Are tradies technologically savvy?

Please note that the information in this article was based on trends from 2017 and may now be outdated. 

Most of us will agree we’re carrying less cash than ever, but it appears Australian tradies just aren’t keeping up.

Four in five tradies don’t own a mobile EFTPOS machine, and 75 per cent won’t consider getting one, according to a study by jobs website ServiceSeeking.com.au.

What’s more, one in five tradies still prefer customers to pay entirely in cash.

Tradies prefer cash because it prevents them from chasing up late payments and is useful for settling genuine day-to-day expenses. But insisting on cash-only to avoid paying GST is a problem, and is something individuals should be wary of.

“Tradies generally work with the system they know best: cash. However, times are changing, and it’s becoming more common for a customer to expect payment via card. Tradies need to keep up, or they’ll fall behind their more technologically advanced competitors,” says ServiceSeeking.com.au CEO Jeremy Levitt.

According to the study, 64 per cent don’t use an online invoicing system, and two out of three don’t use an online accounting system.

“Old-fashioned systems may be leaving some tradies far behind their competitors. Online invoicing, accounting and portable EFTPOS machines are all designed to help simplify the payment process. Those unwilling to embrace the technology could see their businesses suffer as a result,” says Mr Levitt. “Tradies will find that as they move forward with technology, managing their business will become easier.”

All statistics are from a survey of more than 2,800 ServiceSeeking.com.au clients.