Jared Christman

For years, electrical procurement followed a standard sequence. The project was designed, drawings were issued, the electrical contractor was awarded the job and equipment was released. Data center construction is challenging that sequence. With larger electrical loads, tighter schedules and a significant amount of electrical infrastructure, waiting until construction begins to consider procurement can create problems before electricians ever arrive on-site.

Walking the floor at the NECA Convention and Trade Show can be a little overwhelming. There are hundreds of exhibitors with product demonstrations happening in every direction and more new technology than anyone can check out in just a couple of days. For a contractor, though, this is the conference with the most concentrated electrical-specific solutions, which is what makes it so valuable.

The number of technology and solution platforms that have been introduced to electrical contractors over the past few years have been staggering. The challenge comes when those systems need to transfer data between themselves. We often end up with good software operating in separate silos, leaving employees to hop between them manually.