In the electrical industry, precision, safety and accountability are the foundation of every project. Whether installing a 480V panel in a manufacturing plant or troubleshooting emergency power in a hospital, contractors are constantly juggling tight deadlines, complex systems and evolving compliance standards.
In today’s electrical industry, where tight schedules, code compliance and skilled labour shortages collide, contractors are turning to an unexpected software: live video. Once confined to office meetings, live video is now a frontline asset, used for real-time support, virtual inspections and client walkthroughs. According to the 2025 Remote and Hybrid Work In The Electrical Industry Statistics Gitnux report, “28% of projects are now managed virtually without in-person meetings.”
Closing the Skill Gap in Real Time
A persistent challenge in the industry is the shortage of experienced electricians. According to CNBC, only 7,000 new electricians enter the workforce each year, while 10,000 exit. Veteran journeymen are retiring, and incoming workers often require extensive hands-on training.
While larger firms may offer premium salaries and signing bonuses, many smaller contractors can’t compete with those incentives. A practical solution is video call training, which allows seasoned electricians to guide and support less experienced workers in real time, bridging the skills gap without the high cost of in-person training.
Field technicians, especially those younger or less experienced, can use video calls to connect instantly with a supervisor or master electrician back at the office or on another site. Instead of struggling to explain an unfamiliar breaker configuration over the phone, they can point their camera and get instant feedback.
This not only reduces errors and return visits, but also accelerates learning. It’s real-time mentoring, and it helps stretch your senior team’s impact without requiring them to be everywhere at once. At the same time, those sessions can be recorded and stored, then shared with those who need them whenever needed.
Inspections Without Delay
Live video is also changing how electrical contractors approach inspections and project sign-offs. In some jurisdictions, local inspectors are allowing virtual walkthroughs for low-voltage systems or mid-project checkpoints. Contractors can stream video directly to AHJs (Authorities Having Jurisdiction), walking them through the installation while answering questions in real time.
Even when not used for formal inspections, live video allows project managers and contractors to perform site checks without traveling. It’s especially useful when dealing with scope changes; live video minimizes back-and-forth and keeps everyone aligned.
Contractors can also use recorded video clips to create an internal archive of installed work, which is useful for warranty documentation or when responding to disputes down the line, and ensure safety compliance.
Streamlining Jobsite Communication
Electrical job sites are ever-changing. Projects overlap, conditions change and coordination with other contractors can be challenging. With so many moving parts, miscommunication between teams, subcontractors and project managers can quickly lead to delays, rework and even safety hazards. Live video is helping operations teams cut through the noise.
Instead of waiting for a site visit to verify installation progress or resolve a layout conflict, teams are hopping on quick video calls to confirm conduit runs, panel placement or lighting layouts. In a trade where precision matters and timelines are tight, the ability to see it now rather than find out later is transforming how teams communicate and collaborate.
Elevating the Client Experience
Customer expectations are evolving rapidly, with facility managers and property owners now demanding greater transparency, thorough documentation and faster communication. In response, many electrical contractors are turning to live video as a powerful platform to meet these new standards.
Live video enables contractors to walk clients through installations, provide virtual progress updates and even troubleshoot issues remotely.
Service departments also benefit significantly. A quick five-minute video call with a customer can help determine whether an issue is as simple as a tripped breaker or a more serious wiring problem, avoiding unnecessary truck rolls and improving dispatch efficiency.
What’s Next for the Electrical Industry?
Looking ahead, live video is expected to further integrate with job management systems, digital plans and compliance software. Features like automatic recording, cloud-based storage and searchable video logs are already helping contractors tie live video into daily operations.
Pairing live video with AI tools is gaining momentum, for example, real-time wire identification, code-checking overlays or even AI-generated summary notes from recorded walkthroughs.
These innovations aren’t replacing skilled labor—they’re amplifying it. They reduce friction between field and office, cut down on miscommunication and help electricians stay focused on doing quality, code-compliant work.
Electrical work is hands-on, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be smart. With platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom and LiveSwitch being used for real-world job sites, live video is giving contractors a new way to stay connected, improve safety, speed up workflows and deliver better service, without increasing operational burden. In a trade where every second counts, seeing the problem now means solving it faster—and getting ahead while others are still on hold.
By James Hatfield, Chief Revenue Officer at LiveSwitch
