New ClearSky Smart Fleet Features Added in 2025

From the beginning, the vision for the JLG^® ClearSky Smart Fleet™ IoT (Internet of Things) platform has been to transform traditional telematics into something better. Across the access industry, companies are turning to digital technology to solve persistent challenges — from labor shortages to productivity bottlenecks. And that’s what led us to come up with dimensions for new ClearSky Smart Fleet features that weren’t even possible not so long ago.

Here’s a quick rundown of the latest capabilities being added to this innovative platform: Digital Analyzer Reader, Digital Access Control, Over-The-Air Machine Software Updates and Elevation-Based Localization (coming mid-2026).

Digital Analyzer Reader: Streamlining Diagnostics & Information Sharing

Historically, technicians had to plug the 6-ft cord of a handheld analyzer device into our machines to understand what was truly going on “under the hood.” These handheld analyzers could also recode a machine, examine its parameters and reprogram it. While this technology is common in various industries, it’s not the most convenient or user-friendly.

With the new Digital Analyzer feature in the ClearSky Smart Fleet app, you can use your mobile device to check a machine’s status, set up parameters or retrieve other types of information. No expensive handheld unit or cumbersome cord is necessary. And to make the Digital Analyzer even easier to use, we modeled much of it on our handheld analyzer’s interface and user experience. That means there’s little to no learning curve when switching from a handheld analyzer to our Digital Analyzer.

And, the Digital Analyzer Reader feature allows you to create an easy-to-reference, one-page summary of a machine's set-up, personalities, diagnostics and fault-log data that you can easily download and share with others who need that information.

But, there’s more to it. The Digital Analyzer Reader simplifies sharing information on the same scale. Here’s how: Many tradespeople worldwide are not fluent in English. If you’re working with associates or customers who speak a different first language, you can now more efficiently take data from the Digital Analyzer Reader and translate it online versus manually translating the codes from the handheld device.

Since the Digital Analyzer technology exists online, JLG can launch updates and improvements instantly, maximizing its iPhone and/or Android capabilities at any time.  

Digital Access Control: From Keypads to Cloud Control

Digital Access Control is exactly what it sounds like: The ability to restrict machine operation or provide authorized machine use directly through the ClearSky Smart Fleet mobile app. We recognize that fleet managers and owners face ongoing challenges related to equipment access and security. Who’s operating the machine? When? Where? Traditionally, those questions were answered with keypads, codes or physical keys — manual systems that can be hard to manage across multiple locations. With Digital Access Control, JLG has transformed those analog processes into a simple, secure digital experience across more than 100,000 assets globally.

There’s no need for additional hardware or a complex setup. With a few taps on a smartphone or tablet, fleet owners can set a machine’s operation state to one of three modes:

• Restricted (Lockout): No operation permitted
• Creep Mode / Creep + Transport Mode: Limited-speed movement for specific job site needs
• Unrestricted: Full operation enabled

It’s fast, intuitive and secure. By removing the keypad and moving access control into the cloud, JLG is laying the foundation for even more powerful capabilities in the future — like role-based permissions and job site-level access profiles.

What makes this update so impactful is that it eliminates manual work without adding complication. Because Digital Access Control is delivered through ClearSky Smart Fleet’s existing connectivity beacon, customers don’t need to install anything new. Once the app updates, this new feature will be available across all ClearSky Smart Fleet-equipped machines with an active subscription. Equipment access and security can now be managed remotely, in real-time, from anywhere.

We’re not just enabling connectivity; we’re empowering action. This evolution from keypad to cloud-connected control reflects our broader strategy: Transitioning from simply connecting machines to connecting job sites.

Over-the-Air Machine Software Updates: Digitizing Manual Tasks

Across the access industry, companies are turning to digital technology to solve persistent challenges — from labor shortages to productivity bottlenecks. JLG is moving the industry forward with Over-the-Air (OTA) Machine Software Updates, the latest enhancement to the ClearSky Smart Fleet™ IoT platform.

This feature isn’t only about staying connected — it’s about being more streamlined in the way manual work gets done. Traditionally, updating machine software on MEWPs (mobile elevating work platforms like boom lifts and scissor lifts) and telehandlers required a technician to update one machine at a time. Each update could take more than two hours, including connecting a laptop, installing the update and manually restoring settings. Multiply that across dozens — or even thousands — of units, and the impact on labor, downtime and scheduling becomes clear.

With OTA Machine Software Updates through the ClearSky Smart Fleet, that entire workflow gets a significant upgrade. Connecting to the ClearSky Smart Fleet single-beacon hardware through its proprietary Bluetooth^® mesh network, a single technician can now:

• Connect to a group of machines simultaneously from a mobile device
• Complete updates in less than 30 minutes per machine — more than a 50% increase in efficiency
• Automatically restore all machine settings thanks to the built-in beacon memory

Updating more machines at once means that technicians are available to spend more time on higher-value tasks and less time on keeping machines compliant. And, the ability to update multiple machines at the same time isn’t just a time-saver — it’s a workforce multiplier. By freeing technicians from managing this repetitive, manual process, fleet managers can redeploy labor where it’s needed most, whether that’s servicing machines, supporting customers or scaling operations.

In an environment where skilled labor is limited, ClearSky Smart Fleet’s OTA Machine Software Updates help companies do more with the resources they have.

Elevation-Based Localization: Equipment Tracking at New Heights

Designed to address one of the most persistent pain points on multi-story projects, Elevation-Based Localization, which will soon be available when using the ClearSky Smart Fleet app on a local connection, allows users to pinpoint not just where a machine is, but where it is vertically. That means no more hunting from floor to floor or second-guessing whether a scissor lift is above or below you.

Thanks to barometric pressure sensors embedded in ClearSky Smart Fleet beacons, this new feature empowers users to:

• Identify Equipment by Elevation: Know whether a machine is above or below your current position.
• Streamline Inventory Management: Spend less time walking buildings and more time working.
• Simplify Service Calls: Technicians can locate the right machine — fast — even in complex multi-story environments.
• Activate Over the Air: No retrofits. No disruptions. All existing ClearSky Smart Fleet-enabled beacons will receive the update remotely.

ClearSky Smart Fleet turns actionable data into better outcomes, not just more information. Elevation-Based Localization does exactly that by eliminating one of the most common inefficiencies on urban and commercial construction projects: Not knowing where your access equipment actually is.

Leading the Industry Forward

Helping you accomplish more in less time is critical to your business staying ahead in a competitive market, ClearSky Smart Fleet is changing how fleet managers and technicians tackle real-world challenges — from locating equipment to streamlining diagnostics. These new features aren’t only about staying connected; they’re about being more streamlined in the way manual work gets done to deliver a major boost in daily operational efficiencies.

Like all ClearSky Smart Fleet updates, the Digital Analyzer, Digital Access Control, OTA Machine Software Updates and Elevation-Based Localization (a brand-new feature coming soon) are built into the ClearSky Smart Fleet ecosystem and will roll out automatically to compatible equipment. No downtime. No added cost. Just smart fleet management from top to bottom — literally.

It’s time for you to explore how our connected platform is redefining equipment visibility and control — on the ground and in the air. Learn more at smartfleet.jlg.com.