How AI Voice and Chat Are Changing the Home Service Game

The trades are facing massive change, and the biggest shift might be happening when your phones start ringing. In this episode of Catalyst for the Trades, host Jennifer Bagley welcomes Brad Scruggs, co-founder, president, and chief marketing officer of Zyra Talk. Together, they reveal how AI-powered voice and chat aren’t just reducing missed calls. They’re driving real revenue, automating the grunt work, and changing how winning contractors compete and grow.

If you’re curious, skeptical, or just know you should be doing more with AI, this is the episode that pulls back the curtain. Brad shares exactly what’s working for thousands of contractors right now, plus insights into where the industry is headed as agents and automation get smarter every day.

Why You Should Listen

Brad Scruggs isn’t just another software exec. His team has been on the front lines of AI in the trades for over a decade. This episode arms you with first-hand knowledge on what AI can (and can’t) do for home service businesses right now. Find out how to use these tools to close more jobs, save time, and deliver a better customer experience than you ever thought possible.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How AI Voice Is Replacing Missed Calls and Voicemail for Good
  Learn why even one missed call could be costing your business thousands, and how AI voice agents can answer every call (day or night) in real time. You’ll get the lowdown on why voicemail is dead, why speed-to-lead is non-negotiable, and how “human in the loop” escalation works.
• The Evolution from Basic Bots to Conversational AI
  Brad shares how early chatbots were linear, “Zapier-style” if/then automations, and why today’s AI is agentic—analyzing intent, sentiment, and even retraining itself based on real conversations. Find out how this new wave of AI actually gets smarter as it works.
• How Deep Integrations Unlock Real ROI
  You’ll hear why AI is only as powerful as the platforms it connects to, and how integrating with FSMs like ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, and Service Fusion can automate everything, from booking to dispatch to customer records, without changing your process.
• What Happens When AI Agents Talk to Other AI Agents
  AI isn’t just changing how you interact with customers; it’s changing how machines talk to each other. Get a look into the (sometimes hilarious) world of agent-to-agent communication, and what you need to know as AI agents start calling your office.
• Real Data on ROI: From Call Volume to Revenue
  Brad breaks down true numbers from the field, including how much revenue top contractors are earning from AI-powered calls (think $600,000/year from just a few thousand monthly investment). He’ll show you how to track and prove ROI beyond just “cool tech.”
• Why Customers Now Accept, and Even Prefer, AI
  The numbers don’t lie: More callers are comfortable with AI handling their requests, especially when it means instant answers and no more endless IVR prompts. Learn what to say (and what to avoid) in your call scripts.‍
• How AI Is Raising the Bar for Teams and Talent
  With AI doing the heavy lifting on routine calls and scheduling, your team can focus on higher-value tasks, better customer service—and yes, even reduce burnout and turnover.