Dear industry colleague,

	Plumbers must become familiar with emerging technologies.Can

It is a well known (unfortunate) fact that old-guard plumbers throughout the world are reluctant to adopt new technologies. However, by failing to do so, they are stifling their businesses - small or large - and their own skills development.

The fact is, technology in the form of apps and computer software is now a necessity and plumbers must get on their computers and learn how to use them and associated programs.

In the UK, Train4Trade Skills uses games technology to create a virtual reality house, in which plumbing students can practice their skills.

The graphics and games technology used in today's most advanced computer games is being used by trade skills training specialist, Train4Trade Skills, to train plumbers as part of a 'blended learning' process that combines PC study with practical workshops and written theory.

In Melbourne, Australia the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre PICAC) offers hi-tech computers to deliver basic computer programs such as Microsoft Office for all plumbers and apprentices leading to advanced training in Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) and Hydraulic design. Further to this Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology is taking the world by storm and becoming a necessity for hydraulic designers and engineers.

Then there's Backflow Sherpa which tracks all backflow devices so you'll never forget another test or customer. The free app iSAveH2O that shows how much water and energy can be saved with different sized rain tanks.

In the US, the company Pi Software offers software for project management, financials, scheduling, bidding, document management, reporting and all the rest.

Plumbers may not think that computer software (and myriad technologies available) is something that they need, but to effectively run any business today, even a small plumbing one, requires it. Whether it's a spreadsheet, a tax program, or a scheduler, an app or water saving technologies, these can help save small companies time and money - which could mean the difference between a thriving business and a struggling one.