Add AI to Your Toolbox: 3 Ways It Can Boost Your Contracting Business

You’ve probably heard a lot of buzz around AI - usually in ways that make it sound like robots are coming to take over the world - and your business too.
‍
But here’s the truth: it’s basically just another tool, like a nail gun or a laser level. It can be as simple and useful as any tool in your truck. You don’t need to learn to code or invest in anything fancy - you just need to be open to try it. In fact, most of the ways contractors are starting to use AI are incredibly simple - and surprisingly practical.

Like any other good tool, when you know how to use it right, it can save you time, reduce mistakes and just make your life a whole lot easier.
‍
Here are 3 easy ways to start using AI today that can help streamline your day-to-day operations, sharpen your communication, and make quoting and tracking materials way faster.
‍

1. Don’t know what to say in a customer email or text? Let AI start it for you

Customer communication is one of the most important (and time-consuming) parts of running a contracting business. But let’s be honest - writing messages from scratch can eat up time you don’t have. That’s where AI can come in handy.

Tools like Rytr, Grammarly or even ChatGPT can help you create a draft in minutes. Just type in a simple prompt like, “Write a friendly payment reminder for a remodeling project,” and you’ll get a solid starting point in seconds.
You can even create templates for repeating situations or questions and save them so that you don’t have to craft a response from scratch every time. It’s not about replacing you - it’s just about speeding up the admin so that you can get back to the job site.
‍‍‍

Prompt Tip:

Here are a few example prompts you can use:

• “Write a polite follow-up email for a quote I sent last week.”
• “Create a short SMS to remind a customer about tomorrow’s HVAC appointment.”
• “Draft a message to thank a client for approving a fence install job.”
  
  

2. Skip the data entry: just scan and let AI handle your receipts

Manually entering receipts after a hardware store run isn’t just boring - it’s a waste of your time. Keeping track of the receipts can truly be a nightmare. Come tax season, you spend hours and hours organizing the data and uploading receipts you left lying around.

With AI tools like the materials scan feature in MotionOps, you can just snap a photo of your receipt, and the system pulls the info straight into your expense tracker. No more typing line items, dates, or prices. This simple feature can save hours every week and helps you keep an accurate, up-to-date log of your material costs without the hassle.

Time-Saving Bonus:
One contractor told us they used to spend up to 6 hours a week just logging receipts. With the scan feature, they now do it in less than 30 minutes - and haven’t lost a single receipt since.

‍

3. Don’t let material math slow you down - use AI to do the heavy lifting

You probably already have a good idea of how much material you need for most jobs. But for larger or more detailed projects, figuring out exactly how many bags of concrete, how many tiles, or how many feet of piping you need can take serious time.
Doing takeoffs or estimating material costs on big jobs doesn’t have to mean pulling out the calculator and double-checking your math three times. AI tools can help you do quick material breakdowns, so you can focus on the bigger picture.

With a quick AI prompt, you can speed up the process. You already know what needs to be done - you just need a faster way to crunch the numbers. For example: “I’m installing 1,200 sq ft of flooring, each tile covers 2 sq ft. How many boxes do I need if each box has 12 tiles?” It’s fast, accurate, and especially helpful when you’re quoting or ordering supplies. This way you don’t underquote and you don’t over-order materials you won’t use up.
‍

Prompt Tip:

Try these during your quoting or ordering process:

• “How much gravel do I need to cover a 10x15 ft area 4 inches deep?”
• “If I need 250 linear feet of fencing and posts go every 8 feet, how many posts do I need?”
• “How much paint do I need for 1,000 sq ft with two coats if one gallon covers 350 sq ft?”
  
  

Final thoughts:
AI isn’t here to replace you - it’s here to support you

There’s a lot of noise out there about AI changing the world - and sure, some of it might be true. But for you, as a contractor, the biggest win right now is using it to make life simpler.
You don’t need to become a tech genius to benefit from AI. In fact, you’re probably already using some form of it without realizing - spellcheck, maps, even voice assistants on your phone. The good news is, the same simple tools can now help you run a more efficient business. 

We’re not talking about replacing workers or getting rid of experience. We’re talking about cutting back on the late nights spent invoicing, quoting, and doing math. Whether you’re creating better customer messages, tracking expenses with a photo, or speeding up your estimates, AI can take some of the admin pressure off your plate so you can focus on what you do best - running the job site.

MotionOps and other simple AI tools come in handy here - to save you time, help you look more professional, and keep your business sharp.
‍
MotionOps is built to make things easier for contractors - AI included. From scanning receipts to organizing jobs and communicating with customers, it’s a smart system that fits into the way you already work.

👉 Book a quick demo and see how MotionOps can help you run a smoother, more efficient contracting business - without changing how you work, just improving it.

‍