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Adams and Reese Partner and Construction Team Co-Leader Trent Cotney was interviewed by RoofersCoffeeShop on how artificial intelligence may play a larger role in determining profitability in the roofing industry and how companies need to integrate the technology into their operations to keep up with competitors.
Cotney was interviewed by Heidi Ellsworth – a Partner with RoofersCoffeeShop, HJE Consulting, and Chair for National Women in Roofing.
“Where I’ve seen it [AI] be implemented already is within marketing, customer service, automated responses, things like that. The one thing I would say with AI is it’s still developing,” Cotney said. … “Where I see it going in roofing, obviously beyond marketing, customer service, is I think AI will play a bigger role in helping determine profitability. So, one thing I could see is implementing, for example, if you’re doing storm restoration work, implementing AI to determine where you stand the most chance of being able to get the most profit.”
Cotney said that AI can play a role in companies performing storm restoration, residential construction, and commercial construction – estimating and determining roof options, and roof system options based on configuration of roofing. “I see it integrating with a lot of existing tools. Ultimately, I think the efficiencies that AI creates are going to help reduce some of the labor issues. Maybe not the roof installation itself until we get some better technology to do that or easier systems to install. But I think at the home office, you’re going to see a significant usage of AI and if you’re not using it, you’re going to get left behind.”
Cotney added: “We desperately need technology in roofing, desperately beyond what we already have. AI will combine with automation, and that’s going to usher in the sort of new era, the new industrial revolution, if you think of it that way.”
Cotney is a leading member of one of the largest construction practices in the country with Adams and Reese’s roster of more than 80 attorneys serving the construction industry.
A Partner in the Adams and Reese Tampa office, Cotney represents construction and infrastructure clients, including general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, architects, engineers, roofers, developers, and other professionals. He is an EU arbitrator for construction-related disputes. Cotney is also experienced in construction litigation and arbitration, including OSHA defense, lien law, bond law, bid protests, and construction document review and drafting.
Cotney is ranked among the top construction attorneys in Florida by Chambers USA and ranked by Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers in Florida, Texas, Mid-South, and Illinois. Cotney is a board-certified construction lawyer licensed in eight states and Washington, DC.