AI for Home Improvement and Roofing Contractors
Artificial intelligence is an ever-present topic, encroaching on our digital lives with new technology and smarter implementation from the biggest and brightest companies. Many of us use AI daily to generate ideas, write emails, or simply ask questions. For some, having a digital tool that can learn proves invaluable.
As AI becomes a bigger part of our lives, can we and should we integrate it into our careers, too?
Whether you work in the office or in the field, AI has the potential to improve your efforts and business. We’ve already seen its impact heavily in marketing, with artificially generated images, copy, and ideas widespread on social media and elsewhere. But AI is capable of much more than this, and to prove it, we asked it to suggest several ways to streamline your work.
Before we dive in, using AI and tailoring it to your needs takes time. So, we’ve broken down this list into two brackets based on your comfort with the tools and how much you’d like to change your methods.
This first group of suggestions is all surface-level, covering some easier ideas to implement in your business. First, you can use a tool like ChatGPT to research your target market and demographics. Nailing this down is crucial for reaching prospects likely to do business with you. Also, you can tailor your marketing strategy around the ideal customer for your business. Consulting AI for this can give you a broader perspective on your target market and another point of view to compare against your own.
Second, another strength of AI is developing marketing copy. Not everyone who goes into the roofing business loves to write copy, especially for several audiences and social media platforms. Using AI to give you a head start on this can streamline your efforts tremendously. I only recommend that you review it all before posting. Context is difficult for AI to get right. For a look at AI-generated writing, check out March 2023’s issue showcasing Grammarly’s generative AI taking a stab at writing a blog post for metal roofing.
Third, you can enlist AI to write and define internal processes and plans for your business. Like I said in February’s issue, “Humans like routine, and we thrive on working in a system.” For example, having a process for inputting new leads into your CRM or consistently posting on social media makes it easier for you and your team to manage.
Our more advanced group of suggestions involves alternate tools that use AI to serve customers. First, consider using a tool like Rilla. We discussed Rilla in depth in last March’s issue, but in short, it records audio from sales presentations, analyzes it, and then summarizes the results. Like the best sports teams, who review game footage and learn from past performances, Rilla enables your team to do the same.
Another helpful AI implementation is the website chatbot. Many companies already use this tool, which can answer basic questions or connect prospects with a team member. We’ve used one on several of our sites for years and find it helpful for fielding questions and responding to prospects, even outside of regular business hours.
Finally, AI can automate customer service. Beyond being visitors’ first point of contact, it can inform current customers of their project’s progress. Especially with more involved jobs, keeping the customer in the loop can be helpful.
This list may seem intimidating, but I highly recommend using AI in your business. I’ll admit that I’ve been resistant to adopting it for my personal use, but the benefits it offers can multiply your efforts. Just like adding team members to a small business drastically affects your capability, AI can be a very cheap addition to the team.
Todd Miller has spent his entire career in the metal building products manufacturing industry. He is president of Isaiah Industries, an organization recognized as one of the world’s leading metal roofing manufacturers. Todd is currently Vice President of the MRA (Metal Roofing Association) and a Past Chair of MCA (Metal Construction Association). Through his website, he strives to raise the bar on standards and practices to provide property owners with the best possible products for successful roofing projects.
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