New digital practices of engineers
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How engineers search for information Being an engineer today is far different from what it used to be. This observation might seem simple, but it actually implies a lot. Not only have the tools, methods and software changed, but the advent of digital technology has revolutionized the search for information and keeping up-to-date. This is why we decided to ask engineers how these changes affect their daily lives and how they integrate the new methods into their practices.
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New digital practices of engineers
- 1. ?New digital practices of engineers How engineers search for information
- 3. Foreword Being an engineer today is far different from what it used to be. This observa- tion might seem simple, but it actually implies a lot. Not only have the tools, methods and software changed, but the advent of digital technology has revolutionized the search for informa- tion and keeping up-to-date. This is why we decided to ask engineers how these changes affect their daily lives and how they integrate the new methods into their practices. 3 [2015]
- 4. Methodology To this end, we surveyed the field in December 2014. More than 7700 people from the world of industry answered our questions. We then focused on the 1818 answers we received from engineers. The survey was conducted in 5 languages: German, English, Spanish, French and Italian. 4 7700 respondents 5 languages 1818 answers from engineers [2015][2015]
- 5. Share of web traffic by device Before we delve into engineers’ work practices, here’s a quick overview of the general trends in NICT* use. 5 Average: 4.4h/day on desktops 62% desktops |-13% vs 2014 7% tablets |+17% vs 2014 *New Information and Communication Technologies Source: Digital, Social and Mobile in 2015 by We Are Social Singapore Average: 2.7h/day on mobile devices 31% mobile phones |+39% vs 2014 [2015]
- 7. Engineer profiles 7 ? 46% 21% 7% 9% 5% 2% US 70% Canada 30% 7% 3% France 26% Italy 25% Germany 19% Spain 14% Austria 36% Greece 12% Poland 6% Romania 5% Iran 28% Turkey 22% Egypt 14% Saudi Arabia 12% Mexico 30% Argentina 17% Colombia 12% Chile 9% Algeria 38% Tunisia 28% Morocco 26% South Africa 7% India 56% Indonesia 12% China 9% Vietnam 7% Australia 74% New Zealand 19% New Caledonia 7% [2015]
- 8. 8 90.81% 9.19% 8.30% 44.22% 70.91% 10.71% 8.57% 20.59% 26.89% Engineer profiles ?? € under500K € 500K-1M €1-5M € < 29 YO >60YO 45-59YO 30-44 YO Company's annual turnover 90% under 5M€ [2015]
- 9. Which tools do they use? Despite the appearance of new digital tools (search engines, specialized portals, e-magazines), catalogues (62.27%) as well as specialized print media remain an important reference for engi- neers (19.03%). At the same time, new media such as specialized newsletters (31.29%), social networks (13.82%) and specialized blogs (9.94%) have emerged. Other, even more innovative media, include webinars (12.26%) and online video channels (11.30%). 9 Search Engines |74.79% E-Magazines |31.45% NEWS Specialized Portals |36.90%Catalogues |62.27% [2015]
- 10. Which search criteria are taken into consideration? Two trends emerge from the criteria used by engineers during their research. First, they want to facilitate and speed up the search and access to information. Next, 56.17% want to be able to see prices and 47.49% to contact retailers, which shows a majority of engineers use these tools in their buying process. 10 ? Product comparison 4 Product comparison option|41.97% Retailer contact tools|47.49% Contact 3 Display of prices|56.17% Display of prices 2 Quick access to information|69.98% Quick access 1 [2015]
- 12. Who are the specialists on the web? 12 www www [2015]
- 13. What do engineers look for on these websites? Their research on these specialized websites is driven by the hunt for both specific products and inspiration. 13 37.89% 41.86% 54.09% 69.82% News & Trends Ideas/New Concepts New Products Specific Products [2015]
- 14. How often do they use these tools? More than 56% of the responding engi- neers use a specialized website at least once a week. That figure alone shows how much their methods have changed and how important such a tool has become. 14 56% use a specialized website Less than 1/month 1/day 1/month 1/week [2015]
- 15. How are these tools used by professionals? Over 68% of the responding engineers use such websites to keep up-to-date with market news and trends, but also 25.04% use them for product purchase. This shows us a quarter of the responding engineers use specialized websites in their buying process which demonstrates that these tools have better adapted to their needs. 15 25.04% 53.62% 68.24% Complete Buying Process Product Sourcing Stay up-to-date with Market News & Trends [2015]
- 16. 216 Conclusion
- 17. Complementarity of the digital and the physical If digital tools seem to take pre- cedence in the engineer’s work process, it is important to under- stand that they have not replaced traditional tools. The digital and the physical complement each other and make engineers’ lives easier. 17 Which tools do they use? 31.29% 26.98% 62.27% Social Networks Trade Shows Newsletter Catalogues 31.45% 36.90% 74.79% E-magazines Specialized Portals Search Engines 19.03% 13.82% 12.26% Specialized Press Social Networks 11.30% 9.94% Online Video Channel Specialized Blogs Webinars [2015]
- 18. 18 As we have seen, these new tools and practices give engineers access to more sources of information for their work. Ongoing digital innovation should pro- vide new ways for them to get even more precise information. For example, we have seen that webinars and online video channels are becoming sources of professional information in their own right. A New World of Opportunity [2015]
- 19. 19 A New World of Opportunity But we also know that specialized blogs and social media networks are already used as reliable sources of information and inspiration by engineers. These new tools and practices open the door to marketing opportunities, such as content branding and cross- media activities, which enable brands to establish a unique and targeted dia- logue with engineering professionals. [2015]