Automations sound complicated. They aren't. A good automation is just "when this happens, send that." Wire up the right five and you'll claw back a full workday every week — without hiring an admin.

1. Appointment confirmation SMS

Trigger: a job is scheduled. Action: text the homeowner with the date, the arrival window, and the tech's name. Cuts no-shows and the "wait, you're coming today?" calls.

2. On-the-way text when the tech departs

Trigger: tech marks the previous job complete. Action: text the next customer an ETA with a tracking link. The Amazon-package experience, for roofing.

3. Invoice-sent follow-up

Trigger: invoice sent more than three days ago, still unpaid. Action: send a polite reminder with the secure payment link. You'll get paid days earlier without an awkward phone call.

4. Review request after job completion

Trigger: job marked complete. Action: wait 24 hours, then text a one-tap review link. Sending it while the work is fresh is the difference between 12 reviews a year and 200.

5. Lead acknowledgement from your website

Trigger: someone submits the quote form on your contractor website. Action: instant email back with your service area and a calendar link to book a walkthrough — and an SMS to the owner so the lead doesn't cool off in an inbox.

Start with one

Don't turn on all five at once. Pick the one that fixes your loudest pain — usually invoice follow-ups or the website lead acknowledgement — and let it run for a week before you add the next.