How are contractors using this new technology? Is it something you should consider?
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The Commercial Painting Industry Association (CPIA) is one trade organization tracking the use of AI among its members. CPIA Executive Director Mike Stanley tells us what they’re seeing.
As an association serving commercial painting contractors, we get this question a lot: How is AI transforming the painting industry?
From where we sit as the Commercial Painting Industry Association, the short answer is “it depends.”
As with many tech innovations and products introduced to the industry in the past, some contractors are diving in, while others are cautiously experimenting, and many more are trying to determine what’s worth their time.
The thing that differentiates AI from many previous tech introductions is that its applications are broader than single-focus technology that previously shook up the industry.
For example, when estimating software first came to market, we might have asked the question: how is estimating software changing your estimating process? But with AI, the scope of potential impact on a business extends to everything from hiring, time tracking, and estimating to job tracking, contracts, and more.
In the face of such overwhelming opportunity, change, and risk, I’ve been impressed with the thoughtful approach of many contractors. Instead of going in it alone while trying to implement AI to many things all at once, many of our members are taking advantage of their network – talking, asking questions, and learning from one another as they plot their course forward.
In our peer groups, we find that the conversation finds its way to AI nearly 100 percent of the time, whether it’s general questions about keeping up with changes or AI being a good solution to a problem brought to the table. We’ve found that while contractors have various levels of experience, nearly all of them are using it to some extent.
The thoughtful conversations and problem-solving in our Peer Group sessions inspired a series of articles exploring both the promise and pitfalls of AI. We’ve been working diligently to highlight cutting-edge use cases, success stories, and cautionary lessons for those ready to take the plunge or navigating implementation challenges.
Here’s what we reported in recent issues:
Estimating
In our article “A View from the Frontier” (Commercial Painting Magazine, volume 6, issue 1), we spoke to several contractors who have implemented – or are amid implementing – AI-assisted estimating software. The oft-cited benefits include reducing the time spent building estimates, allowing experienced estimators to focus on higher- value work, and faster training for newer estimators.
While the benefits are vast, those past the implementation stage are also adamant about the importance of careful adoption. This includes taking time to understand your unique needs, involving estimating teams from the beginning, and evaluating platforms to determine what best fits your workflow.
Contract review
In our article, “Leveling the Playing Field” (Commercial Painting Magazine, volume 6, issue 2), we dove into how members are using AI to give themselves a leg up in contract review. Many cited significant value in using AI to understand legal terms, find inconsistencies between proposals and contracts, flag terms that might not be contractor-friendly, and more. Not only does using AI lead to less spend on legal reviews, but it also speeds up the entire review process and provides a better overall understanding of all the nuances contained in the contracts being signed.
Each contractor noted that this is not a replacement for legal counsel or a thorough review, with one noting that the real risk of using AI for contract review is becoming too reliant on it.
These pieces are only the tip of the iceberg. In future issues, we’ll be looking at how contractors are using AI to train employees, define and manage KPIs, and so much more.
Overall takeaways
Conversations with professionals who are already using AI, as well as those still considering adoption, revealed a few consistent lessons beyond the technology itself. Across the board, contractors stressed the importance of making deliberate choices, staying disciplined in how AI is used, and leaning on trusted peer networks to sort through the hype and identify what will truly add value.
Selection
The market is exploding with AI tools. It’s difficult not to want to grab everything, but many contractors have realized that not every AI tool has a place in their business. Evaluating and testing software is a critical part of the process, not only to choose the version of the tool that best fits your processes and business, but to evaluate if the cost and time required to implement the tool will ultimately pay off.
Discipline
Our members repeatedly emphasized that AI is an aid – not a shortcut. It’s important to plan time to train the software, validate recommendations, keep open communication with employees throughout decision-making and implementation, and remember that technology cannot replace your experience and judgment (and the experience and judgment of your team).
Peer support
One of the biggest challenges contractors face when adopting AI is that many of their conversations happen with consultants, sales reps, and trainers. In those settings, you are often being guided by people who have a stake in your decision.
That makes having a trusted peer network especially valuable. A no-pressure environment allows contractors to discuss challenges and opportunities openly with others who understand the realities of the industry.
This is especially important with AI, where the marketing is loud, and changes are happening quickly.
No matter the topic at hand, having a community of contractors willing to share honest experiences, ask tough questions, and help one another avoid costly mistakes is always an advantage. But as this technology continues to evolve, the value of learning from people you trust becomes even greater.
Bottom line
AI is already changing the way contractors do business, and I suspect we’ve only scratched the surface. As this continues, the contractors most likely to succeed will be those who use their non-technology assets – experience, critical thinking and people – to guide their technology choices.
About the author
Mike Stanley is Executive Director of the CPIA. He also serves as Managing Director at Global Design Media.
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