Getting started with AI for business

Theoretically you might be on board with AI, but practically it can be difficult. Fortunately, we’ve got two experts on hand to offer practical tips to get started with AI.

What are the most impactful, low-barrier-to-entry AI applications for electrical contracting businesses today?

Brooke Wright, AI Strategist & Consultant at Wright Mode
Start with ChatGPT for writing professional emails and proposals. Simply describe your project scope, and it’ll draft detailed quotes in minutes instead of hours. Use your phone’s voice recorder to capture site notes, then paste the transcription into ChatGPT to create formatted reports. These basic applications require no technical setup but immediately cut the 2-3 hours most contractors spend on daily paperwork, freeing time for billable work.

Beyond administrative tasks, how can AI enhance safety and compliance on job sites?
Use ChatGPT to create custom safety checklists for different job types. Take photos of your work area and ask ChatGPT to identify potential hazards – it’s surprisingly good at spotting issues like improper cord placement or missing safety equipment. You can also upload local electrical codes and have ChatGPT create quick-reference guides for your team, ensuring compliance without memorising every regulation.

How can AI help with project planning and management, from initial quoting to final invoicing?
Start simple: use ChatGPT to organise your project timeline by describing the job scope. It can suggest realistic timeframes based on typical electrical work phases. For material lists, describe your project and ask ChatGPT to create a shopping list – it knows standard electrical components and quantities. Use it to track project milestones by copying and pasting updates, and creating progress reports that look professional to clients.

How can AI-driven predictive maintenance create new revenue streams and improve customer satisfaction?
Internet of Things (IoT) sensors combined with AI can monitor electrical load patterns and identify anomalies before failures occur. This shifts you from emergency repair work to scheduled maintenance contracts – more predictable revenue at higher margins. Customers love avoiding downtime, and you can offer tiered monitoring packages based on facility size. The data also helps you stock the right parts proactively.

How can companies measure the success of their AI training programs and ensure ROI?
Track three key metrics: time saved per task, accuracy improvement, and team adoption rates. Calculate your hourly labour cost against hours saved – this gives hard ROI numbers. But don’t ignore soft metrics like reduced stress, fewer customer complaints, and faster response times. Measure baseline performance for two weeks before implementation, then compare monthly. True success is when your team can’t imagine working without the AI tools.

Mel MacDonald, AI Advisor at The AI Training Group
Document management systems with AI-powered search, automated invoice processing, and AI scheduling assistants top the list. Smart photo analysis for electrical panel inspections, automated compliance reporting, and AI-driven inventory management require minimal setup but deliver immediate efficiency gains for contractors already using smartphones and basic software.

Beyond administrative tasks, how can AI enhance safety and compliance on job sites?
Computer vision systems can monitor job sites for PPE compliance, identify electrical hazards, and flag unsafe work practices in real time (or you can use an AI agent to scan video recordings and identify and rank safety hazards and risks). AI-powered inspection apps can automatically check code compliance against local regulations, generate safety reports, and maintain digital audit trails, reducing human error and ensuring consistent documentation.

How can AI help with project planning and management, from initial quoting to final invoicing?
AI can streamline quoting by analysing historical project data to predict accurate timelines and costs. Smart scheduling can optimise crew allocation, while predictive analytics forecast material needs. Throughout projects, AI can track progress against milestones, automate progress billing, and generate invoices with integrated time tracking and expense categorisation. AI workflows can also link estimating and project management platforms to avoid double-keying data.

How can AI-driven predictive maintenance create new revenue streams and improve customer satisfaction?
IoT sensors combined with AI analytics can monitor electrical systems for early failure signs, enabling contractors to offer proactive maintenance contracts. This creates recurring revenue while preventing costly emergency repairs for customers. Predictive insights also help contractors recommend system upgrades before failures occur, improving customer relationships.

How can companies measure the success of their AI training programs and ensure ROI?
Conduct regular surveys to assess employee confidence levels and identify areas needing additional training or tool refinement. You can track metrics like time saved on specific tasks, error reduction rates, employee adoption percentages, and customer satisfaction scores to see the numbers. Calculate ROI by comparing implementation costs against efficiency gains and revenue increases.