The ACTUAL state of the trade
Craft businesses are still at the relatively early stages of digitalisation. The first important steps such as digital accounting, planning software and messenger communication are already widespread. At the same time, the IT infrastructure has become more complex – partly due to increasing customer requirements, funding programmes and a lack of time due to a shortage of skilled workers. It therefore makes sense for many companies to rely on external support. But there are also other examples: Some are already using new technologies such as drones because they have recognised their practical benefits.
Where is the skilled crafts sector heading?
The trend is clearly moving towards process automation and AI-supported support in the office – not as a replacement for people, but to relieve them. The aim is to automate administrative tasks such as preparing quotations, documentation and planning so that tradespeople can concentrate on their core tasks.
What is the potential of digitalisation in the skilled trades?
AI can provide support in particular where time and knowledge are scarce. There is potential in areas such as
Automatic quotation generation
Damage documentation
Prioritisation of customer enquiries
Digital maintenance logs
Early fault detection (e.g. PV systems)
This is particularly exciting for small companies, as they can hand over recurring tasks to AI tools with little labour input.
Some examples include
- Planning tools such as SolarHub GmbH or Airteam Aerial Intelligence to make rooftop planning more efficient
- Maintenance and monitoring tools, e.g. for the simple creation of maintenance logs
- PVanalytics Web App to document and analyse damage to PV systems
Jobs are not displaced by this, but rather usefully supplemented. People remain central – they simply become more efficient thanks to AI and can focus on the relevant tasks that AI cannot take on, such as maintaining human contact with customers or assessing and making recommendations for action.
What are the biggest hurdles to the introduction of AI?
One of the biggest hurdles is often the fear of the supposed complexity. Many companies believe that they need their own IT team or large budgets to use digital tools or AI. However, there are a large number of solutions available today that can be used very easily via an app or browser – without any prior technical knowledge. Examples include modern AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Perplexity or Claude, as well as simple automation tools such as Zapier or Make, which can be used to connect and automate various processes.
How can you overcome the hurdles and get off to a good start?
The best way to get started is to deliberately start small. A sensible first step would be to experiment with AI tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity or Claude – especially in areas where recurring tasks can be automated. It is important that no sensitive customer data is used without appropriate anonymisation. Many of these tools also directly provide suitable recommendations on how further steps can be realised with automation tools. Even simple applications such as an online booking system with Calendly can be integrated without any technical expertise – and without the need for an IT service provider.
A little tip: It works best if a tech-savvy person from the team is given the opportunity to focus on new digital solutions. This person can then analyse which processes can be improved, enter initial ideas into AI tools such as ChatGPT and test directly with small pilot projects to see whether a noticeable improvement can actually be achieved in everyday life. It is important that these projects run alongside ongoing operations and are not perceived as additional work. Most modern tools are intuitive to use and require little training. The key is to proceed step by step and actively involve employees – not to want to change everything at once. But: AI also makes mistakes. That is why it is always important to leave the final decision and responsibility with the user.
How do I get employees excited about AI - or how do I digitally transform my company?
Companies that successfully implement AI or innovations create space for small, low-threshold formats – such as short training sessions or team events that show how to achieve useful results with a good prompt, for example, or how AI can be used to analyse Excel files. These formats help to break down fears, create transparency and generate enthusiasm within the team.
Management plays a decisive role in this. Digitalisation can only succeed if it is supported and actively promoted from the top. However, this is not just about a top-down approach with rigid guidelines. Instead, change should be shaped together with the team. It is about creating enthusiasm and making it clear that digital tools are there to make day-to-day work easier – not to replace it.
Do you know of any examples from your everyday working life?
Yes, at one of our customers we have seen how the PVanalytics web app was successfully integrated into the team to analyse damage to photovoltaic systems and create reports. The AI was perceived as a real support – not as a replacement, but as a helper in everyday life. Other providers such as SolarHub also show that digitalisation works particularly well when it is easy to use and there is good communication within the team.
What about the prejudice that only ‘the big players’ benefit from AI?
On the contrary: smaller companies in particular benefit disproportionately from AI because they can save a lot of time on recurring tasks. You don’t need your own IT department to use AI tools – a smartphone or laptop is often enough. Smaller companies are also often more flexible in their structure and can implement new solutions more quickly than large corporations with long decision-making processes.
Do you understand the implementation concerns? For example, data protection?
Data protection is definitely an important issue and should be taken seriously. It is advisable to use European providers or GDPR-compliant tools wherever possible. When working with large AI models such as ChatGPT, data should be anonymised as much as possible to minimise risks. As far as costs are concerned, many AI tools can now be booked very flexibly – often as a monthly subscription that can be cancelled. The same applies to the issue of loss of control: if you consciously select and test the tools, you generally retain full control and can switch or cancel at any time if necessary.
However, it is also important to have healthy expectations: AI is not a magic wand that solves all problems at the touch of a button. It works best when you work with clear tasks, processes or questions – especially for recurring activities. If you start with realistic expectations, you will quickly see initial successes and can build on them.
What advice would you give to people who want to implement AI today?
I would recommend taking an hour to think about it: Which tasks do I repeat on a daily or weekly basis? Which tasks take a lot of time or get in the way of my day-to-day work? You can then go into ChatGPT or a similar tool and ask how you could simplify or automate these tasks. Many ideas can be implemented directly – without an IT department, just with an AI assistant and a clear goal in mind.
Thank you Jonas Lackmann !
This article has been translated.
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