# Tool management app: what the phone has to do in the workshop

> Scan instead of typing, keep working offline, get notified: what matters in a tool management app for the car repair workshop.

## Why the phone

The mechanic is at the vehicle, not at the PC. If every issue means a trip to the office, nothing gets booked – and even the best tool management is out of date after two weeks. That is why booking belongs where the tool is needed: on the phone that is in the pocket anyway, or on a tablet at the tool cabinet.

## What a tool app has to do

- **Scan with the camera:** QR code or barcode on the label, without an extra device.
- **Search by any number:** inventory number, OEM number from the repair manual, supplier number – however it is written.
- **Issue, return, hand over** in a few steps.
- **See where it is and who has it** before setting off.
- **Get notified:** return due, a reserved special tool is back, an inspection is expiring.
- **Keep working offline:** in many halls the Wi-Fi does not reach every corner.
- **Large controls:** anyone tapping with gloves or dirty fingers needs room.

## App from the store or web app?

There are two ways onto the phone:

| | App from the store | Web app on the home screen |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | via App Store or Google Play | once in the browser, "Add to Home Screen" |
| Updates | the user has to update | always up to date |
| Devices | a separate app per platform | Android, iPhone, tablet and PC |
| Camera scan | yes | yes, directly in the browser |
| Notifications | yes | yes, on the iPhone once the app is on the home screen |

For tool management a good web app is almost always enough. It saves distribution through the stores and runs the same on company and private devices.

## Company phone or private phone

Not every workshop has company phones. If you allow private devices, clarify three things:

- The app only needs the camera and notifications – no location, no contacts.
- Everyone signs in with their own account so that bookings are assigned to the right person.
- Anyone who does not want to use a phone books on the tablet at the tool counter.

## Introduction in four steps

1. **Attach labels with QR codes** to all tools – starting with the special tools that are searched for most often.
2. **Put the app on the home screen**, ideally together in a team meeting.
3. **Show one process:** scan the tool, confirm the issue, scan it again on return.
4. **Support the first week** and clear up questions immediately. After that it runs by itself.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do you need a barcode scanner for a tool management app?

No. The camera of a current phone reads QR codes and barcodes reliably. A handheld scanner is worthwhile at an issue counter with many bookings in a row, but it is not a requirement.

### Does a tool app work without internet?

That depends on the app. Good solutions remember scans without a connection and book them as soon as the network is back. That way a dead spot in the workshop does not matter.

### Does a tool app have to come from the App Store?

No. A web app can be added to the home screen directly from the browser, starts like an app and receives notifications. Updates arrive automatically without anyone having to install anything.

## How it works with Tulz

Tulz runs in the browser on PC, tablet and phone and can be added to the home screen as an app. The camera scan reads QR codes and barcodes, and on Android devices NFC tags as well. Without a connection, Tulz remembers the scans and books them later. Notifications arrive on the phone, "My day" shows everyone their tools and due dates, and for colleagues without a phone there is the kiosk tablet at the tool counter.

Guides in the help centre: [Home screen app (PWA)](https://tulz.work/en/help/article/home-screen-app-pwa) · [Camera scan on the phone](https://tulz.work/en/help/article/camera-scan-on-the-phone) · [Offline in the workshop](https://tulz.work/en/help/article/offline-in-the-workshop) · [Enable push notifications on your phone](https://tulz.work/en/help/article/enable-push-notifications) · [Using it on phone and tablet](https://tulz.work/en/help/article/using-it-on-phone-and-tablet)

[See all features](https://tulz.work/en/features)

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Source: https://tulz.work/en/guides/tool-management-app · As of 2026-10-06 · Tulz