AI works for you, not the other way around

By Emma Peterson. 

How to find the right technology that fits your business needs and operations.  

In the age of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), it can be tempting to jump on the bandwagon to avoid being left behind. And while keeping up with technological developments is important to staying competitive, it’s also key to make sure the new technology you are incorporating into your operations is working for you, not against you. To dive into how to make the most of your tech stack and how you can pick the right program to invest in for your business, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Kevin Fox of Foxwerx Group for an episode of Contractor Outlook. 

Whenever new technology enters the market, there’s a rush to be the first to use it. But what often ends up being more important in the long run than being the first is finding the right way to implement it into daily functions. We saw this happen with SEO a few years ago. Kevin explained, “There are a lot of fantastic SEO agents and agencies out there. But there's also people who want to sell it as a magic pill. Quite frankly, good SEO is not a quick fix, and we know how magic pills normally work out in comparison to diet and exercise. The latter is not as fun or exciting, but it has much better results.” 

We're seeing the same thing happening with AI today. There are a lot of companies out there that are developing innovative ways to use it to boost contractor operations, but you can’t fall into the trap of treating it like a magic pill or quick fix that can do everything a human can. Kevin shared his thoughts, “There are a lot of folks out there shouting AI from the rooftops. And the first thing I tell people to ask, ‘what are they offering beyond the AI?’ You know, what's behind it, right? Is this person offering a strategy?”  

At the end of the day, AI is a tool just like SEO is a tool and a hammer is a tool. And those tools can’t do anything by themselves. Kevin added, “The hammer's not doing anything to the roof by itself, you need to have the knowledge of a roofer behind it. Same with AI...You have to understand not only does this tool work, but how does this tool work for your niche?” 

To hear about some of the ways that contractors are finding AI tools that support their business operations, listen to the whole Contractor Outlook Newscast episode.