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manager or homeowner many things, from their energy consumption to the health of their equipment. Having this information saves money, reveals opportunities and stops problems before they happen. As a result, there are great opportunities for
digitally skilled electricians in commercial buildings. The buildings and construction sectors account for 36% of global energy consumption according to
iea.org – over the next 20 years, there is the potential of savings of over a quarter in space heating and more than 20% in water heating. This means that if your commercial customer isn’t thinking about insight-driven efficiency now, they will be very soon. To make the most of this opportunity, you
must remember that your role as an electrician doesn’t have to be just giving customers electricity. You can increase your value-add as a connected consultant able to empower them with insight and optimise operations for the better.
Work smart, work fast, work safe Connectivity and insight don’t just benefit the customer, they benefit you. For example, when you’re called in for maintenance or repairs, having a pool of data to draw from the connected devices you installed will drastically speed up your workflow. Hours of manual inspection can be replaced by minutes of reading a series of data points. When supported by insight, you can isolate
and resolve a problem much faster. You’ll develop a reputation for speed and efficiency – and make it more likely that the customer will call on you again. By working smarter, you work
faster. This means you can get more work done is less time, offer more competitive prices and focus on what matters most – growing your customer base and business. Schneider Electric’s Acti9 Isobar P distribution
board is a good demonstration of how connectivity saves contractors time. With a plug- on RCBO, the board demands much less wiring – therefore cutting installation times by around 50% and ensuring a faster, more competitive job.
much less of a risk from degrading equipment and more problems can be solved remotely. With some of today’s digital tools, a
contractor can check or even perform maintenance on a device without ever having to touch the enclosure. For example, Schneider Electric’s MasterPact
MTZ circuit breakers can connect to an operator’s phone through a smartphone app. Instead of having to open a distribution board and manually check where a problem might be, a contractor only has to download the app and it will indicate what’s wrong. Connectivity, of course, is also safer for the
customer. When the capabilities are in place for connected monitoring and detection, potential dangers can be flagged and resolved before they can snowball into a larger problem. You don’t need to wait until a scheduled check-up before a potentially dangerous fault is discovered. With connected solutions that feed customers
insight across their assets, repairs and maintenance can also be performed on a proactive rather than reactive basis. This means less downtime and safer, happier customers. PowerTag, the world’s smallest wireless energy
Connectivity also makes you safer by putting
another layer between you and the live equipment. There’s an inherent danger in every job, whether it’s from electric shocks or arc flashes – yet the risks to health and life are greatly diminished when connected technologies are able to do much of the dangerous work for you. What’s more, when an application has more software components than hardware, there is
sensor, helps with this proactive maintenance by measuring energy and power in real time and sending downtime alerts. Circuit breakers which are ‘tagged’ with PowerTag become fully connected, enabling assets to run smoothly. Ultimately, connectivity is king. It brings the
ability to improve efficiencies, and therefore the quality of service offered to customers. Mastering connectivity gives you a clear advantage as an electrician, so make sure you get on board and stay ahead.
ewnews.co.uk
November 2021 electrical wholesaler | 11
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