How AI is Transforming Trade Services: Insights from Simpro’s Jason Penkethman

The trade services industry—including HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and fire and safety—has long relied on hands-on expertise and manual workflows. But as customer expectations grow and labor shortages persist, digital transformation has become essential. In a recent episode of the AI & Data Driven Leadership Podcast, Dean Guida sat down with Jason Penkethman, Chief Product & Technology Officer at Simpro, to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping trade operations. Their conversation dives into practical AI applications, overcoming adoption challenges, and the vital role of data quality and human expertise in creating meaningful AI-driven solutions.

How AI is Streamlining Trade Services

Trade companies are burdened with administrative tasks that consume valuable technician time—scheduling, quoting, invoicing, inventory tracking, and compliance documentation. Jason Penkethman explains that these repetitive processes not only slow down operations but also create opportunities for errors and miscommunication. By applying AI, businesses can automate these tasks, allowing technicians to focus on their core trade skills while office staff benefit from faster, more accurate workflows.

Simpro’s AI tools, for example, generate clear, professional job notes from existing data and historical customer information, drastically reducing the time spent on manual documentation. Office staff also leverage AI assistants to automatically extract and populate data fields from invoices and forms, minimizing errors and accelerating processing. The seamless integration of AI ensures that teams don’t need to learn entirely new systems—automation becomes a natural part of daily workflows.

Beyond automation, Jason emphasizes the importance of building AI solutions that users trust. By combining modular software integration, structured data, and human-in-the-loop controls, Simpro ensures that AI enhances productivity without replacing human judgment. This approach not only improves accuracy and efficiency but also drives adoption by giving technicians and office staff confidence in the technology’s value.

About Jason Penkethman

Jason Penkethman is the Chief Product & Technology Officer at Simpro, bringing over 35 years of experience in electronics, embedded systems, and SaaS development. He is passionate about leveraging AI and data-driven solutions to streamline operations, empower technical teams, and create measurable business impact across the trade services industry.

About Simpro

Simpro provides software solutions tailored for trade service businesses, including project management, field service automation, and integrated reporting tools. By embedding AI and automation into everyday workflows, Simpro helps companies optimize efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance customer experiences.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Simpro Website

• Jason Penkethman LinkedIn

Key Episode Highlights

• How AI reduces administrative burdens in trade services.

• Simpro’s “easy button” for generating professional job notes in the field.

• AI assistants for office staff to automate data entry and invoicing.

• The importance of structured, high-quality data for AI reliability.

• Strategies to drive adoption among technicians through trust and transparency.

Conclusion

The conversation between Dean Guida and Jason Penkethman provides a clear roadmap for trade service leaders looking to implement AI effectively. By focusing on practical applications, structured data, and user trust, companies can enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and empower teams without sacrificing the human expertise at the heart of the trade. This episode demonstrates that AI is not a replacement for skilled technicians but a tool to amplify their impact and streamline operations.

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