Choosing a tool management system for a construction company is about more than a polished interface. Tools move between cabin, van and site every day – the system must work in the rain and with minimal training for crews. We compare four common options against criteria site managers actually use in procurement.
How to compare – four criteria
- Total cost of ownership (TCO) – licences, tags, gateways, admin time and rollout effort.
- Time to value – how fast do you get first inventory and first traceable loan?
- On-site mobile use – works without login, offline and with gloves?
- Integration and reporting – project numbers, cost centres and responsible persons.
Excel and paper lists
Low start cost and familiar format. Downsides: no real-time status, double entry when tools move, lists wrong within two weeks. Fits one-off inventory or tiny teams – not growing contractors with multiple sites.
Hilti ON!Track
Strong ecosystem with hardware (tags, gateways) and brand recognition. Requires investment per tool; works best if you are already Hilti-heavy. Limited tie-in to broader 5S and workshop logic. See our neutral supplier comparison.
ToolSense
Broad asset platform with IoT and many modules. Powerful for large mixed fleets – often oversized if the need is "know where the hammer drill is and who has it". Longer rollout and higher complexity.
Delatool – construction focus
QR marking without login for field staff, Nordic support and tool management, Smart 5S and AI search in one platform. Fits when you want fast start, clear ownership per van/cabin and per-user pricing without expensive tags on every hand tool.
Quick comparison
| Excel | ON!Track | ToolSense | Delatool | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to start | Fast | Medium | Slow | Fast–medium |
| Field without login | No | Limited | Varies | Yes (QR) |
| 5S / workplace order | No | Limited | Partial | Yes |
| Typical TCO ~50 users | Low upfront, high hidden | High hardware | High | Transparent per user |
Recommendation for contractors
Start with a clear process: owner per van, cabin inventory, QR on tools above a value threshold. Pick a system crews use on day two – not just the one with the longest feature list on paper. See construction tool management, QR marking and pricing.