Electrical Contracting News (ECN) June 2017 | Page 28

FEATURE
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
STAYING AHEAD OF THE GAME
With busy work and home schedules to contend with it’s hard to keep up with everything you
legally have to know, never mind the latest product and industry news. Here Steve Saunders,
senior technical manager at Triton Showers, provides some advice on advances in training
resources to ensure continual professional development remains high on your agenda.
I
nternet searches for ‘how to’
content have increased 70 per
cent year-on-year and continue
to be some of the most popular
films for both businesses and
individuals. Most electric shower
launches are now accompanied
by an introductory movie and
overview of the features lasting just a few
minutes making them easy enough to
catch up on.
In my experience being able to have one-
to-one conversations also gives a deeper
understanding of what would make your life
easier too. We utilise the time spent with our
installers to collate this insight and guidance
to ensure that any new solutions we bring to
market truly meet their needs.
Tech talk
For when you can’t afford to take time out,
the next best thing is distance learning
which could be in the shape of webinars.
Frequently streamed live this evolution
allows ‘virtual’ access to seminars from
sector leaders and influencers who present,
interact with and address questions from
the audience as if they were in the room.
They also tend to be recorded too so
you can log on after the event and watch
again. As a ‘starter for 10’ visit CIPHE’s
YouTube page where you can see the
current series of technical webinars and
read educational articles.
Product insights
and reviews
Some manufacturers also produce
online step-by-step material for you to
use before or during the installation.
These are particularly convenient if you
would like to show the customer what
will be involved on site when dealing
with a complex job. Product reviews
from professional installers are also a
great way to appreciate the pros and
cons of a unit and you can normally leave
comments to get further feedback before
you specify the item.
Open up to Apps
While it can be beneficial to have printed
literature in the van, you can now tap into
an entire library of information in your
pocket thanks to (mostly) free of charge
smartphone Apps. This new platform brings
together convenient guides and information,
making it quick to find answers or make an
enquiry when you’ve got your hands full.
As well as being a useful reference
tool, some Apps also have a fun gaming
aspect and offer exclusive promotions or
memberships. As part of our latest T80
electric shower launch, we produced the
‘T80 Pro-Fit Challenge’, which combines
installation best practice with a competitive
leader board as you work through the
game’s levels. Just like in real life, the
longer it takes to fit the replacement shower
and accomplish a professional finish the
angrier your cyber customer becomes.
‘As well as
being a useful
reference
tool, Apps
can also have
a fun gaming
aspect
and offer
exclusive
promotions or
memberships.’
Meet and greet
Despite the rise in digital technology,
face-to-face workshops are still as popular
as ever. Combining theory with practical
guidance, workshops offer a chance to
see engaging demonstrations and gather
troubleshooting tips.
28 | June 2017
Workshops
offer a chance
to see engaging
demonstrations
and gather
troubleshooting tips.