Jim Pauley, Chairman and CEO, National Fire Protection Association
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In an industry as steeped in history and tradition as the fire and life safety industry, it can be challenging to get off the beaten track. In the case of information sharing, email is by far the most popular tool across all industries, and this isn’t going to change anytime soon. But when it comes to business-critical information, such as having the latest codes and standards, relying strictly on email communications or even printed materials, it can be a challenge for industry professionals.
The problem with old-fashioned
There are several possible consequences of relying on traditional communication methods. First, there is the challenge of delays. With hybrid work becoming the new norm, it is becoming increasingly difficult to reach team members, especially those who spend most of their day working on site on construction sites. With the influx of emails reaching the inbox every day (registration required), there is no guarantee that employees will see or read the communication on time, meaning projects can continue to operate under an older code, potentially causing delays in the inspection process.
Second, if you’re working in the office or field in a pinch, it can be helpful to have physical resources, such as codebooks, on hand for research and reference. But the traditional method of scanning pages and making copies does not translate into the digital world we live in. Employees are more likely to lose important documents if they are printed. Because some of the staff work from home, it is more difficult to collaborate with physical documents. In general, physical records are inefficient compared to modern techniques.
The third challenge relates to PDF digital downloads. A more modern approach, PDF versions are just static versions of paper available for access when needed. However, we see the same challenges with PDFs as we do with email communications or physical books: you can’t easily collaborate on or track changes in real time.
When using PDFs, you are still relying on information from potentially outdated sources. This can cause project delays that can affect customer relationships. PDFs also lack several interactive, situational features that can be essential to understanding how the information you read interacts with certain external factors. These capabilities can be critical for workers just starting out and learning on the job in real time.
A fourth crucial challenge concerns knowledge of generations. In the fire, power and life safety sectors, there is much ongoing debate about how to preserve the wisdom of veterans. With traditional methods of communication, older generations typically share information via email or on the margins of codebooks. Once they retire, their company-issued laptop will be wiped and given to a new employee for use. Other than scouring the retiree’s email for important lessons learned over time, it’s nearly impossible to ensure their industry-specific knowledge is preserved for use by future generations.
Take the construction industry, for example. The median age of a construction worker is 42, meaning most workers are closer to retirement than when they entered the field. With a new wave of entry-level workers coming out of trade schools, it is imperative that existing knowledge is passed on before industry veterans leave their jobs.
Modernizing Approaches to Communication
Despite challenges in several areas, organizations can be slow to adopt modernized approaches to communication and collaboration. It is crucial that these organizations set up a digitization strategy, but what does that mean? For some industries, this means implementing communication apps like Slack or Teams. In the fire and life safety industry, this means moving to digital platforms that can help store, manage and upgrade the reference guides and materials essential to an organization’s work.
Digital tools enable seamless collaboration between all aspects of an organization. Whether employees work remotely, in the field, in the office or somewhere in between, digital software ensures that everyone has the most up-to-date information at their fingertips.
For example, if there are new code updates, all team members can be notified of the change in real time. Changes or changes often occur mid-cycle and are usually urgent in nature and require immediate action; that’s why it’s critical that construction, electrical, fire and life safety professionals have real-time access to updates as they’re released. If that code is critical to ongoing projects, employees can bookmark and annotate it. They can then share compound notes with the entire organization, alleviating the problem of lost generational knowledge. When industry veterans leave an organization, their notes, bookmarks, and other critical information are stored in the application and can be shared with technicians who may be entering their first day of work.
Maintain a competitive advantage
Digital tools are not only essential for organization-wide collaboration, but they are also essential for driving business growth. The truth is that if you don’t implement digital tools in your organization, you are already behind. With the proliferation of digital transformations across the workforce, it’s important to get on board or risk falling behind your competitors.
Organizations that modernize their approach to day-to-day work are more likely to build better relationships with their customers and customers. The ability to have constant reference material on hand means fewer project delays. This also means that employees are more productive.
An organization’s ability to digitize and keep up with trends is critical to earning customer trust. Consumers have more confidence in organizations that are moving on the digital wave as it shows that they prioritize innovation, security and accuracy. If an organization in our industry uses a codebook from four or five years ago, it can be a concern for customers who want their facilities to be as safe (and best) for users.
By leveraging digital tools and software, organizations can ensure that projects are executed efficiently and that safety is a priority. This can help build brand reputation, leading to more customer referrals and more business opportunities for the organization. Digital tools can be invaluable to an organization’s operations, driving business goals and organizational growth.
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