The world is changing and we’ve all had to face facts that online searches, online ordering, online everything is here to stay!  For a plumbing professional, it’s a two sided story.

On the business side, making use of digital marketing tools and social media is a must to help increase business.  Customers search online today to find information about businesses and how to contact them.  New customers use the Internet to compare plumbers and online reviews/ratings are extremely popular.  Did you know consumers are also likely to spend 31 percent more with a business with excellent reviews, and a whopping 92 percent will use a local business if it has at least a four-star rating?[i]

Customers want to know that the business is up-to-date on the latest plumbing technologies (including costs and how to install them) like:

• Water saving products
• Water recycling
• Remote thermostats
• Touchless and digitally controlled fixtures and toilets
• Tankless water heaters
• Smart appliances
• Eco-friendly components
• Flood stop technology/leak detection
• Smart home systems

While there may have been resistance initially to accept some of these technologies in homes, especially some of the smart home systems, they have become accepted and have increased in popularity over the last few years.  Smart homes add real value to a property and have created increased interest with buyers.

A business’s website should display their knowledge of technological products, but also website users want easy functionality that includes online chats, messaging, product searches and project status reports.

The other side of the story is the plumber themselves – they are now using technology for research, product ordering, installation help, keeping up-to-date on the latest products, and training.  The PHCC has an online apprentice training program as an example of available online resources for plumbers.

Today’s plumbers are using tools like remote cameras for finding line breaks, non-intrusive trenchless technologies, crimping tools, magnetic locators to find pipes, cross lines lasers, and moisture meters to name a few that make use of the latest technology. GPS fleet tracking technology, for instance, allows the dispatcher to know where vehicles are and what the best route for them to take is.

Smartphone apps for scheduling, measuring, calculating, taking photographs for quoting or documenting a job completion and credit card payments have become very popular.

Plumbers rely on manufacturers to provide training and installation instructions for all their products including the new technology-based products and most go out of their way to ensure the information and training is easily accessed. Brasscraft’s digital catalogs provide direct links to videos, information and instruction sheets.  And our website also has a complete video and document library to support our customers.

To access our catalogs, literature and videos, go to any of our websites:

www.brasscraft.com

www.plumbshop.com

www.cobratools.com

Then select “Resources”, then either “Video” or “Document” library.

Here are a few articles / links to apps and software for contractors and plumbers.

Technologies Transforming the Plumbing Business https://www.thisoldhouse.com/article/technologies-transforming-plumbing-business

40 HVAC and Plumbing Mobile Apps to Make A Contractor’s Life Easier https://www.contractingbusiness.com/galleries/40-hvac-and-plumbing-mobile-apps-make-contractors-life-easier

Find the best Plumbing Software for your business. Compare product reviews and features to build your list.

https://www.capterra.com/plumbing-software

Top Free Apps For Plumbing Contractors

https://job-flex.com/jobflex-blog/top-free-apps-plumbing-contractors/

Questions?  Contact me at communications@brasscrafthq.com

[i] RevLocal; InvestPro