From drones to VR

By Jesse Sanchez. 

FCS and Jobba help contractors use drones, artificial intelligence, VR and cloud workflows to deliver clearer inspections. 

Technology is reshaping how commercial contractors capture and communicate roof conditions and FCS and Jobba are helping companies keep pace. While consumer tools evolve quickly, roofing has not always moved at the same speed. During this CoatingsTalk™, Zach Carpenter noted that the industry is “about 5 years behind the typical consumer market,” which is part of the rationale behind FCS Amplify. The goal, he explained, is to elevate human expertise rather than replace it, ensuring technology becomes an asset rather than a barrier. 

Zach has seen this evolution firsthand. When FCS first launched, the idea of performing an inspection with an early iPhone was cutting edge. Crews followed step-by-step workflows on devices like the iPhone 2 or 3 to build structured reports. Today, that same structured approach extends to drones for aerial imaging, AI for deficiency detection, thermal scanning for moisture analysis and even virtual reality for customer communication. 

One contractor has taken VR beyond internal training and built it directly into its maintenance program, shipping headsets to clients so they can experience inspection findings firsthand. After completing the inspection, the team loads the data into a VR platform and walks the customer through the roof virtually. As Zach described it, “they go over all the inspection findings with the VR headset, so they're, like, up on the roof and they're like, here, look at this or here, check this out.” The immersive approach allows contractors to point out conditions in real time, reducing the guesswork often associated with written reports and reinforcing a core principle behind modern inspections: visuals build understanding and help customers make more confident, informed decisions about repairs and maintenance. 

Artificial intelligence is adding another dimension. Tools can detect deficiencies from a photo and suggest repairs and AI is also being used to schedule tasks, prompt follow-ups and summarize reports. Zach encourages contractors to start small, noting that something as simple as uploading an inspection report to ChatGPT can help teams digest large amounts of data. 

However, he stressed that technology must be paired with consistency. Cloud platforms ensure uniform reports and accessible data, while SOPs guide documentation and follow-up. Approval steps also help prevent errors before reports reach clients. 

For those hesitant about cost, Zach emphasized that free and low-cost tools exist, from Workspace accounts to apps already on a technician’s phone. His message remains consistent that technology should amplify ability, not replace it and even incremental adoption can deliver meaningful gains. 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about pairing FCS Amplify, Jobba and emerging tools like AI and VR to modernize your inspection program!