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ColumnsGuest Editorial

Guest Editorial | Roland Ligtenberg

Transform emergency plumbing services with smarter technology solutions

Make emergency services seamless, transparent and reliable.

By Roland Ligtenberg
Man has a plumbing mishap with the kitchen sink as water gushes from the broken tap.

Image Source: sturti / E+ / Getty Images Plus

January 14, 2025

When plumbing emergencies strike, homeowners don’t just need a quick fix — they need an effortless experience. Clogged drains, water outages or backed-up sewers are stressful enough. The last thing a customer wants is a complicated booking process. In today’s world, the companies that win are those that focus on making emergency services seamless, transparent and reliable.

One of the key tools for booking more emergency jobs and delivering an exceptional customer experience is a smart, easy-to-navigate suite of technology solutions that includes scheduling, dispatch and pricing functionality. A comprehensive customer relations management solution (CRM) helps automate tasks so plumbing businesses can focus on what really matters — the job at hand and the customer experience — not repetitive, time-consuming administrative duties.

Book jobs more efficiently

A powerful CRM doesn’t just help you book more jobs — it automates the entire process, giving your business the power to run efficiently 24/7. Imagine a system that lets customers book emergency services effortlessly, any time of the day. With real-time alerts and immediate access to service history, your team arrives prepared to handle the problem, no small talk needed. That’s time saved, for both you and your customer.

A CSR AI team member ensures that even after hours, emergency calls never go to voicemail. The AI handles calls efficiently, capturing all the necessary details, so you never miss an emergency job.

With existing customers, your techs have instant access to a full work history, allowing them to hit the ground running, spend less time on preliminary conversations, and get straight to solving the issue.

Direct dispatch

Automated dispatching isn’t just a luxury — it’s the backbone of a seamless emergency service. With the right tools, you’re not just sending any technician; you’re sending the right technician, with the right skills, to the right job. Travel time? Minimized. Customer satisfaction? Maximized.

A CSR AI team member takes this a step further by automatically suggesting the best technician for the job, based on location, expertise, and availability, ensuring that the right person is dispatched every time.

Integrated with real-time scheduling, automated dispatch technology immediately connects your customer with a technician and sends real-time updates, including an estimated time of arrival. It’s all about ensuring the customer knows help is on the way — and it’s the kind of help they need. Trust and reliability go hand-in-hand when customers know their emergency is being handled by a professional.

Transparent pricing

Trust starts with transparency, and nothing builds trust faster than clear, upfront pricing. With a well-organized price book and flat-rate structure, your CRM empowers customers to see exactly what they’re paying for—no surprises, no hidden fees. It’s a system that not only makes managing pricing simple for you but also gives your customers peace of mind during a high-stress situation. When they know what to expect, they’re more likely to choose you again.

A Coach AI helps pros build clear, detailed price books and create homeowner-friendly product descriptions that ensure customers know exactly what they’re paying for. With AI’s assistance, price books are more accurate and easier to understand, improving customer trust.

The right CRM allows you to build a custom price book tailored to your services and business goals. And the clarity of a visual price book paired with flat-rate pricing ensures customers won’t feel overwhelmed by options or uncertainty. In emergency situations, this simplicity can be the difference between a one-time customer and a loyal repeat client.


An emergency call is more than just a one-time service — it’s an opportunity to build a long-term relationship. With the right CRM, your techs can follow up automatically, offering routine maintenance plans or timely reminders about service promotions. Turning a stressful emergency into a smooth, positive experience creates trust and sets the stage for upselling and future service calls.

Make payment simple

Make payments the easiest part of the job. With your CRM in hand, your techs can generate invoices and take payments on-site, directly from their mobile devices. Whether customers prefer to pay online or by check, it’s all done in seconds. By making the payment process effortless, you leave them with a final, positive touchpoint that sets the stage for future business.

A CSR AI also ensures that follow-ups for payments aren’t missed. It automatically contacts customers after services are rendered, helping you collect monies owed without adding extra stress to your team.

When the job is done and the customer is satisfied, the last thing they want is a complicated payment process. With on-the-spot payment capabilities, you’re ensuring that the emergency service experience ends on a smooth, professional note, making it more likely for that customer to call you again when they need help.

Follow-up and Upselling

An emergency call is more than just a one-time service — it’s an opportunity to build a long-term relationship. With the right CRM, your techs can follow up automatically, offering routine maintenance plans or timely reminders about service promotions. Turning a stressful emergency into a smooth, positive experience creates trust and sets the stage for upselling and future service calls.

A Pipeline AI product, follow-ups and upselling opportunities won’t fall through the cracks. Pipeline ensures that every potential opportunity is captured and followed up on, whether it’s an old estimate or tune-up reminder. It’s your safety net for maximizing long-term customer value.

Reminding customers of the benefits of preventative maintenance, even during an emergency, can set the foundation for future service opportunities. Techs can educate homeowners about preventing emergencies by scheduling regular maintenance or replacing aging equipment. And when your CRM prompts follow-ups at the right time, you’re maximizing the potential for new revenue while ensuring your customers’ systems are in top shape.

Emergencies can’t wait — make it easy for your customers

Emergencies are no fun for anybody, especially when they happen outside of business hours. But for homeowners, when a plumbing emergency happens, they need immediate help, not delays or complications. By providing streamlined technology solutions that make the process as simple and transparent as possible, you give your business a real advantage in the market.

With AI seamlessly integrated into your CRM, from call handling and dispatching to pricing and payments, your business can operate smarter, faster and more efficiently — freeing you to focus on growth while the system takes care of the details.

The right technology isn’t just a tool — it’s the engine that drives your business forward. By investing in systems that streamline scheduling, dispatch, pricing, and payments, you can elevate your customer experience, build trust, and create a scalable, profitable operation. In an industry where emergencies are a given, your business will stand out not just for solving problems, but for making the process effortless for everyone involved.

KEYWORDS: emergency fixtures plumbers and pipefitters plumbing contractors

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Roland Ligtenberg is a co-founder of Housecall Pro, a field service management platform serving over 45,000 home service companies. Housecall Pro’s comprehensive suite of features, solutions, reports and state-of-the-art AI capabilities empower home service professionals to save time, sell bigger jobs and provide best-in-class service so they can discover new opportunities to grow and effectively outpace the competition.

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