ConsortiQ, the provider of bespoke and innovative drone solutions for businesses worldwide, believes that drones could soon become a vital part of every tradesperson’s toolkit.

Drones are fast becoming an important piece of kit for many professions, now widely known for aiding photographers, videographers and emergency response teams on a regular basis. But figures from last year’s UK Drone Usage Report revealed another lesser-known industry that also relies on this technology to benefits its services.

When analysing the top 10 business sectors utilising drones, trades such as construction and plumbing came in top at 11.5%, beating manufacturing (9.9%), information and communications (9.1%) and even creative and photographic (8.8%) sectors. The report noted that drones aided the trade sector by assisting in inspecting machinery, costing jobs and other practical tasks, highlighting the clear advantages these versatile vehicles bring. As drones become affordable and training more widespread, they could soon become part of every tradespersons toolkit.

Operations director expanded, Ben Keene, said: “At ConsortiQ we’re constantly working with clients from a wide range of industries, helping them improve their operations by using drones creatively to solve problems.

“Drones benefit these businesses by offering a unique vantage point, something that was impossible previously when only large aerial vehicles such as helicopters were available to use. Small, portable and simple to fly, the trades industry would certainly benefit greatly if using drones with a camera attached became a part of their daily workflow.”

Beyond being used as a tool for inspection, larger-scale drones fitted with industrial sensors such as laser scanners can collect huge amounts of high-resolution data. This can then be analysed using specialist software and turned into 3D models. With this information, safety on building sites can be improved, while identifying and minimising future issues can reduce costs further, benefiting the sector.

By adapting a drone to suit their needs, the advantages that this technology can bring are clear for both small businesses with tradespeople visiting clients and large corporations working on permanent sites.

Ben Keene continued: “Implementing a drone into existing operations is simple when assisted by knowledgeable staff. This is what we do at ConsortiQ, to offer this kind of expertise to businesses that require it.”