Business idea - can I get your thoughts?

[JJohnston]

Hi all,

I'm looking to start a company that helps tradespeople manage their customers using AI. I don't have anything to sell or pitch, but want to make sure what I build actually helps plumbers, electricians, decorators, etc.

Here are some questions I have: (they're pretty basic but I don't want to assume how you work...)

- what info do you need from the customer during the first call?
- do you miss calls? How seriously do you take following up?
- is there anything you hate about customer admin generally? (not just inconvenient or an annoyance)

Your answers will help me avoid mistakes - would be grateful for your help / feedback!

Best - J

[etaf]

what need have you identified in the market place for this
As a customer , I find trades locally are very difficult to get , to even come and provide a quote , and a lot are so busy , that even if they do quote and accept, they lead time is usually months.

i'm sure you will get answers from trades here
BUT as a customer , thats my feedback

And how will your company make money/profit, is this some sort of app , you are planning to SELL subscriptions

[JJohnston]

what need have you identified in the market

I don't know what problems tradespeople have, I only know software and tech! But as a customer, I've had similar experiences as well.

is this some sort of app, you are planning to SELL subscriptions

It depends on how / when tradespeople speak to customers (e.g., at home, on-site). Haven't thought much about the revenue model yet!

thats my feedback

Thanks Wayne, appreciate your two cents on this.

- J

[Neelix]

I suspect you are flogging a dead horse.

Organised tradespeople won’t need you and the disorganised don’t think they need you.

As a tradesperson , the first contact is hugely important and I’m not sure how a 3rd party could fill this gap. Apologies if this isn’t what you want to hear

[dewaltdisney]

Adding to that AI is a big turn off for many and I for one hate using it as it is so limited. Having said that it is refreshing when you speak to a human who knows their job, very rare these days.

DWD

[Someone-Else]

Seeking a trades person:
Yes it is annoying calling and getting an answerphone, but I don't much care for speaking to an AI voice, I would hang up and look for another person

Being a trades person:
Why should I pay you to have your AI answer the phone? Also when you go bust I would be stuffed, as your prices go up too much every year I would be stuffed, I would have no control over everything.

In conclusion:
For the small trades person, you are not worth it, for the big boys, we can have the IT dept do that.

[JJohnston]

As a tradesperson , the first contact is hugely important and I’m not sure how a 3rd party could fill this gap. Apologies if this isn’t what you want to hear

It's all good. I haven't built anything yet just calling tradespeople to get their opinion.

To answer your question though: the AI would text back missed callers exactly how you would. And after it collects the info you need, you get a notification and can either (a) ignore the job, or (b) follow up yourself. You stop the caller from going elsewhere and get their budget, location, etc. without having to follow up in the evening / your time off.

If a caller wants their dishwasher fixed and locks changed for £50 you just saved yourself a pointless call. I'll stop the pitch now!

- J

[JJohnston]

Adding to that AI is a big turn off for many and I for one hate using it as it is so limited. Having said that it is refreshing when you speak to a human who knows their job, very rare these days.

Agreed, I had a new heat pump installed and the engineer remembered everything about the system 15 years later. Impressive.

Obviously AI will never replace meeting the customer and deciding whether you trust them (or will just cause you trouble)

- J

[Neelix]

Sounds like a my builder type site

[JJohnston]

Seeking a trades person:
Yes it is annoying calling and getting an answerphone, but I don't much care for speaking to an AI voice, I would hang up and look for another person

Being a trades person:
Why should I pay you to have your AI answer the phone? Also when you go bust I would be stuffed, as your prices go up too much every year I would be stuffed, I would have no control over everything.

Seeking trades person: this would be a text-based / Whatsapp AI, not voice. I agree voice AI is terrible and hang up as well.

Being a trades person: I "pitched" it in the comments above. Your concerns about control are important so let me address them. You would not have to change your phone number (your customers would call you as normal). You can also jump into any conversation anytime. Re: pricing and going bust - not trying to screw anyone over here just a software developer looking to help SMBs.

- J

[Someone-Else]

You can also jump into any conversation anytime. Re: pricing and going bust - not trying to screw anyone over here just a software developer looking to help SMBs

I never said you were trying to "screw anyone over" I said

Also when you go bust I would be stuffed, as your prices go up too much every year I would be stuffed, I would have no control over everything.

In any business you have to make money, the only way I can see you doing that is for you to charge for your "service" (ads certainly would not work) It would be stupid to ask "seekers" to pay, so you would have to get "trades people" to pay, my problem with that is, I would always have to pay you, and no doubt your fees would go up every year (by too much) or you would change (half way through?) to subscription, and if I did pay you, when you get fed up or go bust (No offence, but most small companies fail within the first few years.) I would be stuffed so my best option is to NOT join in the first place.

[Someone-Else]

Nearly a week later, no response, guess he has gone bust already