As the owner of a local plumbing business, you probably wear many hats: plumbing, managing, marketing your business, customer follow-up, scheduling, generating leads, maintaining equipment; the list goes on and on.
What if we told you we could make that list shorter? Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, like machine learning, is making waves across industries, helping local business owners do so much more with less.
And you don’t even have to figure it out on your own. With an advanced technology tool like Podium, you can easily harness the best parts of AI to take your plumbing business to the next level.
What Does AI Look Like in the Plumbing Industry?
AI is a fairly simple concept that involves computer systems simulating human intelligence processes. It relies on machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and computer vision.
Machine learning allows computers to learn from data and make predictions, while NLP enables them to understand and interpret human language. Computer vision assists in analyzing visual information from images or videos.
How does this relate to your plumbing business and your customers? Plumbing AI is revolutionizing operations, from predictive maintenance to customer service. Predictive maintenance analyzes data from plumbing systems, helping homeowners take action before a situation gets out of hand. The objective is to reduce downtime, emergencies, and stress.
Here’s a real-life example—AI-powered leak detection systems use computer vision and machine learning to anticipate issues. They can detect leaks in real time. Home and business owners can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they avoided extensive water damage and repair costs.
And an example of AI for your business? Virtual assistants, powered by AI technology, can act as an extension of plumbers and your support staff. Chatbots, for instance, can engage with customers and prospects in real time. These widgets can provide instant support with tasks like scheduling appointments, assessing damage, and accepting payment.
Artificial intelligence in plumbing has other use cases, too. For instance, plumbing companies have found success using automated tools for pipe inspection and maintenance. Additionally, AI for plumbing can help plumbing companies forecast demand and supplier lead times. This advantage helps them source plumbing components so they can show up to jobs prepared. That extends to the areas of diagnostics and repairs. The data collected by AI technology can help them identify issues and resolve them quickly.
How Podium’s AI CSR Helps Plumbing Companies Win More Customers
Podium’s AI CSR helps plumbing companies work smarter and create stronger customer relationships. Here are a few ways you can use this technology to your advantage:
- Chat: Use automation to engage with prospects and customers in real time.
- All-in-one inbox: All leads are directed to a centralized place, to help you avoid delays in response time. No more app overload!
- Bulk texting: Push out information related to sales to get more information.
- Review automation: Grow your business through the power of customer testimonials.
4 Benefits of AI for Plumbing Businesses
There’s a lot to be gained from embracing best practices in AI heating and plumbing. Here are four of our favorites.
1. Predictive Maintenance and Smart Water Management
AI can alert plumbing companies of looming issues, allowing them to schedule preventive maintenance. This predictive maintenance can help rein in water usage and related costs.
2. Enhancing Customer Service
AI innovations can help plumbers with common tasks like customer support, appointment scheduling, sending review request invites, and answering simple questions via chatbots.
3. Plumbing Marketing Innovations
AI algorithms can analyze customer data to make marketing campaigns more effective with increased personalization. A tailored message can increase the number of leads and ultimately the number of prospects that follow through.
4. Advancements in Plumbing Fixtures
Research and development, made possible by AI, has resulted in contributions to the plumbing field, such as smart faucets and water-saving devices. These advancements have helped customers save time and money, while helping conserve resources at the same time.
Steps to Implement AI in Plumbing Businesses
Every plumbing business needs a data-driven strategy to reach the next level of success. Here’s what implementation can look like in real-life scenarios:
Identify Areas for Automation
Take inventory of your current processes and workflows to identify tasks that are repetitive, time-consuming, or prone to human error. For example, automation can allow you to automatically send review invites at the perfect time and schedule appointments in no time at all. With AI, you can route your calls and texts to the right people.
Research and Select Appropriate AI Tools
Not every automation solution will be right for you. For this reason, it’s important to choose AI vendors specializing in automated plumbing industry solutions. Be mindful of features, scalability, ease of integration, and cost-effectiveness. Always evaluate demo versions or trial periods so you can be sure that the platform is worth the investment.
Collaborate with AI Solution Providers
The best AI solution providers are willing to work with you to customize their tools to suit your specific business needs. In doing so, you can add AI technology seamlessly into your current systems and workflows. Be sure to speak up during the implementation process so they can incorporate your feedback into updates.
Train and Upskill Employees
On-the-job training can help your employees understand AI tools and how they can free up time. Encourage a culture of continuous learning and experimentation so they feel comfortable and confident about embracing changes. Your employees should feel comfortable asking questions, raising concerns, and troubleshooting with you.
Monitor and Evaluate AI Implementation
Regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of AI implementation in your plumbing business. Specifically, you’ll want to look at key metrics related to efficiency, productivity, customer satisfaction, and cost savings. Collect feedback from employees and customers to identify areas for improvement and ways to use AI more strategically. Use data analytics tools to track sales calls, maximize ROI, and achieve long-term success.
7 Ways AI is Changing the Plumbing Business
AI has touched all aspects of the plumbing business, from leak detection to plumbing installation — and everything in between. Here are seven ways AI is revolutionizing (and likely will continue to change) your industry.
1. Predictive Maintenance: AI Predicts Plumbing Needs
AI algorithms analyze your historical data, including usage patterns and equipment performance, to predict potential plumbing issues before they occur. By detecting early signs of wear or impending failures, predictive maintenance helps plumbers schedule proactive repairs, decreasing interruptions and surprise costs.
2. Smart Leak Detection: Real-Time Leak Detection with AI
Say goodbye to leak damage. AI-enabled sensors and monitoring systems detect leaks in real time, even in the smallest spaces. These systems can analyze water flow patterns and pressure changes to identify leaks promptly, minimize water damage, and reduce repair costs.
3. Automated Diagnostics: AI Streamlines Plumbing Repairs
AI-powered diagnostic tools analyze symptoms reported by customers or detected through sensors to accurately diagnose plumbing problems. By automating the troubleshooting process, plumbing professionals can identify issues more efficiently and provide timely solutions. In this way, AI can help plumbing companies, optimize processes and procedures, enhance service quality and enhance their reputation.
4. Virtual Assistance: AI-Powered Customer Support
Supporting a growing customer base calls for time and attention. AI-driven virtual assistants can fill this gap by answering common queries, getting more jobs booked, and providing helpful tips. There aren’t enough hours in the day for one person to handle all of this, but chatbots or virtual assistants can handle multiple inquiries without compromising quality. By leveraging artificial intelligence for customer support, you don’t have to choose between efficiency and customer satisfaction.
5. Enhanced Inventory Management: AI-Optimized Inventory
Plumbing AI can help you save money in areas you might not have considered. AI algorithms analyze demand patterns, usage rates, and supplier lead times to match inventory levels with this activity. Such an approach can help you stay nimble during fluctuations.
6. Customer Service: AI-Driven Solutions for Better Service
AI-powered analytics tools analyze customer feedback, service requests, and satisfaction ratings to identify areas for improvement in plumbing. By gaining insights into customer preferences and behaviors based on data collected, plumbers can tailor your services to better meet expectations.
7. Robotics in Repairs: The Future of AI-Powered Plumbing
AI-driven robotics can address tasks such as pipe inspection, cleaning, and maintenance. AI-powered systems can navigate complex plumbing systems, identify problems, and perform precise repairs with minimal human intervention. By deploying robotics in repairs, plumbers can reduce error and labor costs while taking on more complicated jobs.
Get Ahead with Podium’s AI Employee
Say goodbye to missed opportunities. Say hello to a better way to run your plumbing business. Invest in an AI technology platform that allows you to do more with less, at scale. With Podium’s AI Employee, you can supercharge your customer service. Respond to leads in seconds and sell and schedule jobs faster — any hour of the day.
Level up with an all-in-one advanced technology solution and lap your competition. Get a demo of Podium today.
