I work with HVAC companies, plumbers, and roofers. The biggest frustration I hear from owners? "I tried automation but it didn't make a difference." Usually, it's because they only automated one thing. Here's what a FULL automation system actually does for a contracting business: When a lead comes in: ✓ Responds within 30 seconds (even at 11pm on a Saturday) ✓ Sends a personalised message, not a generic 'we'll call you' ✓ Creates a contact card in your system automatically ✓ If no reply in 2 hours — sends a follow-up automatically When a job is booked: ✓ Sends appointment confirmation + reminder (24h before, 2h before) ✓ Technician gets briefed with lead info ✓ No-show? Automatic reschedule message goes out After the job is done: ✓ Sends a review request 2 hours after completion ✓ Asks for referrals 7 days later ✓ Reactivates for seasonal service (spring tune-up, winter check) 90 days later: ✓ Reactivation campaign runs automatically ✓ Past customers are your warmest leads — and they're sitting there doing nothing The difference between automating ONE thing vs the full system? One thing = you save 30 minutes a week. Full system = you stop being the bottleneck entirely. Which part of this would make the biggest impact on your business right now?

Been experimenting with some ways to use AI to make savings in projects. The cheapest construction work is the work we can remove from scope AI can help identify value-engineering opportunities, but asking it to “find savings” across an entire project won't work. A better approach is to give it structured project data and divide the analysis into three focused workflows: 1. Design: Compare the developed design against the original contract requirements to identify scope growth, gold plating and over-specified products. 2. Procurement: Review major packages for items that could be purchased directly, free-issued or separated from a subcontract. Apply the “cable tie test”: the saving must justify the extra procurement and management risk. 3. Methodology: Test alternative crews, plant, sequences and production rates. Compare the direct-cost impact with programme changes and weekly preliminary costs. Each option should then be challenged by independent commercial, construction and site perspectives. AI’s role is to generate, compare and rank the options. Experienced people still decide which options are commercially, technically and practically viable. The quality of the result depends on the quality of the context: clear contract requirements, an itemized estimate, the construction programme and reliable productivity data. Anybody else found any strategies that work?

I’m growing a development team and looking to connect with people who are interested in building something together. I’d like to meet: - Agency owners and people working at agencies - Company founders and executives - People thinking about starting their own agency - Developers who are interested in joining a good team - People who can help with sales, marketing, or promotion - Anyone working in tech who shares a similar mindset I’m open to different kinds of collaboration. It could be a development project, a business partnership, joining the team, bringing opportunities, or simply getting to know each other and seeing what comes from it. I’m more interested in long-term relationships than one off projects I’m currently working around software development, AI, automation, and new technology, and I’m always interested in meeting people who are serious about what they’re building. If any of this sounds like you, feel free to DM me. Always happy to have a conversation and see if there’s a way we can work together.

There are five categories of tools we need to think about for estimating: - Take-off software - Estimating software - Document management - CRM and bid tracking - AI tools Some platforms do all of them, some only do one small, specific thing. Do I think you need five expensive construction-specific platforms? No. A smaller contractor could cover most of this with a purpose-built take-off tool, Excel, SharePoint or Google Drive, a simple CRM, and Claude or ChatGPT. As your team grows, dedicated estimating software or an all-in-one platform might make more sense. The important thing is choosing tools that suit your process and let you export your data. I broke down the different options in this video: https://youtu.be/AyL3tXCtz18 What does your current estimating stack look like? Which tools would you recommend?

Hi! Excited to be here. I am the co-owner of a pool construction company in North Texas. We are a small design/build firm, 100% woman owned and operated. I am always looking for more efficient ways to streamline our processes, automate what we can automate, and give Claude more work to do.