Generative AI isn’t just a hot topic for venture capital or a playground for coders—it’s now quietly reshaping everyday services like plumbing, HVAC and other essential trades. Even as Silicon Valley chases high-level tech ambitions, a San Francisco startup named Netic is stepping in to update old-school systems by automating customer outreach, technician scheduling, and even predicting when emergency services might be needed.
Backed by a $20 million investment from Greylock and Founders Fund, Netic is tackling issues that affect us all. McKinsey reports that global investment in construction and engineering tech surged to $50 billion in just two years, yet sectors like home services still wrestle with outdated, manual processes. If you’ve ever been frustrated by wildly different quotes for the same repair work, you’ll appreciate the potential of standardised pricing models. By benchmarking regional data and historical trends, AI could help service providers compete on reliability and clarity rather than on vague estimates.
But there’s more than pricing at stake. Homeowners often find themselves left in the dark when renovations or repairs run behind schedule. Imagine having real-time updates, clear timelines, and even permit tracking—all at your fingertips. AI can turn your home maintenance into a proactive process, serving as a digital assistant that logs repair history, tracks service intervals, and sends you timely reminders. This shift not only builds trust between homeowners and service providers but also encourages ongoing, long-term relationships over one-off fixes.
For investors and anyone keeping an eye on tech’s practical impact, these subtle changes highlight a trend that’s all about making everyday life smoother. In an industry that has long overlooked the basics, smarter, more transparent systems could be the key to modernising home services and ensuring that essential tasks run as efficiently as our cities deserve.
