Addressing the AI Training Gap in HVAC

Despite this widespread use, training is the primary barrier to adoption, outweighing security and cost concerns. 

Additionally, the survey shows that apprentices are 23% more likely than senior techs to rely on AI for procedures like estimating. With more people recognizing the stability of the trades, tech-savvy contractors will be the ones who retain new workers. 

Colin Piper, chief marketing officer for BuildOps, spoke with ACHR NEWS about these barriers and what contractors can do to overcome them. 

ACHR NEWS: What are the biggest hurdles to overcome when adopting AI?  

Colin Piper (CP): The biggest hurdle isn’t actually the technology — it’s the culture shift and the infrastructure behind it. We often see “fragmented systems” where data is siloed; about 30% of leaders specifically cite these fragmented systems as a major drag on their momentum.  

My philosophy is “performance first.” If you haven’t fixed your baseline data analytics machine, even the flashiest AI tool won’t deliver a measurable impact. I call the work of cleaning up backend systems “boring magic.” It’s not flashy, but without that foundation, you’re just layering tech on top of a broken process. 

ACHR NEWS: How is AI affecting the latest generation of apprentices and new workers?  

CP: It is a massive generational adaptation. Our data shows apprentices are 23% more likely than senior technicians to rely on AI for tasks like estimating. For this new generation, these tools are the baseline expectation. We see workers using AI for jobsite search or chat; about 43% of contractors are already doing this, which allows a junior tech to access decades of institutional knowledge instantly. It reduces the “intimidation factor” of the trades by providing a digital safety net. 

ACHR NEWS: Can you talk about the office vs. field divide and how it affects HVAC contractors?  

CP: There’s a natural friction because operations are more complex than ever — 74% of contractors say so. While the office is often focused on the “boring magic” of systems, the field is dealing with rising burnout, which 69% of teams are reporting. This divide is more nuanced than people think; the field isn’t resisting tech, they are pulling us forward because 80% believe AI will be essential within three years. AI bridges the gap by automating the “busywork,” like automated compliance tracking (40%) or recordkeeping (38%), removing the paperwork burden from the technician. 

ACHR NEWS: In what ways are contractors using AI to help hire new workers?  

CP: The industry is facing a structural labor shortage with over 500,000 unfilled trade jobs, yet HVAC contractors are reporting a 63% surge in demand for electrification. You simply cannot hire your way out of that gap; you have to “tech” your way out.  

By leading with an “AI-first” identity, contractors make the craft more attractive to a tech-savvy generation. Using AI to handle 47% of estimating or 80% of manual entry for PO scanning means new hires focus on the work they actually enjoy, which is a powerful recruiting tool. 

ACHR NEWS: What piece of advice would you give contractors for AI and training?  

CP: Start small and make it concrete. Use AI for document review, simple estimating, [and] as a review partner on jobs you’re already running. The goal isn’t transformation out of the gate — it’s finding the first place where it obviously saves someone time. That moment exists for every contractor. Once a seasoned tech has their “aha” moment with AI, the resistance dissolves fast. 

From there, don’t get distracted by bolt-on features. Move toward a System of Action — a platform that doesn’t just store your data, but uses it to trigger work, automate compliance, and guide your techs in real-time. If your tools don’t talk to each other, training will fail because the experience is sloppy. Get your data clean on the back end, and adoption follows.  

And practice what you sell: use AI internally for your own operations before you expect your field team to master it. The training investment pays back quickly. You just have to make it.