Building a smarter tech stack for sustainability

By Jesse Sanchez. 

How roofing and metal contractors are rethinking software strategies to improve visibility, integration and long-term performance across their businesses. 

During this MetalTalk™, the discussion centered on how contractors can use a well-structured tech stack to support growth, improve operations and strengthen customer relationships. The conversation featured Estimating Edge and Dave Chapman, whose perspective reflects more than two decades of direct experience working with contractors across the country. 

Dave framed the concept of a tech stack in practical terms. While the phrase originated in software development, he explained that it now refers to “the group of applications that a company uses to basically achieve their business objectives.” For contractors, that group has expanded significantly. What once consisted of office software and accounting tools has evolved into a connected ecosystem that may include customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, estimating, scheduling, payroll, safety and customer communication systems. 

That expansion brings opportunity but also complexity. Integration and visibility ranked high among contractor pain points during the live audience poll, reinforcing Dave’s emphasis on compatibility. “You want to make sure that the different parts of your stack play nice with each other,” he said, noting that direct integrations and open APIs help prevent data silos and duplicated effort. 

Ease of use emerged as another critical factor. Dave cautioned that even powerful software fails if teams cannot use it intuitively. He also highlighted implementation as an often-overlooked differentiator, explaining that some platforms leave customers to figure things out alone. “You can have the best software ever, but if it’s not intuitive, if it’s not easy to use, then you’re not going to get what you need out of it.” 

Growth, Dave emphasized, is where the value of a connected tech stack becomes most apparent. Automation helps contractors manage more work without automatically adding headcount. “Having the right tech stack in this case is going to help you with that growth,” he said, particularly when systems like CRM and accounting software communicate seamlessly. 

Barriers still exist. Dave pointed to reluctance, lack of information and insecurity as common obstacles, along with past negative experiences that make contractors hesitant to try again. Yet he sees progress, especially as younger, more tech-curious leaders enter the industry and turn to peer groups, associations and trusted providers for guidance. 

Customer experience also benefits directly from stronger technology adoption. Faster response times, professional proposals, transparent scheduling and easy payment processing all contribute to trust and referrals. As Dave put it, these tools help contractors look more professional while operating more efficiently behind the scenes. 

For contractors evaluating next steps, Dave recommended starting with an honest assessment of existing systems. Many companies, he noted, use only a fraction of their current software’s capabilities. Follow-up training, user conferences and conversations with existing providers can often unlock value before adding new tools. 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about how building a connected, intentional tech stack can help contractors grow efficiently and confidently in a changing industry!