How Tech-Savvy Contractors Will Win: E-Commerce, AI, and the Lean Business Revolution

The home services industry is experiencing a seismic shift. AI, e-commerce, automation, and changing consumer expectations are rewriting the rules faster than most contractors can keep up. If you’re still running your business the way you did five years ago, you’re at serious risk of being left behind.

In this episode of Catalyst for the Trades, hosts Jennifer Bagley and Chuck Staszkiewicz sit down with Paul Redman, leader at Contractor Commerce, to decode the future of contracting and how the right mindset and tech can be a catalyst instead of a threat.

From lean operations to membership models, automated proposals to the rise of tech-enabled startups, this episode is essential listening for anyone who wants to keep growing as disruption barrels toward the trades.

Why You Should Listen

Paul Redman isn’t just predicting the future; he’s building it. His work with Contractor Commerce gives him a front-row seat to the companies who are thriving through change—and those getting buried by it. This episode is packed with practical insights for:

• Contractors overwhelmed by new tech and AI
• Leaders wondering how to stay profitable in the age of private equity and consolidation
• Anyone who wants to cut costs, boost member value, and deliver experiences customers actually talk about

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1. The Rise of the “Lean, Mean, Efficient Machine”
   Discover how tech-enabled contractors are running high-margin, low-cost businesses, often without the traditional overhead. Learn what the next generation of owners is doing differently (and how you can catch up).
2. From Membership Fatigue to Essential Value
   Paul reveals how smart contractors are making memberships indispensable through filter delivery and other real-world value outlasting the subscription fatigue hitting consumers everywhere.
3. How AI Is Redefining Service (and Competition)
   Jennifer breaks down how rapid AI advances, from digital agents to automated research, are changing everything from how customers shop to how you interact before a sale. If you want to meet buyers where they are, you need to rethink more than your website.
4. The Danger of Growth Debt
   Paul warns about the risks of “growth debt”—scaling fast but skipping foundational processes. Find out how AI and automation can help you catch up and build a business that will sell for real money.
5. What the Big Players (and Manufacturers) Are Planning
   What happens when manufacturers, utilities, or new home-owning conglomerates cut out the traditional contractor? Jennifer and Paul dig into the looming threat of direct-to-consumer sales—and how to future-proof your company before you lose your seat at the table.
6. Price Pressure and Profit—Why Efficiency Wins
   Chuck and Jennifer explain how efficient operations let you win both on price and margin, even as the giants compete. But don’t sell yourself short. Being lean means you can profit more AND serve customers better.
7. The New Rules of Customer Experience
   In a world with instant reviews, automated call recordings, and smarter, research-driven buyers, your only edge is delivering an exceptional customer experience. The crew shares how to use tech to handle repetitive work, and put your people back where they add the most value.

Practical Tech You Can Use Now From real-time proposal generation to AI-powered content, Chuck and Jennifer outline the tech stack that can turn a two-person office into a powerhouse and level the playing field.