In today’s fast-paced, on-demand world, electrical contractors are taking on a mounting number of projects with limited time and manpower. According to Dodge Data & Analytics, total construction starts in 2018 are expected to increase by three percent this year. Yet for contractors, an increase in projects does not automatically mean increased profitability.
This is because contractors, like so many in the construction industry, continue to struggle with a shortage of skilled workers, making it a challenge to handle their current project loads, never mind the increased demand the market is producing. While the industry as a whole is hiring more workers, a large number of workers are aging out of the workforce and taking their skills and experience with them. This leaves contractors with an inexperienced pool of labor that is often unequipped to perform more complex jobs such as digital and connected installations. On the other hand, electrical contractors can benefit from this new workforce, which has grown up with technology and may bring different skills to the table.
Electrical contractors are already stretched beyond their normal workload capacity and as a result, may find themselves working six or seven days a week to manage demand. Aside from their day-to-day installation responsibilities, contractors have to balance the administrative tasks that come with any business, including employee training, hiring, prospecting and billing. To overcome today’s workforce and workload challenges, electrical contractors are continuously looking for new ways to increase their efficiency, productivity and ultimately their profits.
Invest in the Right Tools for the Job
Electrical contractors can benefit from materials or equipment that help them increase efficiency and save on labor and material costs. Making the investment in the right equipment to help decrease time spent on installations is key to helping electrical contractors increase their efficiency on the job. Such products or solutions can include wiring systems and circuit breakers with built-in diagnostics that also install faster and easier than ever before.
For example, doing rough-ins can become a time-consuming task for electrical contractors, especially if they have to install multiple load centers. Advanced wire management systems can eliminate the need for knockouts and box connectors, speeding up and simplifying rough-ins and dramatically reducing installation time. Similarly, using plug-on neutral circuit breakers can also shave time off installation and eliminate the need for pigtails, which saves materials and cuts costs. The industry is starting to see how the internet of things (IoT) can positively impact electrical contractors as well. IoT-connected load centers and breakers can improve energy monitoring, control and predictive maintenance for electrical contractors and their customers. With smart products and solutions, electrical contractors can speed up installation time and proactively maintain systems.
Train Workers and Equip Them with the Right Resources
With the ever increasing amount of connected solutions, it is becoming essential that contractors equip their teams with the right resources to install and commission new connected solutions. For example, as the demand for IoT-enabled devices continues to rise, electrical contractors must have the knowledge and ability to install and commission energy monitoring and control solutions. Contractors that want to get ahead of their competition should ensure their workforce has the resources at hand to access product and technical information, get up to speed on new codes and requirements, and interact with a network of industry experts.
The construction industry today is rapidly evolving. As contractors expand the solutions they provide, they must turn their attention to the tools and techniques that will give them a leg up on their competition. By arming themselves and their workforce with more knowledge and an expanded set of tech tools at their fingertips, electrical contractors can not only tackle current business needs with more ease, but will be able to grow their businesses by taking on new, challenging opportunities.
