Turning data into faster decisions and stronger margins

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Outlining how contractors can improve speed to lead, strengthen visibility and protect profitability by centralizing data. 

Zacch Carpenter of Jobba was recently featured on this CoatingsTalk™ webinar as host Megan Ellsworth sat down with him to discuss the ways roofing businesses can turn everyday technology into measurable operational gains. Zach, who has worked in roofing software for 17 years, emphasized that most contractors are not struggling to find tools. They are struggling to implement them with discipline and follow-through. 

Zach introduced himself, noting, “I was one of the co-founders along with my family of our legacy product FCS.” From his perspective, the industry’s biggest shift is still underway: moving away from manual processes and into connected systems that keep the field and office aligned. Even as AI generates buzz, he said many companies are still “trying to get a bulk of contractors off manual paper-based models.” 

That transition often begins with adopting a customer relationship management software (CRM), but Zach stressed that the larger payoff comes when tools are connected, and information lives in one place. “People working to try and integrate, right? Is trying to make all your different products and all your different solutions connect together,” he explained. He added that accounting and invoicing frequently become pain points as companies grow and workflows become harder to track without stronger systems. 

As the conversation shifted to profitability, Zach tied ROI to visibility, consistency and repeatable processes. “Being able to forecast the KPIs and metrics are huge,” he noted, pointing to how centralized data helps contractors measure performance across jobs and teams instead of relying on guesswork. 

When asked what to track to ensure technology investments are paying off, Zach offered a simple benchmark: “Just make sure you’re actually using the things you buy.” He cautioned that software often fails not because it is ineffective, but because onboarding is rushed, training is skipped or adoption is uneven. “People don’t like change,” he said, recognizing the role leadership plays in setting expectations and building accountability. 

Zach also encouraged contractors to look beyond roofing-specific platforms when building a tech stack. “These resources are available, and they’re vast,” he said, referencing tools that support marketing, proposals and internal documentation. 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about Jobba and FCS!