Since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022, the world has been buzzing with talk of the ways artificial intelligence (A.I.) will change the world. The scenarios range from finding a cure for cancer and predicting the future to doomsday, as if we were living in a real-life Marvel movie. While this all makes for interesting discussion and catchy headlines, there are practical applications for A.I. in business that can have real, positive impacts right now.
In conducting research for this article, with a little assistance from some of these same A.I. tools, I was able to find some useful ways the everyday restorer can use A.I. applications to improve their work quality and capacity. These six ways were consistent across all sources. They do not require much, if any, training or capital investment and they can be used right now, by almost anyone in your organization.
1. Content Generation
A.I. chat tools are great sources of content because of their ability to reference a vast array of data and feed it back to the user in a natural language format. They can be used to generate marketing materials, newsletters, social media posts, emails, letters, job descriptions, and surveys.
Digging a little deeper, these systems can also help with providing supporting information for repair estimates and even strategies for overcoming objections from customers or insurance adjusters.
One of the most helpful aspects of these tools is the ability to refine the chat to make the content as specific to the situation you are dealing with as needed. This can save hours in research and content creation.
2. Language Translation
Most contractors will run into scenarios where they wish they spoke a foreign language or at least had documentation that was translated. These could be work orders for employees or subcontractors, work services agreements and related forms for customers, and even internal training documents for their staff. Now, we do not need to look much further than our friendly A.I. application for assistance.
This scenario alone could be a game changer for any restorer who frequently works in situations that involve a language barrier. While I can’t personally confirm the accuracy of these translations, I would think they would have to be more effective than pictograms and hand signals.
3. Personal Productivity
There is a high likelihood that you are already receiving the benefits of A.I. by way of the features built into your cell phone or computer programs. Unless intentionally disabled, you probably receive notifications reminding you of an appointment on your calendar and the driving time to that destination, or you could be typing an email or document and the application automatically suggests the next few words in the sentence. These are all A.I.-driven productivity features meant to make our lives easier. While it might be tempting to simply ignore these enhancements, I would encourage anyone to give them a try. I would also suggest getting used to Siri and Alexa because they are not going away anytime soon!
4. Education and Training
This one took me by surprise but after speaking with my wife, who is a career educator, it makes a lot of sense, especially for skilled labor positions like restoration technicians. Everyone has a different learning style. Some can comprehend training by reading or through verbal methods. Others require visual observation or even hands-on application. Choosing the right method can make a world of difference and speed up the learning curve for employees. Certain A.I. apps have the ability to recommend different learning methods based on an individual’s learning style. They can even provide suggestions for different multi-media presentations of information. All this is to help the user understand concepts through a variety of methods, including video or step-by-step procedures.
5. Legal Compliance
While most restorers do not intentionally set out to be legally or regulatorily non-compliant, the fact is that most fall into this realm in at least some activity in their business. Legal counsel can be very expensive for contractors and seeking professional guidance for all business activities is nearly impossible. A.I. tools can provide assistance with some of these situations at no cost to the user. Just remember, the more detailed information you put into the chat, the more specific responses you will get. While users should never take this information as a substitute for professional legal advice, it can be a great place to start if compliance is in question.
6. Scenario and Risk Analysis
Just last week I made a business decision that had an impact on multiple people in our organization. I did so with the data and information I was provided. Using this as the basis, I was confident in my decision. However, what I failed to consider was the unintended consequences of my actions. While the fallout was not catastrophic, it could have been avoided by taking the time to consider at least a few resulting scenarios that might have occurred. No one has a crystal ball and A.I. certainly cannot predict the future, especially when human behavior is involved. However, it can provide some valuable insights as to the possibilities, pitfalls, or traps that might exist as a result of our decisions and actions. To prove this point, I typed my scenario into ChatGPT and it provided me with caution on the very item that came up after my decision was rendered! In hindsight, my decision would have been the same, however, I would have handled it differently through better communication and by including the key stakeholders in the process. Both of these were recommendations provided in the chat, without me asking.
Conclusion
Hopefully A.I. will never take the place of human intelligence. I would like to think that the evolution of machine learning is a byproduct of the latter for the intention of making the world a better place. We should still verify the accuracy of information and be critical of recommendations provided by A.I. systems. Despite this, I believe these are effective business tools that can be used right now for the reasons mentioned above. Competition in the restoration industry is fierce and not predicted to get any easier. Capitalizing on the technology of A.I. applications is one way that contractors can improve their competitive standing through increased efficiency, quality, and ultimately, profitability. Embrace it and see what kind of difference A.I. can make for you.
Timothy E. Hull, CR
Timothy E. Hull, CR, is President of Violand Management Associates. He has a vast knowledge of all facets of business, enhanced by strong analytical and negotiating abilities, and extensive experience in the disaster restoration industry. Early in his career, Tim spent time in the building trades before working in top positions for two well-respected, high-performing restoration companies. He joined Violand in 2008 as a business development advisor and purchased the company in January 2025. To reach him, visit violand.com or call (330) 966-0700.
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