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Josh Crouch of Service Business Mastery and some of my very clever friends. Ductless Directory
Automation and AI in Service-Based Businesses
In a recent YouTube video, Josh Crouch discusses how automation and AI can transform service-based businesses, especially in HVAC. As co-founder of Trade Automation Pros (TAP), he explains how his team helps contractors reduce inefficiencies by integrating systems and automating repetitive tasks.
Key Takeaways
- Josh shares examples of how automation boosts growth and leadership efficiency, such as:
– Speed-to-lead systems
– Review replies
– Task flows
– Maintenance reminders
TAP also offers various resources, including courses, onsite consultations, and an upcoming live event to help teams implement automation effectively.
Crouch, who also operates Relentless Digital, spent 9 years in HVAC and observed that many contractors lacked operational structure and clean data. He partnered with Tersh, who had experience with tools like Zapier, to solve these issues.
TAP’s Goals
Their mission at TAP is to:
- Connect disconnected technologies
- Eliminate manual data transfer
- Demonstrate the possibilities of automation for contractors
Proof of Success
Between April 1 and June 26, TAP and its clients automated 183,250 tasks, saving over 19 full workdays. Instead of dictating what to automate, Josh emphasizes solving real problems with practical examples.
Examples of Automation from Trade Automation Pros
- Internal Communication: Weekly Slack check-ins to leadership asking focused questions about work updates, roadblocks, and support—keeping teams aligned even during absences.
- Speed-to-Lead Automation: Since 78% of buyers choose the first responder, TAP captures leads from sources like web forms, missed calls, Yelp, and Angi, then automates fast follow-ups using AI or message templates.
- SOP Generation with GPT: A custom GPT inside ChatGPT creates clear and consistent SOPs for different job roles—saving time and improving documentation.
- Customer Nurturing: Pulls CRM/FSM data to trigger personalized SMS, email, or voicemail follow-ups for reviews or unsold estimates, including insights from past calls.
- AI Review Replies & Social Content: Autoresponds to reviews using ChatGPT and turns them into platform-specific social posts—saving time and creating consistent content.
- Smart Task Management: Uses tools like Trello, Asana, or ClickUp to create and assign tasks automatically, embed SOPs, and track team progress remotely.
- Maintenance Funnels: Sends service or filter change reminders based on past jobs, creating automated systems that continuously generate appointments.
TAP’s Core Offers
- Online Course & Community: A private learning group (not on Facebook) that teaches automation building and GPT use for contractors.
- Onsite Workshops: Two-day sessions with Josh or Tersh at your business to brainstorm, build, and deploy automations—includes 20 developer hours.
- “TAP into the Future” Event: An in-person event in Savannah, GA, featuring expert talks on AI and automation, a live build session for real contractor problems, and a night out at a Savannah Bananas game—highlighting the value of being memorable in business.
Final Thoughts
Josh concludes with a reminder that strong systems, processes, and SOPs, like those in the EOS model, are essential for building a business that scales beyond merely putting out fires. Mindset, structure, and execution are the real keys to automation success.
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