Tradespeople are certainly not under threat in 2024, which is great news for Australia’s nearly two million tradies. That said, change is on the horizon. Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t going to replace drain installation, rebuild retaining walls, or handling complex pipe soldering anytime soon. But it’s rapidly enhancing how these tasks and managed and executed.
From optimising energy usage in smart buildings to streamlining route planning for service calls and enhancing safety monitoring on job sites, AI is making trade businesses more efficient. And it is also making tradie business insurance easier for Australia’s hard-working tradies.
Are you over dealing with mountains of paperwork in your trade business? If so, you’re not the only one. Many trade business owners find dealing with paperwork and admin one of the most frustrating aspects of running a small business. Fortunately, the use of artificial intelligence in trade roles has come a long way over the years and even small businesses can benefit from embracing new technology to unlock additional efficiency.
How digital tools can help tradies
Here are eight great ways tradies can use digital technology in the office and out on job sites to reduce their paperwork and improve their efficiency.
1. Augmented reality for risk-free training
While some may believe there’s no substitute for lacing up your work boots and learning on the job, augmented reality (AR) is now being used for training tradies for working in high-risk environments. It provides a risk-free environment for tradespeople to simulate challenging on-the-job tasks and can enhance their safety knowledge.
2. Safety for lone workers
Safety shouldn’t be a solo act. Wearable panic alarms are becoming essential tools for tradespeople operating in remote or high-risk environments, such as night shifts, isolated-area rescue operations, exploring remote mining tenements, or simply working alone on a large job site.
3. Business insurance for tradies
Tradies face a number of risks everyday, such as on-site injuries, third-party claims or even lawsuits. Business insurance protects your financial stability by covering potential claims or certain legal issues that could arise from your work activities.
4. Create electronic forms
Another trade tech trend is switching to electronic forms instead of paper. If you’re still using paper forms, it may be time to ditch them and switch them to electronic forms. There are many benefits of using electronic forms, such as being able to track submissions and automatically calculate totals.
5. Use a project management tool
A project management tool can help you keep track of your projects and tasks. This can help you stay organised and avoid missing deadlines.
6. Track inventory electronically
If you are still using paper to track inventory, it’s time to switch to an electronic system. This will save you time and money by reducing the need for manual data entry.
7. Go paper-free with digital contracts
Today there is no need to print contracts. You can now sign and store contracts electronically. Think of all the time and trees you will save!
8. Embrace cloud storage
Cloud storage offers the flexibility to access your documents anytime on any device. This technology saves you physical space, while also making information easier to retrieve and share across your team
9. Supply chain management
With the right software, you can monitor stock levels and predict when you’ll need to reorder. You can even automate the ordering process to ensure you never run out of important supplies. This not only keeps projects moving without delays but also helps you manage costs by avoiding last-minute purchases.
Why tradies may consider AI in their business
Artificial intelligence in trades enables the simulation of human intelligence processes by computer systems. These processes include learning, reasoning, and self-correction. AI’s capabilities range from simple automation of repetitive tasks (such as customer bookings) to complex decision-making processes (for example job site safety checks) that can transform trade business operations.
Fixing scheduling problems
Tradies can use AI-driven tools for scheduling and dispatching jobs. These systems analyse travel times, worker availability and skill sets in order to optimise route and job assignments to increase efficiency.
Improving customer relationships
Use AI to analyse customer data and interactions. It can improve customer relationships by personalising the services, predicting needs and improve the overall customer experience. Indeed, even business insurance companies are using AI to deliver a better customer experience.
Fine-tune your financial plan
Tradie finance needs to be closely managed because there are certain essential costs involved in running a busy trade business, from vehicle maintenance and equipment finance to business insurance costs and marketing costs, to name just a few. AI tools can help tradies to identify areas where they can reduce their costs, detect anomalies, and reduce fraud risk.
Ultimately, AI can act as a super assistant that can help make life easier for tradespeople. So, when will your trade business join the AI revolution and adopt these trade tech trends? For some, it may be a case of the sooner, the better.
Choose BizCover and compare competitive business insurance quotes from leading Australian insurers and experience business insurance the way it should be. Give us a bell on 1300 249 268 to hear more about how BizCover can help your tradie business.
