Services using data analysis, new technologies in the construction industry. Interview with Anna Pankowska, Marketing Director and Board Member of Hilti Poland 

THE STRONGEST TREND IN TODAY’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOUSES, THAT IS HOUSES THE OPERATION OF WHICH INVOLVES THE LOWEST POSSIBLE CONSUMPTION OF ENERGY IN ORDER TO HEAT THE BUILDING, POWER DOMESTIC APPLIANCES OR VENTILATE IT. WHAT NEW TECHNOLOGIES DOES HILTI USE ON THE CONSTRUCTION SITE? 

The construction industry is still perceived and criticised for its conservatism. Despite the rapid development of modern technology in the last decades, the industry has only recently become a place for the implementation of digital solutions and tools that actively increase productivity, improve safety and reduce costs. For years now, Hilti has been among a close circle of companies that raise the bar year after year by introducing new standards and solutions on the construction site. I would like to point out that when the company’s founders created their first tools, they placed particular emphasis on quality, application and innovation developed in response to specific customer needs and often together with customers. This approach allows Hilti to create solutions and innovations that are in demand on the market and that boost not only productivity but also safety. Each year, the Hilti Group dedicates more than 6 percent of its sales value to research and development and, as a result, we hold more than 8,500 patents. Hilti is associated by many customers with high-quality tools that are equipped with modern systems. In September 2022, the all-new NURON cordless platform was launched on the Polish market, redefining the concept of the cordless tool park and construction work. NURON is a prime example of Hilti’s innovation. It is a platform based on batteries with a single voltage type of 22V, which can be used for both light and heavy applications. We are talking here about the construction of the future – cable-free construction. But that’s not all. Hilti offers state-of-the-art IoT systems, software and services,such as ON!Track or Fleet Management, which provide clear added value for our customers, improve efficiency and ultimately ensure their stable growth. The flexible use of ON!Track technology enables each company to manage its resources, equipment, tools, consumables and also documentation, and helps customers to introduce digitalisation in their businesses.The aim of the system is first and foremost to increase productivity and work safety, and to support company growth in a sustainable way. Hilti’s innovation is not only based on equipment and innovative solutions. Another important support for customers is the software for building designers. One example is Profis, specialised software used by engineers already at the design stage of buildings. Perfectly designed installation systems, reinforcements or anchor rails significantly support investors in optimising work and materials. The training and consulting we provide to our customers are also extremely important. Hilti’s aim is to build a better future. We achieve this aim not only by offering modern tools and solutions for construction sites, but also by the commitment of our experts to implement dedicated solutions that are optimal for the customer. Everything is overseen by Hilti’s entire team of experts. Innovative products and our approach to business make our business partners want to build long-term relationships with us. This is what sets us apart. 

ACCORDING TO FORECASTS, IN 2030, THERE WILL BE 20-30 IOT DEVICES IN EACH HOME, MEANING DEVICES THAT COLLECT, PROCESS, USE INFORMATION, AND NETWORK AND AUTOMATE VARIOUS PROCESSES, THEREBY ENSURING CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS. HOW DO THE SOLUTIONS DEVELOPED BY HILTI CONTRIBUTE TO COST OPTIMISATION? 

The defining elements of modern construction are the speed of work, the high specialisation of work, as well as innovative, dedicated solutions that facilitate the execution of a given project. It is IoT solutions, modern knowledgebased systems that create specific ecosystems, and professional consultancy that ensure the stable and secure development of companies. At the heart of this development is also cost optimisation, which makes it possible to invest in further growth. As I have already mentioned, Hilti, thanks to its excellent knowledge of the industry and strong relationships with its business partners, has developed the ON!Track system, which is dedicated not only to the construction industry in the broadest sense, but also to companies that use a variety of tools and resources in their daily work. In addition to ON!Track and software such as Profis, another solution for optimising costs is the aforementioned innovative NURON platform. The latest platform is based on four solid foundations – Data analysis services, Safety, Productivity and One platform. It is these four features that create the added value underneath the big change in the battery world and define the future changes for Hilti customers. The main aspect of tools that customers usually think about first is productivity. To ensure maximum productivity, Hilti batteries have been designed in a special way. NURON batteries feature groundbreaking interface technology, which optimise the energy transfer between the battery and the tool. Thanks to that, NURON batteries can power really demanding equipment without having to change to a higher voltage. The more efficient energy transfer also makes it possible to increase the power of smaller tools,such as drills and grinders. As a result of this technological change, dozens of tools now have an increased power output which, in turn, ensures a higher productivity on construction sites.

HILTI IS LAUNCHING ITS GROUNDBREAKING NURON SOLUTION, AN INNOVATIVE 22-VOLT BATTERY-POWERED TOOL SYSTEM FOR LIGHT AND HEAVY APPLICATIONS. IS THE NURON PLATFORM THE ANSWER TO THE CHALLENGES THAT AWAIT US IN THE FUTURE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY? 

Definitely yes! Each of the four pillars of NURON stands for the broadly understood challenges on the construction site and addresses them in its own special, precisely designed way. In addition to productivity, which we have already mentioned, the use of modern technology, that is the introduction of services based on data analysis, is crucial. Based on the concept of IoT (Internet of Things), a system of active tools has been developed at Hilti and thus something groundbreaking has been brought to life – a truly active and interconnected machine park. NURON tools collect data about their use and not only send it to the cloud, but also analyse it.NURON automatically sends alerts to customers about upcoming battery replacement dates, proactively informs them of changes in tool usage and also downloads information about the last charging location. With this scale of information, the fleet manager is able to answer most of the key questions that are asked when optimising the number of tools in a company – Do we use this tool often? How many hours has the tool been used? How often do we recharge our batteries? A customer with NURON can answer all of these questions in a matter of minutes, moments after opening the computer or launching the app on the phone. The construction world has never seen such a service before.

 WHAT PLANS DOES HILTI HAVE IN THE CONTEXT OF FURTHER DEVELOPMENT?

We continue to see extremely high potential in the construction industry, especially regarding the implementation of modern technologies, including systems, solutions and tools. Greater efficiency in construction processes is the next step in the development of the entire industry. I would like to add that the vast majority of contractors believe that advanced technologies increase productivity and improve safety. Digitisation and process automation are enabling more and more daring, sustainable investments. Our future is to realise construction sites within ecosystems, using IoT solutions to plan and manage modern construction sites. Therefore, we will develop software to help improve productivity in additional areas of the construction industry. This is where we see the greatest potential for further development for Hilti. 

Anna Pańkowska, Marketing Director, Board Member of Hilti (Poland) Sp. z o.o.

Anna has been with Hilti for 18 years. From the very beginning, she has been building her experience in the areas of marketing and sales, as well as in the company’s global structures. She created the marketing information system (market intelligence) and pricing policy standards, as well as introduced a multi-channel sales system (omnichannel), including the implementation of Hilti Online sales. In the following years, she has been creating an industry approach in the area of marketing and sales and implemented the full portfolio of Hilti solutions and services, based on customer needs.

Last Updated on March 8, 2023 by Anastazja Lach