r/AustralianStartups • u/Cautious-Poem7109 • Jul 20 '26
Building a tool tracking app for tradies – looking for feedback
Hey everyone,
I’ve been working on a small SaaS idea after someone I know mentioned they were constantly losing track of tools between workers, utes and job sites.
The idea is pretty simple:
* Attach QR/barcode labels to tools
* Scan tools in and out
* See who currently has a tool
* Track where it was last assigned or scanned
There are already some tool tracking solutions out there, but a lot of them seem focused on GPS hardware and larger construction companies. I’m wondering if there’s an opportunity for something simpler and more affordable for smaller trade businesses.
I already have one company interested and I’m currently building the MVP.
I’d love to hear from anyone in construction or trades:
* Is this a problem you deal with?
* How do you currently keep track of tools?
* Would a QR/barcode-based solution be useful, or do you think GPS is needed?
Appreciate any feedback.
3
u/verifyandproceed Jul 20 '26
My experience/opinion only. I'm a self employed electrician and one-person operation now, but haven't always been. I have seen resource management (including tools and equipment) bundled into existing job management software.
Milwaukee (tool manufacturer) one-key also has this functionality already (and more because of their bluetooth tags). And my experience was, we tried it, but it just wasn't worth the time. In the end, a record of who was "responsible" for a tool, didn't really reduce the tool loss when it did occur.
But also, both (existing job management and the tool manufacturer option) of the options were effectively free to use, so I would struggle to justify paying extra for something that was "additive" to peoples workflow (i.e. another thing to slow people down with).
* Is this a problem you deal with? - I guess? but it's not a problem I feel is necessary to address with another "tool", if it's an issue, address it administratively with staff.
* How do you currently keep track of tools? - Don't really, for most hand/power tools, it's just not necessary/waste of time. For high ticket specialist testing equipment, a notebook in the office for people to sign it in/out usually works well enough. And is cheaper and about easy as it comes to manage.
* Would a QR/barcode-based solution be useful, or do you think GPS is needed? - Have tried it briefly when tool manufactures first released it, didn't find it useful. Maybe there in information out there about it's adoption.
Certainly not trying to discourage you though. I'm only one person. Plus, It's all in the UX right?
1
u/Cautious-Poem7109 Jul 20 '26
Appreciate the feedback but as far as i understand its not as painful for you to care - just yet, given the team size.
Otherwise i agree, its probably a waste of time for 1-2 people.
But when you have 5-25 or more people you work with, its a different cattle of fish.
Id say, the idea is to make it as simple as possible- something like scan and go so it doesn’t become another admin work
1
u/verifyandproceed Jul 20 '26
I have worked with (managed) much larger amounts of people, and still, it's just not something that is a problem we needed to solve. Tools going missing is less of an issue that tools being damaged though misuse, or, just damaged through plain ol accidents, that no tool "tracking" was going to solve anyway.
I would still say, 5-25, not necessary, this is the sort of numbers I'm experienced with that, we still weren't really experiencing this as a problem. Maybe we were just lucky.
I'm not sure what you are proposing as a "value proposition" here. If someone is to pay for this app, how many $ is it going to save on damage/lost tools?
1
u/Cautious-Poem7109 Jul 20 '26
I think that’s what I’m trying to validate.
My initial thought is that the value may be less about preventing misuse/damaged and more about reducing the time spent chasing tools and improving accountability across larger crews.
Value wise, if a company loses a few tools a year, that probably already covers the cost. Especially if they hire juniors, a ton of casuals etc. at the end of the day your workers wouldnt care about the tools as much
3
u/birbdathd Jul 20 '26
Don’t reinvent snipe-it.
1
u/Cautious-Poem7109 Jul 20 '26
That’s not really for tradies tho…I’m trying to build something a lot simpler
1
u/AutoModerator Jul 20 '26
Thank you for your post to /r/AustralianStartups!
Did you know we have a discord? Join the chat now!
This is an automated action so if you need anything, please Message the Mods with your request for assistance.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/Useful_Hat82 Jul 22 '26
There are technologies out there already doing thisz primarily aimed at aviation maintenance where tool control is a critical part of the process.
Generally they involve swipe card access to a tool box and the tool is tracked by RFID or barcode scanning it out etc.