Using AI tools to power your business

Artificial intelligence is here to stay, and tradies should be taking advantage of it to automate processes, achieve goals and power growth.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by computer systems. While this doesn’t cover creativity, emotional responses and ethical decision-making, it does include the basics such as learning, reasoning, and even adapting actions when something goes wrong.

Plenty of people are worried that at some point, they’re going to lose their job to AI. The good news for tradies is that AI can’t replace faulty wiring or install a circuit breaker – yet.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not already having a big impact on our industry. There are heaps of AI tools designed to help businesses of every size run to their full potential, so don’t look a gift horse in the mouth! Instead of treating AI’s encroachment into the industry with suspicion, accept that it’s already here and look at the potential it has to make a positive impact.

Using AI in your business: Diaries and scheduling

“I got into electrics because I wanted to spend 20 hours a week doing admin,” said no sparkie ever. Using AI-driven tools to schedule and dispatch jobs is a no-brainer. There are several user-friendly platforms (take a look at Deputy and ServiceM8) that will streamline your rosters by matching jobs with worker availability and skill sets, and analyse travel times and routes, managing jobs from quote to invoice.

“AI takes the pressure off the everyday admin that can hurt the overall output of a business,” says Jason Cooke, CEO of TradiesAI, based in Melbourne.

Using AI in your business: Accounts and finances

Platforms such as MYOB, Quickbooks and Xero have been steadily revolutionising the way tradies do their account, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a shoebox of receipts anywhere these days. (OK, so you know someone.)

“You are always going to have headaches about payments, invoicing and chasing clients for overdue payment,” says Jason. “But streamlining the follow-up process and time frames around when to chase will certainly mitigate these issues.”

Using AI in your business: Customer service

Want great customer service? Get a chatbot! Yes, your very own AI-powered receptionist can free up you (and your workers) from repetitive tasks such as answering basic questions, booking appointments and reminding existing customers about maintenance schedules.

“Chatbots can supercharge a small to medium electrical business by streamlining key processes and amplifying your customer touchpoints, directly boosting both efficiency and profit,” says Andrew Davey, Founder of TradieBots AI Chatbots & SEO.

Chatbots specifically designed for electrical businesses offer pre-built modules for common tasks, as well as the flexibility to tailor the experience to your own needs.

Using AI in your business: Recruitment and training

Recruitment is something that will need a human touch — only you can assess a candidate’s communication skills and personality to know they will fit your team. But in terms of writing recruitment ads and job specs, AI has been making giant strides in our industry over the past 12 months or so.

“The training and onboarding aspect of the recruitment process is something we are coming to lean heavily on AI for,” says Jason. “You can have entire training modules created by AI, and this will be even more prevalent moving forward.”

Using AI in your business: Marketing

Manually writing and scheduling newsletters or social posting will cost you time and resources. So why do that when you outsource it to a little helper? AI can optimise your website for search engines, automate social media posts, and tailor your marketing content to your customers’ browsing behaviour. Get started by taking a look at Google Analytics, which collects data from your website and creates free reports about your audience. A program such as Hootsuite or HubSpot will allow you to design, schedule, and publish content for all your networks from one dashboard.

“At TradiesAI we have not only saved time but also more than $60,000 a year paying a full-time social media specialist by simply implementing a free AI software to do it for us,” says Jason. “Incredible!”

Using AI in your business: On the tools?

Will AI move out of the back office and onto the worksite? For now, AI technology cannot replicate the combination of experience, knowledge and problem-solving skills that qualified sparkies bring to their jobs. Having said that, robotic technology has made leaps and bounds over the last little while, and its integration into the electrical industry is fast gaining momentum. Need to perform repetitive tasks with pinpoint accuracy? Want to minimise risk in a tricky situation? From routine maintenance jobs to complex smart installations, our robot friends certainly have the potential to revolutionise some aspects of electrical work.

“AI is revolutionising the role of tradies, especially when combined with robotics,” says Tracy Sheen, Digital Coach and Founder of The Digital Guide. “Imagine robotic tools that can autonomously perform wiring or cable routing in complex environments, guided by AI. These innovations not only speed up installations but also enhance safety, reducing the risk of accidents associated with electrical work.

“As we look to the future, AI and robotics are set to play a bigger role in electrical trades. Robotics could evolve to handle more delicate tasks, like intricate wiring in tight spaces, guided by AI’s precision. This partnership between tradies and technology will open up new opportunities for efficiency and innovation in the field.”