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Today, an update to the ONE-KEY™ app will be available with Integrated Tool Tracking. This functionality makes tracking your tools as simple as pulling out your phone. Integrated Tool Tracking allows users to identify where and when their ONE-KEY™ compatible tools were last seen. Tool records and locations are updated when any device with the ONE-KEY™ app comes within 100 feet of a ONE-KEY™ compatible tool, allowing the user to pinpoint missing tools quicker. Milwaukee® is the first to integrate Tool Tracking technology directly into tools, allowing them to be tracked with or without an M18™ battery attached.

All One-Key™ compatible tools will be trackable, including:

• M18 FUEL™ 1/2″ Drill/Driver with ONE-KEY™ Kit (2705-22)
• M18 FUEL™ 1/2″ Hammer Drill with ONE-KEY™ Kit (2706-22)
• M18 FUEL™ ¼” Hex Impact Driver Kit with ONE-KEY™ (2757-22)
• M18 FUEL™ 3/8” Compact Impact Wrench w/ Friction Ring with ONE-KEY™ Kit (2758-22)
• M18 FUEL™ 1/2” Compact Impact Wrench w/ Pin Detent with ONE-KEY™ Kit (2759-22)
• M18 FUEL™ 1/2” Compact Impact Wrench w/ Friction Ring with ONE-KEY™ Kit (2759B-22)
• M18™ FORCE LOGIC™ 6T Crimper Kit with Fixed BG Die (2678-22BG)

Because ONE-KEY™ is such a new and game-changing advancement for the industry, we understand there might be some questions that pop up as you explore its evolving capabilities. To better help you understand the benefits of the technology, and explain it to your audiences, click here for a detailed informational sheet.

The Chicago Faucets EQ Series single-hole, deck-mounted faucets with user adjustable temperature control provide unmatched user comfort, dependability and convenience in commercial applications. Heavy-duty EQ faucets feature on-demand IR detection for hands-free actuation and maximum water savings and are perfectly suited for the most demanding commercial and public restrooms.

“We talked to the commercial marketplace to find out what was required in an electronic faucet. The EQ Series is the direct result of those conversations. Plumbing professionals told us they needed user adjustable water temperature control, installation simplicity, reliable operation, adaptability to varying usage, all in a product that’s tough enough for demanding public installations. And, of course, it has to be affordable,” says John Fitzgerald, Vice President of Marketing for Chicago Faucets. “EQ is all that and more.”

The EQ faucets with user adjustable temperature control are available in two durable finishes, brushed nickel and polished chrome, and come in a choice of curved or high arc heavy-duty cast brass spouts. Vandal-resistant outlets with flow rates of 0.5 or 1.0 GPM are available.

Power supply options include battery, AC power, or a self sustaining power system that uses the flow of water to power the faucet. EQ faucets have built-in intelligence for superior user detection. The EQ learns over time and adjusts for dependable performance. Superior user detection means the faucet comes on when needed and shuts off immediately – no run-ons or ghost activations.

Plug-and-play installation reduces installation time to minutes. Modern design matches any public restroom décor. All components are made from recyclable materials.

So here we are in another new year. I hope you have your seat belt on, figuratively speaking, because we are in for a wild ride. Maybe 2016 will be similar to other new years, but there is a chance it will be turbulent. Maybe tougher to do business. We have a lot of distractions, starting with the political circus, the roller coaster economy (the stock market is moving faster than a Tesla), and ending with the available labor pool. I found a few lessons about these in my travels.

The labor issue

Janah Morehart has a company in Phoenix called Morehart Air Conditioning and Heating. Her and Josh have been in business for a while and have seen how hard it is to get and keep great employees. A few years ago, she was in an office supply house getting some printing done when she met a young man who provided exceptional customer service. She asked him a few questions and ended up hiring him to come to work in her office on various marketing packages. A year later, he was helping in the field, and then moved into service. This year her distributor rolled out a new high efficiency inverter driven compressor system with all the bells and whistles. This same young tech she hired from the office supply store sold 6 of these systems in the first month of introduction with an average sales price of around $16k. WOW!

So if you ask Janah how to find good employees, her response will be quick. They are all around us. They are at your local Starbucks, Kinko’s, Applebee’s and alike, doing what they have been trained to do and performing it to near perfection. They always provide excellent customer service and you can easily notice them. Janah’s general manager used to run the office for a chiropractor. Janah became highly impressed with her management skills and made an offer to work in HR. So keep your eyes open always in the most unexpected places. Be ready to ask an employee that has outstanding customer skills if they are happy with their current job? Josh Morehart says he can get a new guy productive in 6 months, even coming from another industry. The new rule for finding employees is, hire for attitude, train for skill. Find the one in the crowd who serves others and has a great attitude. They can always be taught your business and trade.

Profit in Maintenance

I am still surprised at how many companies still do not do much with Maintenance Agreements. Grow the customer relationship today; it has value for your company. I mentioned this in another article recently, but it bears repeating. Figure out what you want to accomplish on a maintenance program that offers value to your custoemrs, establish the minutes needed for each task, total up the minutes, add in some travel, a spiff, and there you have your one or two year maintenance agreement. Another option is to set it up to debit the customer’s checking account or credit card monthly, and offer it as a continual maintenance program with no end until they cancel. Pay your technicians a better spiff when they sell a program on a monthly basis, maybe with a set amount per month, that they receive commission on until the customer cancels. And don’t cap it because this can be the glue that holds that employee to you. While in that neighborhood, add in additional services to your maintenance agreement for additional revenue. Include changing smoke detector batteries and other plumbing, HVAC, and electrical services that are easy for your plumbers and technicians to do but hard for the customer to do.

It turns out; this year will probably be tougher than last with more on the consumer’s plate. So we have to get creative on how we get new customers. Team up with a local company who is in homes on a regular basis with pest control, pool maintenance, or alarm services, etc. Get them to include your service with each new customer they add. Maybe you can offer a tune-up, an inspection, or something the customer does not pay for. So it adds value to the pest control company as an example. You end up with a name of a customer who trusts you since you came in with a company they are already doing business with. Now offer them a reduced price maintenance agreement or something to show that they are now within the inner circle like a friends and family that receive special pricing.

Also, I recently sat in on a webinar and saw an info chart that showed direct mail is the second best form of advertising (except in 18-34 year olds) to reach new customers. Direct mail followed up with a phone call, still gets effective results. Yes, calling your customers is the best way to make that phone ring, just pick it up and dial. You already have a relationship; you are not selling land in Puerto Rico but a valuable service they need.

Outside the box revenue generation

I just read an article about an Uber car driver named Gavin Escolar, who made $250,000 + last year. A little above the average for that industry. But he also sells jewelry for both men and women. He has a couple of flyers and catalogues in the back seat pockets of his car which is immaculate. He made about $3000 per month from Uber, and the rest of his income came from custom jewelry he made for many of his customers, customers he has in the car for 10-15 minutes at a time. What a great concept. He has new people coming into his show room each day with an income level perfect for his target market. He says that even going door-to-door would not come close to the response he gets from my passengers. He has great reviews from his passengers with an averaging 4.85 out of 5 on Uber Black, the high end Uber service. Uber is fine with him selling his jewelry in this manner and says they want to improve the local economy and his Uber ratings are at the high end of the scale. But he has not forgotten his roots. He used his money last year to buy 3 new cars and hire 6 drivers. He recruits unemployed Filipino immigrants, his homeland, and gives them a helping hand.

He is a great example of doing something different by creating a niche market. This is the example we need to do today, something different. The old ways will not be as effective this year and beyond to generate additional business revenue and profit.

As innovative technologies impact almost every sector of today’s market, the construction management industry has dynamically evolved and is implementing solutions that improve both communications and efficiencies on the jobsite. From on the site job management to scheduling and ordering inventory, the plumbing industry is one sector that also has become reliant on real-time data and new innovations that improve connectivity, productivity and mobility needs.

At KNAACK^®, we are able to identify key user insights that help us improve the overall experience and productivity on the jobsite. One challenge we see consistently is the need to bring information, tools and job supplies closer to the work in the field.

In the past year, we’ve introduced two new products that are targeted specifically at specialty trades, like the plumbing industry. Both products help increase efficiencies, productivity and mobility for plumbers.

Products Developed Based on Application Need

Introduced in 2015, the DataVault™ Mobile Solution, Model 118-M, is a fully protected digital plan solution for onsite job management and is ideal for the plumbing industry. When coordinating construction and fabrication drawings and developing accurate and efficient take-offs and estimates, it is important to have your software and tools easily accessible and this all-inclusive storage system facilitates that need.

The DataVault Mobile™ allows for easy integration with Business Information Modeling (BIM), a proven construction management system. Because building codes and application needs are constantly changing, the DataVault Mobile™ offers file and document management to new and existing building information. The portable design connects jobsite professionals to critical, real-time information, while providing the storage needs for tools and job materials.

Working During Temperature Fluctuations

Along with the secure storage needs of a plumbing professional, we also know that it’s critical to keep tools and supplies at an optimal temperature during working hours. Working in cold conditions can cause damage to tools, and keeping chemicals at the right temperature – like PVC glue, flux, duck butter, caulk and firestop or other sealants – is crucial. Because of this need, the KNAACK^® THERMOSTEEL^™ was launched this month at World of Concrete.

The THERMOSTEEL^™ is a heated storage unit that saves money by reducing downtime and preventing damage to tools and materials due to cold temperatures. By simply plugging in the heating element (when the temperature drops below 40-degrees), users can ensure tools are safe from extreme temperatures. With the heating feature, not only will tools stay warm, but also all chemicals and sealants will stay at the desired temperature and alleviate any issues that cold environments can bring to productivity on the jobsite.

More importantly, keeping these products at the right working temperature is necessary in order for the job to be executed correctly. For example, duck butter is needed for lubricating pipe joints and if it is exposed to cold environments, it can become difficult to work with, making the plumber’s job all the more stressful.

Sealants are another product used frequently in the plumbing industry that must stay at an optimal temperature. Many sealant brands recommend that the sealant be stored in no lower than a 40-degree climate. When temperatures drop below 32-degrees, the cold conditions can affect the overall chemical properties and performance of the sealant.

Lastly, flux paste, used for soldering pipes, is a crucial tool in the plumbing industry but can also become ineffective when exposed to extreme cold. When temperatures drop too much, flux can crystallize or even solidify, making it difficult to use.

At KNAACK^®, we will continue to innovate and bring products to the market based on the application need and the feedback we hear from our customers in the field. The plumbing industry is always looking for new solutions to improve work productivity and we are dedicated to that challenge.

Author Bio
Mike Bykowski is a Senior Product Manager at KNAACK, LLC, in Crystal Lake, IL. He is involved in all aspects of the product development life cycle, including strategic planning, business development, marketing, promotions, product pricing, packaging and value stream mapping. Mike has extensive experience in the manufacturing business as well as first-hand customer knowledge from being a professional in the industry that Knaack, LLC targets.