Your First AI Hire: Automation for Construction & Skilled Trades, with Grant Fuellenbach | Episode #0021

2025-08-04
Posted by: Brad Groux
Category: Podcast

What if your next hire wasn’t a person, but an AI-powered toolkit that could free up your team’s time, eliminate repetitive admin, and make your business run smoother than ever?

In this episode of Start Small, Think Big, Brad Groux sits down with Grant Fuellenbach , co-founder of GO First Consulting, to break down how construction, engineering, and skilled trades companies can start automating without the overwhelm.

Grant delivers a no-nonsense framework for integrating AI into daily operations, focused on saving time, reducing stress, and giving business owners back the bandwidth to do what they do best.

The Skilled Trades AI Advantage

Grant has spent years in the trenches with builders, remodelers, and trade professionals. He’s seen the same challenges pop up again and again: overflowing inboxes, missed follow-ups, marketing left on the back burner, and entire days lost to scheduling, quoting, and client communication. The good news? AI can handle much of this right now, if you know where to start.

Your First AI Hire: The 3-Tool Starter Kit

Grant outlines the “first hire” AI stack that any skilled trades business can implement in a week:

Inbox & Email Automation: Use tools like Gmail + Zapier, SaneBox, or Power Automate to auto-sort, flag, and respond to routine messages, so important leads never slip through the cracks.
Client Communication & Project Management: Centralize updates, schedules, and notes in Notion, ClickUp, or Todoist, augmented with ChatGPT for status summaries, follow-up scripts, and quick client responses.
Marketing & Content Creation: Tools like Google NotebookLM, Claude, or Jasper can draft newsletters, blog posts, and social updates that keep your business visible without eating up your nights and weekends.

Beyond Productivity: The Visibility Shift

The group dives into a bigger picture shift in how trades businesses get found online. With Google AI summaries and new search experiences, traditional SEO is evolving fast.

It’s no longer just about ranking, it’s about being summarizableand seen as a local authority.
AI-generated trust assets like process videos, FAQ articles, and project stories can make all the difference.

Key Takeaways from Grant’s Playbook

Start small, pick one repetitive process and automate it.
Build trust in AI tools before scaling adoption.
Use automation to improve client experience, not just cut costs.
Treat your online presence like your job site, clean, professional, and ready for inspection.

Final Thoughts: AI That Works While You Work

As Grant puts it, this isn’t about replacing people, it’s about replacing the grind. The right AI “first hire” can work quietly in the background while your crew focuses on craftsmanship, client relationships, and building a business you’re proud of.

Start small. Think big. And let AI carry the load.

At Digital Meld, we believe that staying curious and thinking boldly is the best way to lead through change. New SSTB episodes are released every Friday across all major podcast platforms (direct links below), with video available on Spotify and YouTube. Follow and subscribe to empower your AI journey!

Summary

In this episode of the Start Small Think Big podcast, host Brad Groux and Grant Fuellenbach discuss the intersection of AI, automation, and the construction industry. They explore the challenges faced by skilled trades in adopting new technologies, the importance of data management, and the potential of AI to streamline operations and enhance customer communication. The conversation highlights the dichotomy between traditional practices and modern technological advancements in the AEC space, emphasizing the need for a cultural shift towards embracing innovation. Grant shares insights on practical applications of AI and automation, offering actionable advice for small businesses looking to improve efficiency and competitiveness.

Keywords

AI, automation, construction, skilled trades, data centers, technology adoption, project management, operational efficiency, customer communication, content marketing

Takeaways

AI can help overcome challenges in construction.
Data management is crucial for operational efficiency.
Many builders are underutilizing available technology.
Start small with automation to see quick wins.
Documentation of processes is essential for improvement.
Customer communication can be enhanced with automation.
AI tools can streamline project management tasks.
Learning from failures is key to success.
Simplifying processes can aid in scaling a business.
AI is a tool, not a magic solution.

Titles

Harnessing AI in Construction
Navigating Technology in Skilled Trades

Sound bites

“Your data is your differentiator.”
“Start small, think big.”
“Just in time learning is the future.”

Resources

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests

02:58 The Dichotomy of Technology in AEC

05:39 AI and Automation in Construction

07:54 The Impact of AI on Data Centers

10:32 Adoption of New Technologies in Skilled Trades

13:18 Operational Chaos in Skilled Trades

16:10 Streamlining Processes with AI

18:49 The Importance of Documentation

21:31 Enhancing Customer Communication

24:16 Tools for Project Management

27:16 Using AI for Research and Analysis

29:58 Content Creation and Marketing Strategies

32:48 Final Thoughts on AI in AEC

01:02:08 The End

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