AI operations for electrical contractors, $1M–$20M
“We sent the bid and never heard back. We did the extra work and never got the signature. The after-hours call went to the next guy.”
Relaycairn builds done-for-you follow-up systems for owner-operated electrical contractors, so estimates, change orders, service calls, GC status updates and invoices get chased on schedule, whether or not anyone had time that day.
Typical engagements run $5k–$25k, scoped and quoted after a diagnostic. No guaranteed results: what we build depends on your tools, your process and how much of it is already written down.
Where the leaks are
Five places money stalls in an electrical shop
None of these are exotic problems. They are the jobs that fall between the estimator, the PM, the office and the field, so they only get done when someone remembers. That is the work we systematize.
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Estimate follow-up cadence
- The leak
- Bids go out, then silence. Follow-up depends on the estimator’s memory, and the GC or homeowner picks whoever called back.
- What we build
- A follow-up cadence per bid type (GC bid, owner direct, residential) with drafted messages, reminders to the right person, and a simple “open bids” view.
- You stay in control
- You set the timing and tone, and can require approval before anything is sent.
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Change-order approval chasing
- The leak
- Extra scope gets done in the field, the paperwork lags, and the approval is still unsigned when it’s time to bill.
- What we build
- A flow that turns a field note or PM entry into a change-order request draft, sends it to the approver, and reminds them until it is signed or escalated to you.
- You stay in control
- Pricing and scope wording come from your people. The system handles the chasing.
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Service-call intake and dispatch handoff
- The leak
- Calls and web inquiries after hours or during a busy day go cold. Details are lost between the first message and the dispatcher.
- What we build
- Structured intake (who, where, what’s happening, urgency), an immediate acknowledgment to the customer, and a clean summary routed to whoever is on call or dispatching.
- You stay in control
- A person makes the dispatch decision. The system captures and hands off; it does not diagnose electrical issues or give safety advice.
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Inspection and permit status updates to GCs
- The leak
- GCs and owners keep asking “where are we on the inspection?” and your PM becomes a full-time status desk.
- What we build
- Status updates drafted and sent from information your team enters (scheduled, passed, correction needed, rescheduled), with a standard format per GC.
- You stay in control
- We relay status your team provides. We do not interpret code or decide what an inspection requires.
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Invoice and retainage reminders
- The leak
- Invoices age quietly and retainage is forgotten after substantial completion because nobody owns the follow-up.
- What we build
- Reminder sequences by invoice status and customer type, plus a retainage watch list that flags items for your office to chase on the dates you define.
- You stay in control
- Reminders follow the terms you supply. We do not give legal or lien advice.
How an engagement works
Diagnostic, build, handoff
Fixed scope, written down before you commit to the build. You should always know what you are getting and what you are not.
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1
Diagnostic
We walk through how bids, change orders, service calls, status updates and invoices actually move today, including the workarounds. We check which of your tools can be connected and which need a lighter route. You get a ranked list of leaks and a written scope with a fixed quote.
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2
Build
We build the agreed workflows on top of the tools you already use where access allows, test them with your real examples, and run them with your approval step switched on until you trust them.
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3
Handoff
You get plain-language documentation, a walkthrough for your office and PMs, and a clear list of what to adjust yourself and what to send back to us. Nothing runs that you can’t see or switch off.
Typical engagement size: $5k–$25k
The range reflects scope, not a price list. Your quote is fixed after the diagnostic.
- Toward the lower end: one or two workflows on tools you already have, with simple data access.
- Toward the middle: three or four workflows, shared tracking, and more custom message rules.
- Toward the upper end: all five areas, multiple systems to connect, several approvers or crews, and more training and documentation.
Results vary by business. We do not guarantee revenue recovery, win rates or collection outcomes.
Sample workflow
Before and after: one bid, one follow-up path
An illustrative example of how a single estimate might be handled. It is a generic sketch for explanation, not a client result, and the timings shown are example cadence settings, not measured outcomes.
Before Illustrative
- Estimator emails the bid to the GC.
- Estimator plans to “check back next week.”
- Two bids close the same day. Nobody follows up.
- GC awards to a bidder who called back.
- You learn the result when the award list comes out.
After Illustrative
- Estimator sends the bid and logs it as open.
- Example: confirmation of receipt goes out the same day.
- Example: follow-up drafted on day 3 and again on day 8, routed to the estimator.
- Estimator approves, edits or skips each message.
- No reply by your cutoff: the bid is flagged for a personal call from you or the estimator.
- Outcome (won, lost, no response) is recorded for your review.
Day counts, steps and approval rules are all configurable. The same pattern, with different triggers and recipients, applies to change orders, status updates and invoice reminders.
FAQ
Tools, access and what we need from you
What tools do you work with?
We start from what you use now: your estimating or job software, accounting, email, calendar, phone or texting, and spreadsheets. Whether a given tool can be connected depends on what access it offers (exports, API, email parsing, or manual entry). We confirm that in the diagnostic, and we don’t assume an integration works until it has been tested with your account. If a tool can’t be connected, we say so and propose a lighter route, such as a shared inbox or a simple tracking sheet.
What data access do you need?
The minimum needed for the workflows we agree on. Typically that is read access to open bids, change orders or invoices, plus permission to send messages from an address or number you approve. We prefer separate, revocable logins or credentials over sharing your owner account, and you can remove access at any time. We’ll document exactly what each workflow can see and do.
What do I have to provide?
- About an hour or two for the diagnostic conversation, and someone from the office or PM side who knows the real process.
- Access to the tools involved, as described above.
- A few real examples: recent bids, change orders, service inquiries and invoices (sensitive details can be removed).
- Your rules: how long to wait, who approves what, and what tone to use with GCs and customers.
- A named person who reviews drafts during the first weeks.
Does this replace my estimator, dispatcher or office staff?
No. It handles reminders, drafting, routing and tracking so your people spend time on calls, judgment and relationships. Decisions on pricing, scope, scheduling, safety and dispatch stay with your team.
Do you provide electrical, licensing or code expertise?
No. We are not an electrical contractor and don’t advise on licensing, code, permitting requirements or safety. We build the communication and follow-up systems around your process, using information and rules your team provides.
Can you guarantee a return?
No, and be wary of anyone who does. We can show you where the leaks are and build the systems to close them. What you recover depends on your bids, your customers and how consistently the system is used. Any figures on this page are illustrative.
How do I get started?
Fill in the short intake below. It tells me your size, current software and biggest pain, and I’ll reply by email at julien@relaycairn.com to set up the diagnostic conversation. If you prefer, you can also email that address directly.
Qualifying intake
Tell us where it hurts
Four minutes of detail now makes the diagnostic conversation far more useful. There is no obligation, and your answers are used only to assess fit and reply to you.
Prefer email? julien@relaycairn.com