Expanding customers’ digital experience through IoT connectivity
JLG Industries, Inc. has announced the addition of two features coming soon to the JLG® ClearSky Smart Fleet™ IoT platform: Digital Access Control and Over-the-Air Machine Software Updates. Both capabilities will be available through the ClearSky Smart Fleet single connectivity beacon on JLG machines. Advancing JLG’s vision of a connected equipment ecosystem, equipment owners and fleet managers will be able to send prompts to the beacon to digitize historically manual daily processes.
“With these new enhancements, we’re not just enabling connectivity — we’re empowering action,” says Ara Eckel, director of product management for connected solutions at JLG. “This is a critical step forward in delivering a comprehensive digitized customer experience that transforms how fleets are managed.”
Digital Access Control
JLG’s new Digital Access Control feature allows fleet owners and managers to restrict or enable machine operation using the ClearSky Smart Fleet mobile app — eliminating the need for manual keypad entry.
Owners will now be able to invoke one of three machine states:
- Restricted (Lockout) – No operation permitted
- Creep Mode or Creep + Transport Mode – Limited-speed functionality for specific job site needs
- Unrestricted – Full machine capability enabled
By moving access control into the app, JLG is laying the groundwork for future digital expansions, such as role-based permissions and job site-level access profiles, with no additional keypad required. When the app is updated, Digital Access Control works across any ClearSky Smart-Fleet-equipped asset with an active subscription. “This evolution from keypad to cloud-connected control reflects JLG’s broader strategy: Transitioning from simply connecting machines to connecting job sites,” adds Eckel.
Over-the-Air Machine Software Updates
With the introduction of Over-the-Air Machine Software Updates, JLG has also digitized the once-manual process of updating machine software.
Traditionally, annual ANSI-required updates require a technician to visit each MEWP in person, connect a laptop, install the software and reprogram machine personalities — a labor-intensive process. Now, leveraging ClearSky Smart Fleet’s ability to deliver updates over the air,, fleet managers or technicians can:
- Download software updates to the beacon remotely via the web portal or Smart Fleet mobile app
- Wirelessly apply updates to multiple machines concurrently using their mobile device or through the ClearSky Smart Fleet web portal with someone onsite to trigger the machine.
- Restore machine personality settings post-update, thanks to the beacon’s built-in memory
This advancement is designed to reduce downtime, labor costs and manual effort — all while fulfilling regulatory requirements. “By digitizing machine software updates, we’re eliminating unnecessary physical interaction and delivering the time efficiencies our customers expect from IoT,” says Eckel. “This is a capability customers ask for; JLG listened and is the first to provide it in access equipment.”
Turning Connectivity into Capability
From machine diagnostics and remote troubleshooting to automatic site networks, status indicators and now Digital Access Control and Over-the-Air Machine Software updates, ClearSky Smart Fleet continues to evolve as a comprehensive, all-in-one fleet management solution. With each new feature, JLG moves closer to fully digitizing job site operations. “These latest innovations demonstrate how JLG is transforming ClearSky Smart Fleet from a system that simply collects data into a hands-on digital tool that helps customers manage their fleets more efficiently and securely,” concludes Eckel.
