Author: admin

Washington
 — 

The roughly 20 plumbers of Oak Creek Plumbing & Remodeling in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area don’t just bring toolkits with wrenches, pliers and Teflon tape to customers’ homes these days. They also bring a tablet equipped with the latest version of ChatGPT.

The technology helps those workers automatically create invoices, work proposals and even brainstorm how to address complicated plumbing problems, company president Dan Callies told CNN. All they have to do is take photos of a broken water heater, for example, or write their observations in a prompt, and ChatGPT spits out a list of recommendations.

“It’s definitely been worth the investment,” Callies said. “Some of our older guys have learned to ask ChatGPT the right questions, and they’re kind of amazed with some of answers it comes up with.”

From office work to on-the-ground troubleshooting, blue-collar businesses are increasingly embracing AI to boost productivity, cut down costs and even replace administrative support roles. Some use popular AI software such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, while others use platforms tailored specifically for the trades with AI capabilities, such as ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro.

“It’s affecting both sides of our company, out in the field and internally within our office,” Callies said.

No humans are involved from when a customer requests services from Gulfshore Air Conditioning & Heating in Niceville, Florida to when a technician arrives at their home, thanks to AI.

And once the technician arrives, they use AI to diagnose the issue and pull up technical information within seconds — a task that used to require sifting through as many as five 60-page manuals, said Krista Landen, the company’s marketing and IT manager.

A survey of more than 400 tradespeople across North America by Housecall Pro earlier this year found that more than 70% of respondents said they have tried AI tools and about 40% said they actively use them. Younger professionals are leading the charge, the survey showed, though older workers are testing the waters, too.

AI’s integration and impact varies by industry, according to the survey; Plumbers were the most likely to say AI has helped their business grow; cleaners were the “biggest adopters of AI”; while electricians had “the highest satisfaction rates” with the technology.

Schools have also taken notice: Jason Altmire, president and CEO of Career Education Colleges and Universities, a trade association that represents more than 800 private vocational schools across the country, said several institutions are weaving AI into their curriculum in collaboration with employers.

“They want their graduates ready for jobs that are going to be available in the future, not jobs that were here five years ago,” Altmire said.

Still, some tradespeople are skeptical about how the new technology works and how it can be applied to physical tasks.

“There’s some hesitancy, so I wouldn’t say they’re all in,” said Edward McFarlane, chair of the board of directors at the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. “But the tide is definitely coming in.”

AI is slowly reshaping the economics of blue-collar America.

Businesses in the trades implementing AI are becoming more productive, allowing them to take on more projects or improve the quality of their services, said Laura Ullrich, an economist at job site Indeed.

“People go into the trades because they like doing the hands-on work itself, and if some of the administrative tasks can be automated, then that should help those workers lean into the parts of the job they like and do smarter work,” she said.

AI has already made a measurable impact on Gulfshore, which saw a $370,000 increase in revenue 30 days after upgrading to an AI marketing feature that automates campaigns.

The company said it also saw an increase of $150 in revenue per average ticket after implementing AI tools that helped technicians get through administrative tasks more quickly and allowed them to sell customers additional services or accessories. Landen said the higher revenue, if sustained, should eventually translate into higher compensation for technicians.

“We’ve been using these AI products since June, so we should start to see more of a benefit in order to roll out new compensation packages (for technicians) within the next six months,” she added.

Callies of Oak Plumbing & Remodeling said ChatGPT has allowed the company to “lower our overhead and provide better services or better value.”

AI’s growing adoption in the trades could mean businesses may not need to hire as many office workers for marketing and taking customer calls, economists and business owners tell CNN. That presents those businesses the opportunity to cut down on those costs.

For now, there’s broad agreement that AI is nowhere near taking away the jobs of technicians, at least not until robotic technology significantly advances. It’s mostly proving to be a useful tool for tradespeople.

“All of our technicians are running more efficiently, and they’re less stressed,” Landen said. “I feel like I am a real life Jetson living in the future.”

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 9 October 2025 – The Nemetschek Group, one of the world’s leading software providers for the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AEC/O) industry, has partnered with WakeCap Technologies, the region’s leading construction technology company, specializing in sensor-powered, real-time project control systems. This landmark agreement sets the stage for a strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating digital transformation across the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) construction ecosystem.

The partnership leverages the strengths of both companies: Nemetschek Group’s extensive portfolio of industry-leading software solutions and WakeCap’s cutting-edge sensor-powered project-controls platform, which delivers real-time workforce visibility and site-wide intelligence. Currently deployed across $100B+ in giga-projects with the region’s most extensive workforce database tracking over 150 million worker hours, WakeCap has established itself as the only platform operating at this scale in the Middle East. The system has delivered transformative results by driving behavioral change on construction sites, achieving 90%+ reduction in safety violation observations, 25%+ gains in productivity, and 70%+ faster incident response. WakeCap safety solutions are now mandated across Aramco, Neom, and Qiddiya.

The agreement outlines a comprehensive framework for both companies to jointly pursue business opportunities and initiatives within the GCC. WakeCap’s deep regional expertise and established relationships with the Middle East’s largest owners and contractors will accelerate Nemetschek Arabia and its affiliates’ market entry and expansion through localized expertise and access to an established network of industry partners. The collaboration encompasses the development of joint go-to-market strategies aimed at stakeholders in construction and real estate, as well as the potential integration of WakeCap’s technologies with Nemetschek’s leading software platforms – including Bluebeam, dTwin and GoCanvas.

Furthermore, the two organizations intend to collaborate on knowledge exchange and co-create thought leadership content, such as whitepapers and digital construction initiatives, while jointly participating in regional industry events. The partnership will also evaluate new synergies within the infrastructure and natural resource sectors, where both parties recognize increasing demand for intelligent, data-driven project delivery solutions.

Commenting on the partnership, Marc Nezet, Group Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Division Officer of the Nemetschek Group, said: “WakeCap is one of the most innovative frontrunners in the global construction tech landscape. Their ability to deliver real-time visibility and actionable insights at scale is reshaping how major infrastructure projects are built and managed. By combining Nemetschek’s world-class software capabilities with WakeCap’s cutting-edge solutions and regional strength, we are excited to unlock transformative outcomes for the GCC’s construction sector.”

Muayad Simbawa, Managing Director of Nemetschek Arabia, emphasized the significance of the agreement in supporting the region’s digital ambitions. “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our mission to accelerate digital innovation in construction across the Gulf region. Together with WakeCap, we aim to deliver more connected, intelligent, and efficient project delivery models that align with the region’s national development agendas and sustainability goals.”

“This partnership validates our vision of transforming construction through real-time intelligence”, stated Dr. Hassan Albalawi, CEO and Founder of WakeCap. “We’ve proven our technology can fundamentally change how giga-projects are delivered, reducing risk, and driving efficiency. Now, by combining our field-proven platform with Nemetschek’s global reach and software ecosystem, we’re not just expanding our market, we’re defining the future of construction technology. Our joint solutions will become the global benchmark for intelligent project delivery, starting here in the GCC where the world’s most ambitious projects are already relying on WakeCap.

This agreement reinforces the Nemetschek Group’s long-term commitment to advancing digital innovation across global construction and infrastructure markets. With a portfolio of leading brands and platforms that span the entire AEC/O lifecycle, Nemetschek continues to deliver open, interoperable, and sustainable solutions that empower the world’s architects, engineers, contractors, and facility managers to build better.

The GCC construction market, valued at over $120 billion annually with several trillion-dollar national transformation programs underway, represents the ideal proving ground for these advanced technologies.

About WakeCap

WakeCap is the sensor-powered project controls platform that has become the technology partner for the Middle East’s most complex construction projects. Since pioneering construction wearables in 2017, WakeCap’s platform is currently deployed across $100B+ of active giga-projects, with over 150M work hours tracked.

WakeCap has delivered transformative results by driving behavioral change on construction sites, achieving 90%+ reduction in safety violation observations, 25%+ gains in productivity, and 70%+ faster incident response. The platform’s unique ability to operate without GPS, WiFi, or cabling through it’s self-forming mesh network has made it indispensable for high-risk and high-stakes projects. Trusted by industry giants including Aramco, Neom, Qiddiya, and the region’s top contractors, WakeCap is building the foundation for a smarter, safer, and more transparent construction industry.