The technology bug has also hit Mount Isa tradesmen who recognise the benefits of using smart phones and iPads to speed up their business.

Mount Isa builder Joe Butt admitted he still preferred the filing cabinet to a file directory on a computer but was chuffed with his smart phone's ability to help him through a day at work.

"We use our iPhones to take photographs and video of our foundations, joins and buildings," he said.

"They are very convenient for keeping records of the jobs we do."

The Spanline Home Addition franchise employee said showing his crew instead of telling them was helping him get everyone on the same page when building a shed or patio.

"The conversations and photographs help me keep track of what everyone is doing," he said.

"We've been operating this way for 12 months so we're all getting used to doing everything with them."

Mr Butt said he was looking forward to introducing iPads to the workplace as well.

"We will eventually have a few iPads for us to hook onto Skype and take videos around site for our building inspectors," he said.

A survey of 540 Australian tradies commissioned by Totally Work Wear revealed that 'T.ERD', or 'tradie nerd' is a new title many in the industry now wear proudly.

Half of all tradies surveyed used laptops, while smart phones and tablet devices were gaining popularity quickly with more than 40 per cent of surveyed workers choosing to use them for work.

Mr Butt said he was heading back to university to take a correspondence building inspector course soon, all the more reason for him to embrace the new technology at his finger tips.

He said most of his business and ordering was done online - a market Totally Work Wear is busily trying to meet, outlined by their recently launched mobile site where tradies can access and order clothing on the run.