Renowned American football coach, Lou Holtz, famously said: “In this world, you’re either growing or you’re dying, so get in motion and grow”. As the world consistently evolves, individuals and businesses face the choice of embracing change or risk falling behind.

The impact of technology is evident across every aspect of our lives, and the trades are no exception. At trade conferences, one is faced with wading through a sea of established technology platforms and newly formed startups. The challenge lies not in finding new technology options, but in discerning which ones are worth implementing by addressing genuine business needs and how to seamlessly integrate them into the operations.

Integrating new technology into a business can disrupt day-to-day operations and necessitate significant investments of time, effort, and money. It's advisable to avoid frequent switching of systems, to pilot potential technology, and to gather sufficient feedback from team members before full implementation.

Considerations when adopting new technology in your business:

• What is the problem you are trying to solve? Technology should not be implemented just for the sake of something new. Pinpoint the core issue your business is facing and look for a solution that can directly address the challenge or enhance existing capabilities.
• Are your employees open/ready for new technology? Change management is pivotal in ensuring the successful adoption of new technology. Employee buy-in is essential; highlighting the benefits to the team and the company can facilitate acceptance. Internal champions can further endorse the transition, reducing the likelihood of reverting back to old behaviors.
• Are the benefits worth the investment needed? Businesses must evaluate the potential gains against the resources required, considering both financial investment and personnel additions for implementation, training, and long-term support. The focus should be on long-term sustainability rather than a short-term bandaid.
• Which of the multiple technology options is right for you? With numerous options available, discerning the most suitable solution can be challenging. There are a lot of trendy software options that offer a “wow” factor, but they may not apply to your specific business. It is important to research factors such as startup tenure, financial backing, support infrastructure, and customer feedback to establish a long-term solution.
• If you can’t find the perfect solution, should you go create your own? While unique situations may arise, existing software solutions often suffice with slight customization. Creating software from scratch requires substantial investment that will not compare to the amount invested / funding received by an established software platform. Focus on your core business expertise, and don’t let technology development become a distraction.

The new buzzword is “AI”. Despite recent advancements, artificial intelligence has roots dating back to the 1950s. Companies like Google, Facebook, and Netflix started using AI in the 2000s. AI is now transforming the trades, offering enhanced convenience, productivity, and efficiency. However, AI is not software but rather a feature that can optimize and scale technology capabilities. Therefore, it is important to understand how, where, and why AI can be layered in.

Various software solutions are available in the trades, often with multiple functionalities offered in one product:

• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Helps companies manage customer interactions, track leads, and streamline sales processes.
• Accounting Software: Simplifies financial management tasks such as invoicing, expense tracking, and payroll processing, thus creating a company’s ‘source of truth’.
• Project / Field Management: Enables contractors to organize and track appointments, assign tasks to team members, manage timelines, track work orders, and communicate with clients and subcontractors.
• Inventory Management: Assists businesses in tracking inventory levels, managing parts orders, and optimizing stock levels.
• Remote Monitoring: Enables technicians to remotely monitor equipment performance, detect faults, and troubleshoot issues in real-time.
• Estimating and Quoting: Helps contractors accurately calculate material costs, labor expenses, and other project-related expenses to generate accurate estimates and quotes.
• Scheduling and Dispatch: Helps contractors efficiently manage work schedules, assign crews to jobs, and optimize routes.
• Measurement & Inspection: Utilize drones, satellite technology, and cameras while layering on AI to accurately measure, assess damage, and generate detailed reports.

Technology is designed to augment human capabilities rather than replace them entirely, enabling individuals to focus on tasks requiring creativity, emotional intelligence, and critical thinking. Technology also introduces a new level of objectivity, allowing customers to review proposals and assessments based on data. This transparency enhances trust and credibility with clients.

Embracing technological evolution is imperative for staying competitive and driving growth in this dynamic landscape.

For questions about emerging technologies in the trades and specific use cases that may be applicable to your business, the TradeKnight team is always happy to connect. We are focused on continually evaluating leading solutions to scale businesses or create a competitive advantage.