.

00:09:39: Yeah.

00:09:39: Makes sense, and it's not just for customers either.

00:09:41: Stanley Black and Decker teams were out engaging people at Equip Expo, live tool experiences, building that brand connection.

00:09:48: And we also saw a DeWalt Day, twenty twenty five in Willard, which seemed more internal, celebrating their manufacturing teams, continuous improvement, collaboration around quality, all these things helped speed up adoption.

00:09:59: So if we try to pull all that together, everything we saw signals across those two weeks, maybe four main takeaways stand out.

00:10:07: For you, whether you're an operator, distributor, fleet manager, first, ecosystem reach, be it proprietary like Milwaukee or an alliance like Bosch Ampshare, it's fundamental to TCO now.

00:10:17: Second, cordless power is genuinely heavy-duty capable.

00:10:21: It's solving old problems around performance and safety.

00:10:24: Third takeaway, those deeper service programs think circularity, fleet management, they're really starting to differentiate the whole ownership experience, tools as long-term assets.

00:10:34: And fourth, Getting hands-on still matters massively.

00:10:37: Events, demos, training, they're key to driving adoption, especially in complex trades.

00:10:43: Yeah.

00:10:43: And ultimately, when you look at how fast services like Pro Three Sixty and Fleet Management are integrating and these precision partnerships like the Hammerstacks, it feels like the real competition isn't just about the tool's performance anymore, is it?

00:10:54: It's becoming about who can own the most seamless, most integrated operational experience for the user.

00:10:59: From the moment they buy it, right through to end of life.

00:11:02: The platform really is the product now.

00:11:04: If you enjoyed this deep dive, new episodes drop every two weeks.

00:11:08: Also check out our other editions on digital construction and smart manufacturing.

00:11:12: Thanks for joining us for the deep dive.

00:11:14: Definitely subscribe or follow the show so you can keep gaining this kind of knowledge quickly and confidently.

00:11:19: We'll see you next time.