Technology and operations - Articles

The New Front Line of Customer Service

Newo.ai CEO Jason Luo discusses the revenue impact of missed calls and how AI-powered receptionists are helping contractors capture more leads.

Kristen R. Bayles

June 5, 2026

AI-powered receptionists are emerging as a tool that can help businesses improve responsiveness, streamline operations, and compete more effectively in an increasingly fast-paced market.

Houzz Pro's 3D plan annotations feature.

Houzz Pro Features New Visualization Tools

New features help pros clearly communicate design intent and technical details with clients and subcontractors.

Plumbing & Mechanical Editorial Staff

May 27, 2026

The Houzz Pro 3D Floor Plan and Mood Board tools are available to all subscribers globally.

Stop Selling, Start Translating: A New Playbook for the Trades

Technology and AI will continue transforming the trades industry, from diagnostics to scheduling and predictive maintenance. However, technology will not replace the human side of the business.

Kevin Strandberg

May 16, 2026

The trades industry spends significant time training technicians on technical competencies like diagnostics, installation, and troubleshooting, but far less time teaching them how to communicate with homeowners. In today’s environment, that gap matters more than ever.

ServiceTitan report finds AI adoption more than doubles among commercial contractors

Firms are turning to technology to navigate cost pressures.

March 30, 2026

Nearly 40% of contractors report measurable AI impact, up from 17% in 2025, signaling a shift toward technology-driven operations.

Samsung Electronics' new SmatThings platform.

Samsung Electronics launched SmartThings Pro HVAC offerings at AHR 2026

The platform was unveiled at AHR 2026.

February 5, 2026

The SmartThings Pro AI-powered IoT platform equips HVAC professionals with a centralized solution to remotely manage, monitor and optimize HVAC systems across residential and commercial environments.

Engineer, architect and business man working on the engineering project at construction site.

Guest Editorial | Jim Hinshaw & Christopher Lollini

From grassroots to Google: Turning community engagement into online visibility

You’re already doing marketing right — you just don’t know it yet.

Chris Lollini Jim Hinshaw

January 27, 2026

With a few intentional steps, you can make sure the work you do in your community not only wins hearts, but also helps you win searches.

Keeping the trades human as technology expands

How plumbing and mechanical contractors are using digital tools to reduce meetings, cut travel and keep crews focused on the work.

January 20, 2026

Trent Leinenbach, VP of customer experience at Stratus, discusses ways that contractors can implement technology into their workflow.

Southern Home Services becomes the first enterprise-scale customer to adopt ServiceTitan’s Max program

The Max Program is currently being piloted to a select number of ServiceTitan customers.

January 13, 2026

According to the company, this move reflects a broader shift toward end-to-end automation in the trades.

WorkHero raises $5M seed round to advance its AI-powered back office platform for small HVAC contractors

The the AI-powered back office for small HVAC contractors has received a substantial amount of seed round funding.

October 31, 2025

The seed round funding was led by Navitas Capital, as well as Workshop Ventures, York IE and other strategic angels.

A person using a tablet with charts on it.

The untapped power of your existing software

Jenny Benbrook, CEO of Powerhouse Consulting, weighs in on the power of the software that you already have.

Kristen R. Bayles

October 6, 2025

Contractors are often paying for more than they realize. Here’s how slowing down, starting small, and training your team can unlock hidden efficiency and profit.