Join Me!
Brandon Don Rabovsky of Vulca and my client Nathan Shafer of Shafer Heating & Cooling invite you to learn about our AI Success Story.
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This excerpt is from the YouTube video titled “The AI Episode: Brandon Rabovsky & Nathan Shafer – Shafer Heating & Cooling – Duchess of Ductless.” It introduces Vulca, a new platform designed to automate and streamline referral processes for home service businesses. The founders explain how Vulca creates a whitelabeled referral hotline, allowing customers to easily send referrals via text message, with AI parsing information directly into CRM systems like ServiceTitan.
The video discusses Vulca’s aim to be a catalyst in changing the perception of referrals, emphasizing convenience similar to services like DoorDash or Uber Eats.
Key Problems Addressed by Vulca:
- Traditional referral methods are often clunky, involving online forms or manual checks, leading to missed payouts and lost business.
- Businesses often rely heavily on paid leads (LSA, PPC, SEO) and overlook the potential of referrals from existing customers.
- Lack of tracking and measurement for referral sources leads to lost opportunities.
How Vulca Works:
- Vulca builds a whitelabeled referral hotline with a specific phone number for each business.
- Referrals are made simply by sending a text message to this hotline.
- AI parses the message, extracts information, and directly integrates it into ServiceTitan.
- When a referred job closes in ServiceTitan, Vulca automates a notification for payment.
- Customers have options for fast payment via Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, Amazon, Visa, or future credit, which can increase customer lifetime value.
- The system can be promoted by technicians using QR codes or through post-job automation requests, often personalized to the technician.
Benefits and Impact:
- Drives revenue and ROI by focusing on high-quality referrals that close at an 85-90% clip compared to lower-quality leads.
- Makes it easy to track and pay out rewards, preventing anyone from falling through the cracks.
- Incentivizes all parties: customers receive rewards, and technicians are recognized for promoting referrals, fostering a culture where everyone acts as an extension of the sales team.
- Encourages technicians to ask for referrals by appealing to empathy, not just the potential financial reward.
Nathan Shafer’s Experience with Shafer Heating & Cooling:
- Nathan Shafer, Vulca’s first customer, reported over an additional $160,000 in sales generated in just four months through the platform.
- They have 1,074 signed-up advocates and have generated 38 referrals.
- Shafer Heating & Cooling pays up to 10% of the purchase price, capped at $1,000 for successful referrals. For example, a $27,000 job resulted in a $1,000 payout.
- They’ve also expanded into B2B referrals, hiring a “relationship building coordinator” to visit around 200 businesses monthly, aiming to generate $1 million in B2B referrals within 12 months.
- The coordinator adds value to partner businesses through training and relationships, receiving the same 10% up to $1,000 referral fee for clients sent.
Vulca believes that leveraging word-of-mouth and referrals—historically how trades grew—represents a significant and often overlooked revenue source. The platform focuses on building genuine relationships and making referral management efficient and profitable.
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