September 9, 2026 · Ken Gaffga, Founder
What Contractors Winning With AI Do Differently — And What to Do This Week
This closes out our five-part look at ServiceTitan's 2026 State of AI in the Trades report. We've covered where contractors stand on adoption, where AI shows up first, what results it's producing, and why most companies stay stuck despite real upside. Last question, and the one that actually changes what you do Monday morning: what do the contractors already getting results have in common?
They're Not Building Custom AI. They're Using What's Already Built In.
Among contractors already using AI, 59% use AI features embedded in software they already run day to day. Another 42% use standalone tools — ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini. Only 8% have built custom AI tools, almost entirely larger, tech-forward companies with the resources to do it.
The lesson: most contractors getting value from AI aren't building cutting-edge tech. They're using AI already inside tools they trust, connected to their real business data — the barrier to starting is lower than most owners assume, not higher.
Company Size Changes the Starting Point, Not the Direction
51% of enterprise-level companies already use AI, versus 64% of small-to-medium businesses that haven't started. Residential contractors report bigger cost reductions; commercial contractors report bigger customer satisfaction gains. Larger companies more often turn AI into profitability; midsized companies see the biggest productivity lift. That doesn't mean small operators are behind for good — your entry point just looks different, and it's still available today.
The Report's Own Conclusion, in Three Points
Contractors are curious and optimistic about AI's potential in the trades. They want tools built for their actual trade, with proof they work. And they expect real value from solutions built by partners they already trust — not from cobbling together one-off custom builds on their own time.
That third point matters most for anyone reading this series start to finish. The businesses getting real results aren't the ones with the fanciest AI stack. They're the ones who found a clear starting point and moved on it before it felt fully comfortable.
Don't Wait for the Sixth Post — There Isn't One
That's the same exercise I run with clients regardless of industry: find the one thing actually capping your growth, fix that first, then move to the next one. For some businesses that's AI. For others, the real answer sits elsewhere in the business entirely. This report shows the industry-wide opportunity — not your specific business's opportunity. Those aren't always the same thing, and the only way to know is your own numbers, not the industry average.
I'm actively bringing this process to plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roofing, and other referral-driven trade businesses right now — not on some distant timeline. If you're unsure which adoption stage you're in, or which barrier from the last post is really holding you back, that's a conversation worth having this week, before the businesses already moving pull further ahead. Reach out — let's talk about where to start with a Free Clarity Call.
Source: ServiceTitan, "2026 State of AI in the Trades," survey conducted by Thrive Analytics, October 23–November 12, 2025, 1,032 respondents across plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roofing, pest control, landscaping, and garage door businesses. Full report: servicetitan.com/guides/2026-ai-in-the-trades