Considering the fact that electricity has been around for millennia, it’s often surprising to know that we keep learning more and more about this phenomenon. But as new technologies emerge, researchers continue to create better, faster, and more efficient methods to make the electrician’s job easier.
Today’s construction industries use state-of-the-art electrical systems, innovative tools, wearable devices, and more. As an electrician, whether you’re working for someone else or running a business yourself, knowing what’s on the cutting edge of these technologies can be a game changer in your work.
If you’re just starting out or building your business, read this article to ensure you’re loading up on the best tools for the job. Keep your eye on the future at the same time by watching these four emerging technologies that will affect your industry.
- Sustainable Goods
“Going green” is the goal for billions of people, and when it comes to construction, you may not have a choice. Federal, state, and local regulations continue to increase the standards for materials and zoning requirements, placing a high level of importance on sustainable materials.
The good news is that many of these products have become cheaper as technology advances. The difference in cost between sustainable goods versus traditional materials is often negligible, or the discrepancy pays for itself with energy efficiency.
For electricians, this means learning how to replace energy-vampire tech with environmentally-friendly options. You’ve probably already been doing this without thinking about it as you swap lightbulbs for LED lights and adjust your electrical systems to take advantage of natural lighting sources.
Tech innovations in the industry are going beyond the final product and moving into the power source itself. Some companies are reengineering power transformer chemicals to make them more eco-friendly, saving energy from start to end. Those cost-savings will help your pocket as well as the homeowner’s.
- Prefab Materials
A decade ago, making something that was meant to be high-quality with prefab materials was a quick way to lose your reputation in the construction industry. But now, prefabrication has made a comeback and revamped its previously negative stereotype, and the demand for prefab has skyrocketed.
Manufacturers build these materials away from the construction site, but the electrical work still needs to get done. So, electricians who work near a warehouse or other facility get to skip heading to multiple in-progress buildings and do their projects off-site.
- Smart Technology
Whether you love it or hate it, the internet is here to stay, and it has completely reshaped the industry for electrical engineers.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the root of infrastructure everywhere, from residential homes to citywide planning. Making much of this possible is the advent of smart home technology.
Your job, whether commercial or residential, will include finding ways to cut costs and improve convenience with smart tech. It’s already in action with video doorbells that let the owner communicate with whoever is on the porch through their phone. It’s visible with AI devices that turn on the TV from anywhere in the house. And you’ll be wiring thermostats that are controlled from an app, controlling the temperature automatically using pre-set instructions.
As an electrician, you know the reality of these “wireless” devices depends entirely on the power you provide to the structure. Those smart technology products need you to run the wires and cables through the home to keep their convenient features ready on demand for the user.
The idea of wireless tech sounds amazing in theory, but at its core, those products will keep you busy when they overload the circuits or malfunction.
- Cloud-Based Technology
Finally, keep your attention on the evolution of cloud technology. It will change how you do business.
At the access level, cloud-based platforms can help you organize your records, store receipts, handle accounting, and even schedule your appointments.
The next level brings cloud software onto the job site. While there, you can log your hours, whip up an itemized statement using timely and accurate material pricing, and accept money from various digital instant payment sources. Getting these tasks done in the moment saves you hours of paperwork later, and lowers the risk of mistakes made from forgetfulness.
Smart helmets take this software to the cutting-edge side of the cloud and onto the job site. These tech products let you see the building as it will look when it’s finished by adding layers of augmented reality (AR) to your view. It’s an ideal way to catch errors of minute degrees or potential malfunctions before you spend any time or money getting there.
The same type of technology is expanding in all your tools, including your work belt and boots.
Conclusion
Ready to make your dangerous, challenging job safer and easier? Get on board the technology train. Sure, there’s a learning curve, but you’ll quickly see how upgrading your business boosts your performance and lets you work smarter, not harder.