New AI-assisted smart cameras and vehicle telematics increase technician safety, reduce costs and optimize workflow FieldRoutes, a ServiceTitan product and leading cloud-based and mobile SaaS platform for field service businesses, today announced an integration of ServiceTitan Fleet Pro with FieldRoutes’ software. This new, integrated solution enables pest control companies to manage their fleet more efficiently, leading to greater cost Read more
Industry News
New AI-assisted smart cameras and vehicle telematics increase technician safety, reduce costs and optimize workflow
FieldRoutes, a ServiceTitan product and leading cloud-based and mobile SaaS platform for field service businesses, today announced an integration of ServiceTitan Fleet Pro with FieldRoutes’ software. This new, integrated solution enables pest control companies to manage their fleet more efficiently, leading to greater cost savings, improving driver safety improvements, and ultimately increasing ROI.
With the new integration, FieldRoutes customers can directly leverage Fleet Pro to manage and oversee operations across the entire fleet management lifecycle. Pest control businesses are able to access real-time and historical fleet data from a vehicle’s GPS system and AI-assisted smart cameras, which can streamline costs and improve overall performance. Using Fleet Pro can also help technicians minimize accidents by nearly 75%, reduce distracted driving, and encourage regular vehicle maintenance.
“Our customers are facing increasingly complex challenges, from staffing shortages to fluctuating fuel costs, adding pressure to their roles,” says Mark Tipton, CEO of Aspire Software. “Business owners have less time to focus on strategically planning daily routes, when to schedule vehicle maintenance, or where to cut costs. This integration enhances Aspire’s existing solutions, empowering our customers to meet the evolving market, ensure both driver and community safety, and propel them forward.”
Key capabilities of ServiceTitan’s Fleet Pro include:
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Eliminate Side Jobs – Detect and alert unauthorized vehicle usage through GPS tracking and geofencing.
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Maximize Billable Hours – Receive regular service reminders to stay on top of maintenance and prevent unexpected breakdowns.
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Prevent Unsafe Driving – Stop distracted driving with real-time, in-cabin driver alerts.
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Protect Against Liabilities – Leverage video event capture in real-time with in-cabin alerts via text and email.
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Facilitate Driver Coaching – Driver scorecards track technicians’ distance, drive time, idle time, fuel use, and unsafe driving behavior.
Faced with continued labor shortages, increasing customer demands, and a focus on drivers’ safety, businesses are adopting these tools to stay competitive in the field, cut costs, and improve performance. According to a 2024 Fleet Technology Trends Report, 70% of fleets use fleet technology, with 50% for managing field service and workforce (scheduling, dispatch, communication). Of the fleets surveyed, 77% using video technology protected themselves from false claims, 48% lowered accident costs, and 44% reduced insurance costs.
“Our customers rely more frequently on real-time data and insights from their vehicles and fleets to make better-informed business decisions and enjoy a competitive edge,” says Anmol Bhasin, CTO of ServiceTitan. “We are committed to equipping contractors and technicians with the tools and technology they need to run and grow their businesses safely and efficiently. This new integration with FieldRoutes makes this goal even more attainable.”
For more information about ServiceTitan’s Fleet Pro capabilities, visit: https://www.fieldroutes.com/pro/fleet
The not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate at 4.4% was unchanged in December 2023 from the previous year, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. The analysis also found that 25 states had lower unemployment rates over the same period, four were unchanged Read more
| The not seasonally adjusted national construction unemployment rate at 4.4% was unchanged in December 2023 from the previous year, according to a state-by-state analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. The analysis also found that 25 states had lower unemployment rates over the same period, four were unchanged and 21 states were higher.
National NSA payroll construction employment was 230,000 higher than in December 2022. Starting in February 2022 through December 2023, seasonally adjusted construction employment exceeded its pre-pandemic peak of 7.6 million. In December 2023, 31 states had lower construction unemployment rates compared to December 2019, three states’ rates (Missouri, Oklahoma and Oregon) were unchanged and 16 states had higher rates. “Continued high interest rates have been a drag on plans for new construction,” said Bernard Markstein, president and chief economist of Markstein Advisors, who conducted the analysis for ABC. “However, industry employment remains healthy, as builders work on their backlog of projects and employers fill some of their advertised positions. Nonresidential construction activity and employment is benefiting from federal funding and tax incentives for manufacturers, as well as funding for state and local infrastructure projects.” Recent Month-to-Month FluctuationsNational and state unemployment rates are best evaluated on a year-over-year basis because these industry-specific rates are not seasonally adjusted. However, due to the shifting effects on the economy from high interest rates, energy price fluctuations and other national and international developments, month-to-month comparisons offer insight into the variable economic environment impact from these factors on construction employment. In December 2023, 32 states had lower estimated construction unemployment rates than in November, 17 states had higher rates and one (Maryland) had the same rate. The Top Five StatesThe five states with the lowest estimated NSA construction unemployment rates for December 2023 were:
Maryland and Georgia each posted their lowest December NSA estimated construction unemployment rate on record. Utah had its second lowest December rate, behind last year’s 1.8%. Delaware and Tennessee both came in with their lowest December rate on record for the second time (Delaware matching its December 2018 rate and Tennessee its 2022 rate). Note that Delaware’s unemployment rate is for construction, mining and logging. The Bottom Five StatesThe five states with the highest December 2023 estimated NSA construction unemployment rates were:
Alaska posted its lowest December NSA estimated construction unemployment rate on record and had the largest monthly decline in its rate (down 4.8%). Vermont had the third largest year-over-year drop in its unemployment rate, down 2.6%, behind South Dakota (down 3.4%) and Minnesota (down 2.8%). |
The business development, training and mentoring group believes in encouraging women to enter the trades and sees its sponsorship of the nonprofit as a way to empower women CEO Warrior, a nationally recognized business development, training and implementation organization for the service business industry, announced today that it has become a gold sponsor of Women in Read more
The business development, training and mentoring group believes in encouraging women to enter the trades and sees its sponsorship of the nonprofit as a way to empower women
CEO Warrior, a nationally recognized business development, training and implementation organization for the service business industry, announced today that it has become a gold sponsor of Women in HVACR, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades.
CEO Warrior believes in encouraging women to enter the trades and sees its sponsorship of Women in HVACR as a way to empower women in the home service sector.
CEO Warrior’s gold sponsorship is in the consultant and services category.
“Women in HVACR’s mission of encouraging women to enter the trades is something we at CEO Warrior wholeheartedly support,” CEO Warrior CEO Scott Bohannon said. “It not only empowers women, it helps address one of the biggest hurdles the service industry faces – the labor shortage. We’re very proud of this relationship.”
Sponsorships to Women in HVACR are used to enhance women’s roles in the trades industry by providing education, mentoring and networking opportunities for women who are currently working in the industry and to women who are interested in joining the trades.
“We are thrilled to welcome our new partnership with CEO Warrior, a company that recognizes the invaluable contributions of women in the HVACR industry,” said Women in HVACR Board of Directors Vice President Kristin Gallup, who also serves as the director of product management marketing for Carrier Enterprise. “This collaboration is a testament to the growing importance of supporting and empowering women in the home service sector. As we continue to break barriers and shatter stereotypes, this sponsorship not only enhances our program but also sends a powerful message about the strength and resilience of women. Together, we are creating a more inclusive and diverse future for the HVACR industry, where every woman can thrive and excel.”
CEO Warrior is the highest-level business training and implementation organization in the trades industry. It hires mentors who have thrived in the trades industry to provide training and consultation services to leaders in the trades who want to grow and scale their companies.
“Women in HVACR have commendable diversity and inclusivity initiatives that I am eager to endorse,” said CEO Warrior Director of Business Development Caroline Moriarty. “This collaboration provides CEO Warrior with the opportunity to actively contribute to and create more opportunities for women in the HVACR industry.”
Women in HVACR was formed in 2002 during the AHR Expo after founders Ruth King and Gwen Hoskins began discussing ways to increase female participation in the trades industry while attending the event, held annually in Chicago.
Women in HVACR is an organization that fosters networking, education and mentoring for women in the industry. The group encourages women already in the industry and fosters growth for more females to become involved. The organization has scholarship and mentor programs aimed at helping women establish themselves in the trades.
For more information about CEO Warrior and how to become a member, please visit https://ceowarrior.com/.
For more information about Women in HVACR, visit https://www.womeninhvacr.org/.
Ariston USA, a part of Ariston Group, a global leader in heating and water heating products, announced its official entry into the U.S. Builder Segment by adding industry-leading business development resources. Manufacturing water heaters under the HTP and American Standard Water Heater brands, Ariston USA is positioned to be a full-line supplier of high-value water Read more
Ariston USA, a part of Ariston Group, a global leader in heating and water heating products, announced its official entry into the U.S. Builder Segment by adding industry-leading business development resources.
David Payne will lead Ariston USA’s business development strategy in the U.S. Builder Segment.
Manufacturing water heaters under the HTP and American Standard Water Heater brands, Ariston USA is positioned to be a full-line supplier of high-value water heaters to the residential new construction and remodeling industry. Ariston selected David Payne, an industry veteran, to lead the builder business development strategy.
“David has decades of experience working with builders, contractors, and distributors to bring plumbing and water heating products to this important segment. His wisdom and experience will take us to the next level,” Ariston USA Vice President of Sales Ansley Houston said. “Additionally, we will leverage the experience of Fernando Castro, another water heater industry veteran with a presence on the West Coast. These business leaders are already adding huge value in the formation of our builder business strategy where we intend to aggressively work and grow our market share.”
With a wide range of tank-type water heaters, including a full line of American Standard Hybrid heat pump water heaters built on Ariston 4th generation heat pump technology, Ariston USA is ready to partner with builders by providing leadership in the electrification transition. Ariston Group’s decades of history and experience in the European market will add value for U.S. builders looking for help navigating the changing landscape.
“We are uniquely qualified to provide guidance and share experiences that other water heater manufacturers cannot. Our leadership position in global heat pump water heating translates perfectly for the changing U.S. market,” Ariston USA’s President Andrea Monti Guarnieri said. “We are excited to partner with builders and walk beside them in this journey.”
For the first time, Ariston USA will exhibit at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas from February 27-29, showcasing its full range of high-performance residential water heaters, including heat pump, gas, electric, and stainless steel models. The American Standard Hybrid Water Heaters will be presented in the New Product Innovation section of the exhibition. This hybrid features the industry’s only iMemory algorithm designed to learn a home’s hot water usage and keep hot water ready while using minimal energy.
The latest offering from BDR, the training and business coaching authority, connects industry teams with resources for maximizing opportunities in their market Business Development Resources (BDR), the training and business coaching authority for home services industry professionals, announces the launch of BDR U+, a flexible training voucher program that allows businesses of all sizes to unlock their team’s Read more
The latest offering from BDR, the training and business coaching authority, connects industry teams with resources for maximizing opportunities in their market
Business Development Resources (BDR), the training and business coaching authority for home services industry professionals, announces the launch of BDR U+, a flexible training voucher program that allows businesses of all sizes to unlock their team’s potential and maximize opportunities in their market.
Business Development Resources (BDR) announces the launch of a flexible training voucher program that allows businesses of all sizes to unlock their team’s potential and maximize opportunities in their market.
An extension of the BDR University program, which has provided training to thousands of contractors across North America over the last decade, BDR U+ is an annual voucher-based service that allows business owners and managers to tap into BDR’s industry-leading knowledge base while locking in training for their team at the best rate possible.
“In a rapidly changing and evolving industry, staying ahead isn’t a luxury,” said Matt MacArthur, Sr. Vice President of Training and Marketing at BDR. “Every company has areas to focus on that will help them remain leaders in their market, from securing more jobs, improving efficiency, retaining team members, and consistently delivering high-quality service and products for your customers. With BDR U+, companies can leverage training to keep their teams informed and equipped to stay ahead of the competition, all while managing the investment costs of an ongoing training program.”
Classes in the BDR U+ catalog feature training for the entire team, including owners and managers, dispatchers, technicians, home comfort specialists, customer care coordinators and more. The diversity and flexibility of BDR U+ courses allow team members to choose training sessions that best align with their schedules and the company’s business needs.
BDR U+ is available in three packages to meet the needs of every business size and stage, from companies introducing their first training program to larger businesses enhancing a proven training system.
For more information about BDR U+, visit https://www.bdrco.com/bdr-university-plus/.