By Eric Sprague C & R Magazine 06/24/2025
As much as I hate to admit this in print, I am 58 years old. It feels really old when I type it out on the page. For those of you who haven’t yet reached my level of “seasoning,” it’s a weird age to be. You’re still young enough to be driven and want to add value, yet old enough to fear being left behind by rapidly evolving technology.
I know many owners and managers feel this way. Many of us are at a crossroads— battling to stay relevant while quietly worrying we won’t be able to keep up in the age of AI. The fear is real for many of us. Real enough for me to now set aside many hours per week to learning new tech and how to use it in the trades.
The Two Choices We All Face
For those of us of a certain age—or who simply aren’t tech lovers—we’re faced with a simple choice:
Learn how to use emerging tech to improve business performance, or ignore it and get left behind.
As many of you know, my passion is helping field technicians master the people skills they need to succeed. It’s hard work. Training techs in a water damage business isn’t easy. But this is where my commitment to being great at what I do meets new technology head-on. We can all learn to leverage AI tools to make our field teams stronger.
1. Create a Digital Coach for Field Help
How often does your phone ring with questions like, “How many dehus should I use?” or “Do I need to pull baseboards?”
Cut those calls down with a 24/7 AI coach.
Tool to Try:
ChatGPT (custom version or bot) – Upload your SOPs, IICRC standards, and job aids. Your techs can ask it questions and get fast, accurate answers.
How to Use It:
- Add SOPs and cheat sheets to Google Docs or Notion
- Use Custom GPTs or Zapier to connect the data to a chatbot
- Train your team to use the bot when they hit a roadblock Result: Less phone tag. More productivity.
2. Make Documentation Fast and Accurate
Documentation often sinks good jobs, especially when techs are in a rush or hate paperwork.
Tools to Try:
- Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai – Transcribe voice notes into job summaries
- CompanyCam AI – Tag and label photos automatically
- ChatGPT – Clean up messy job notes into professional write-ups
Pro Tip:
Have techs record a quick voice note post-job. Transcribe it with Otter or Fireflies. Clean it up in ChatGPT. Done in minutes.
3. Track Engagement and Celebrate Wins
You need to know who’s growing, who’s coasting, and who needs help.
Tool Combo:
- ClickUp AI or Notion AI – Track lesson views and job notes
- Slack bots or Trello check-ins – Automate questions like “What went well today?”
How to Use:
- Track daily training or job goals in a shared sheet
- Use AI to analyze and summarize
- Celebrate wins weekly to boost morale (especially with Gen Z)
Onboard New Techs Like a Pro—Without Burning Hours
The first few days on the job make a lasting impression. AI can help deliver a professional, consistent experience every time.
Tools to Try:
- Loom or Synthesia – Record welcome videos or training walkthroughs
- Tidio or ManyChat – Build an onboarding chatbot with FAQs and reminders
How to Use:
- Create a 2–3-minute welcome video
- Build a chatbot or email series with daily tips, SOPs, and contact info
- Automate the whole first week of onboarding
Final Thoughts: Don’t Get Left Behind
Some of this may feel overwhelming or even threatening, especially if you didn’t grow up with this stuff. But the truth is, you don’t need to overhaul your whole business tomorrow. Start small. Pick one pain point. Test one tool for 30 days.
AI is like hiring a support team that never gets sick, doesn’t quit, and works 24/7. It boosts your techs, helps you deliver a better customer experience, and gives you back your time.
And in the Gen Z era, if you’re not giving your team the tech tools they expect, they’ll leave you for someone who will.
So don’t be the pro who says, “Back in my day…”
Be the one who says, “Let’s figure out how to make today better—for all of us.”
