Leveraging AI for Estimating and Lead Generation in the Trades

Many people are still trying to grasp the concept of artificial intelligence (AI). Stories of early AI adopters who blindly relied on the technology are already the stuff of legend, from lawyers submitting fabricated cases in court, to the writer who published a summer reading list featuring non-existent books, to Amazon’s regrettable recruitment tool. Those early days still serve as a reminder that AI can only do so much. They also reveal how far the technology has come in a few short years. When utilized intelligently, AI tools can help businesses streamline their processes, refine new ideas, and reach new audiences.

If you’re in the trades, you might already be using AI for certain things, but you might not be aware of its full potential. These tools are revolutionizing traditional tasks by automating tedious yet foundational activities, such as estimating prospect jobs and generating more qualified leads, allowing you to spend less time on non-billable work and more time on revenue-generating activities.

Let’s break that down.

AI in Estimating for Trades

Estimating is one of the most resource-heavy responsibilities in the trades. It requires accuracy, time, and experience, because the numbers produced will form the basis for your budgets, resource allocation, and ultimately, profitability. In the right hands, AI can produce an ultra-competitive bid presented quickly and efficiently. In addition to helping speed up a prospect’s decision-making process, an AI-assisted estimate can demonstrate authority, credibility, and respect for someone else’s schedule—the keys to building long-term relationships.

AI “IRL” (In Real Life)

If you’re a roofing contractor, AI can deliver immediate benefits in areas like shingle count and labor hour calculations. HVAC businesses can forecast installation costs based on seasonal demand. Landscaping companies can accurately predict the resources required for large-scale projects. The list goes on.

For contractors and companies serving multiple Middle Tennessee areas, where labor, local demand, and overhead expenses differ between urban and rural regions, AI can be the difference between hours of research and calculations and turning a winning estimate around in time for lunch.

But AI is not without limitations.

As with any type of automated technology, AI is only as reliable as the data it draws from. The numbers must be precise, and context is critical. For all this to line up, you can’t overlook human judgment.

AI is at its best when it’s used as a support tool rather than a replacement. Just like the innovative “Autopilot” feature on certain cars that led an unfortunate few to ‘jump in, hit the gas, and take a nap,’ AI can manage analytics, calculations, and comparisons. But it takes human input and oversight to refine, adjust, and validate reliable results.

One way to ensure your AI estimation efforts pan out is to develop an in-house document filled with data, calculations, and guidelines for estimators. By uploading this data to a reliable LLM (large language model), you can train your AI tool to deliver outputs that comply with your business’ processes and specifications. In other words, the more information you provide the LLM at the outset, the better the information you’ll receive, reducing the time it will take to revise AI-generated estimates.

AI for Lead Scoring and Qualification

As a seasoned contractor, you have no doubt developed your own system for qualifying leads and pursuing new business, but did you know AI can make lead generation in the trades faster and more accurate? AI lead generation can quickly segment your customer groups and evaluate your options, eliminating problematic guesswork. It analyzes real-time prospect customer behaviors like visits to your website, content downloads, and form submissions, evaluating factors like location and ideal customer profile, prioritizing hot and warm leads so that you or your sales team can take those prized, high-value jobs straight across the finish line.

Agentic AI, including AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants, adds to this by pre-qualifying website inquiries with questions about project scope, budget, or timeline. Leads that meet your criteria are passed directly to sales, while lower-value inquiries can be routed into nurture campaigns. AI for lead generation eliminates hours of manual screening and ensures that salespeople are spending time where it matters most.

The predictive side of AI makes lead scoring even more powerful. By analyzing historical data along with real-time customer behavior, AI can forecast the likelihood of a prospect becoming a client. It can even identify the optimal time and method for outreach, whether that’s a follow-up email on a Monday morning or a phone call later in the week. When integrated with CRMs like HubSpot, your conversion rates can skyrocket.

Other Ways AI Is Used in Lead Generation

In addition to estimating jobs and qualifying leads, AI powers the types of campaigns that keep your pipeline full. This task frustrates just about anyone running a business in today’s crowded and complex markets. How do you show up when people are searching for the services you offer? How do you get in-market home or business owners to choose you and book a consultation? Does your company top the list on Google right now? How do you make that happen?

This is where AI puts a new spin on the data you already have.

Personalized email campaigns with content written to resonate with target audiences save you time, build stronger business relationships, and increase your conversion rates. By segmenting, streamlining, and optimizing your campaigns in real-time, you demonstrate your authority and credibility before the first call is ever made. Compared to old-fashioned mail outs that were impossible to track, AI-powered email campaigns deliver resounding ROI with all the details to back it up.

How to Get Started With AI

Adopting AI doesn’t mean reinventing your business wheel. Many platforms used by trade professionals already incorporate AI features. The key is to start by identifying where your workflow is most strained—tasks like estimating, managing inquiries, or re-engaging prospects who've gone cold.

Challenges and Considerations With AI in the Trades

As with any innovation, AI comes with its own set of challenges. Data privacy must be safeguarded, and automated estimates should be marked as preliminary with final approval reserved for your review. And while AI can qualify and nurture leads, relationships in the trades are ultimately built on tried-and-true values and workmanship. The businesses that succeed in the age of AI will be those that use it to enhance—not replace—the human touch.

GoEpps: Your AI Lead Generation Agency

At GoEpps, our specialized teams have extensive experience working with AI in the trades. We are experts in balancing the human aspects of your industry with the technical power of AI.

If you’re ready to streamline your estimating activities, improve your lead generation, and grow your business, GoEpps is here to blend AI with performance-based strategies built to achieve your goals. Get in touch today!