We’re diving deep into how AI and automation are reshaping the excavation and septic industry. If you’re an excavation or septic contractor aiming to scale past a million dollars in revenue, you’re in the right place.

The Harsh Reality for Contractors in 2025

Let’s start with what’s really happening in your market right now.

Competition is increasing. Every county, every town — from “Chuck in a truck” to large regional firms — is fighting for the same jobs. Customers are no longer waiting days for callbacks or quotes. They expect instant responses, easy scheduling, and clear communication.

Homeowners and developers want convenience. They’re getting used to seeing pricing online, booking directly from a website, and getting confirmation within minutes. If your business isn’t adapting to that expectation, you’re already behind.

The reality is simple: missed calls equal missed revenue.

If a prospect fills out your form and doesn’t hear from you until the next day, chances are they’ve already hired someone else. The businesses that dominate their markets are those that respond first, qualify fast, and book jobs immediately — and they’re doing it with AI and automation.

Here is a webinar about it:

Who Is Scott Andreasen?

I’ve spent more than 15 years helping contractors across North America grow their businesses with digital marketing systems that actually work.

I’ve spoken at the NOWRA Mega Conference for wastewater and septic professionals and published two books for the industry:

• Excavation & Septic Internet Marketing Profits
  

• Excavation & Septic Leads: Your Playbook for Turning Strangers Into Ready-to-Buy Clients

• At Excavation Marketing Pros, we exclusively serve excavation and septic companies. That means everything we do — from AI systems to ad campaigns — is built for your exact type of business.

Why AI Is Changing the Game

AI isn’t replacing your crew — it’s replacing missed opportunities.

It’s giving contractors 24/7 availability to respond to leads, qualify customers, and book appointments — without needing to hire more office staff.

We’re talking about real, human-like conversations that happen automatically through text, web chat, or even phone calls. Whether it’s 9 a.m. or 9 p.m., AI ensures no lead slips through the cracks.

Every minute saved in follow-up is a minute gained in revenue. That’s not theory — that’s math.

How AI Works in a Contractor Business

Here’s the basic flow that’s driving real results right now:

1. A lead comes in (through your website, ad, or Facebook Messenger).
   
   

2. AI responds immediately, asking prequalified questions.
   
   

3. The system books the appointment, based on your calendar availability.
   
   

4. Reminders are sent automatically via text and email.
   
   

This used to require an office manager or receptionist. Now, it’s handled by automation that runs on Google Sheets, your CRM, and AI tools you already have access to.

You don’t need $100,000 in software or a development team — it’s all plug-and-play with systems like GoHighLevel, Zapier, and Make.com.

For example, AI can look up a septic customer’s tank size from your Google Sheet, calculate the correct pumping price, and schedule the job automatically. It’s all connected.

Real Example: AI Appointment Booking in Action

In one of our client demos, an AI voice bot called a prospect who had just requested a quote online.

The conversation went like this:

“Hi Larry, this is Scott, the AI assistant from [Company]. I got your request for a septic system consultation — do you have two minutes to talk?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Are you the property owner where the system will be installed?”

“Yes, but I’m not sure I can put one in because I’m on city sewer.”

“That’s a great question — our specialist can help you figure that out. How many bedrooms does the home have?”

The AI continues qualifying, confirms the details, and books a meeting for the next morning.

By the end, the customer was completely satisfied — and the estimator now had all the info needed before the call.

This happens automatically. Hundreds of times a month.

Why Homeowners Don’t Care If It’s AI

Many contractors worry that “people won’t like talking to a robot.” But here’s the truth — they don’t care.

What homeowners care about is speed.

They want to know someone’s handling their problem now. Whether that’s AI or your office admin doesn’t matter.

That’s why companies using voice AI and chatbots are seeing 58% higher lead-to-job conversion rates and massive drops in missed calls.

AI Across Every Channel

AI isn’t limited to your website. It can operate across every touchpoint of your business:

• Website Chatbots: Greet visitors instantly and convert browsers into leads.
  
  

• SMS Conversations: Text back new leads or missed calls with human-like messages.
  
  

• Facebook & Instagram Messenger: Auto-qualify and schedule from social ads.
  
  

• Email Follow-ups: Respond to replies intelligently, keeping leads warm.
  
  

• Voicemail & Call Tracking: Summarize call transcripts instantly with AI so you can prioritize follow-ups.
  
  

These all work together, creating a multi-channel system that never sleeps.

Real-World Results: From Missed Leads to Booked Jobs

Here’s a real example from a septic company that partnered with us:

• Before AI, 40% of their ad leads were lost to competitors due to slow follow-up.
  
  

• After implementing AI callbacks and SMS automation, their lead-to-job rate jumped from 21% to 58%.
  
  

• That translated into 3–5 additional installations per month — with no new hires.
  
  

Speed wins. Always.

The Data Doesn’t Lie

If you’re still wondering whether this matters, here are the hard numbers:

• 78% of buyers choose the vendor who responds first.
  
  

• Responding within one minute boosts conversions by 391%.
  
  

• Responding within five minutes makes leads 8x more likely to qualify.
  
  

• Yet only 7% of companies respond that fast.
  
  

That means 93% of your competitors are still leaving money on the table.

Those who adopt AI early will own their local markets.

AI and Your Paid Ads ROI

AI doesn’t just improve response time — it multiplies your ad ROI.

Think about it: you spend thousands on Google or Facebook ads to generate leads, but if you take hours (or days) to call them back, you’re wasting that budget.

When AI responds in real time, it:

• Converts leads before they go cold.
  
  

• Builds trust instantly through consistent communication.
  
  

• Increases your total number of qualified appointments.
  
  

Businesses using AI-driven scheduling are seeing 318% ROI within six months and 27–120% revenue growth.

How to Start Implementing AI in Your Excavation or Septic Business

You don’t need to overhaul your entire operation overnight. Start small and scale.

Here’s your roadmap:

1. Audit your current follow-up time.
   Measure how long it takes to respond to new leads. Anything over 5 minutes is too slow.
   
   

2. Identify your biggest bottleneck.
   Is it missed calls? Slow form follow-ups? Lack of appointment scheduling?
   
   

3. Implement one AI tool.
   Start with a missed call text-back or website chatbot.
   
   

4. Integrate your calendar and CRM.
   Tools like GoHighLevel or ServiceTitan can sync automatically with Google Calendar or Outlook.
   
   

5. Track and improve.
   Once the system runs smoothly, scale it across SMS, email, and calls.
   
   

The goal isn’t to replace your people — it’s to empower them.

Overcoming Common Objections

“My customers won’t like robots.”
They won’t care if it’s a robot — they’ll care if you respond first.

“I’m too busy to learn AI.”
That’s exactly why you need AI. It works for you while you’re on job sites or estimating.

“It might say the wrong thing.”
AI can be fully customized to your tone, services, and policies. You control what it says and how it says it.

The Future of Excavation and Septic Marketing

AI adoption among service businesses is doubling every year. What’s optional now will soon be expected — just like having a website or a Google Business Profile.

The early adopters in excavation and septic will dominate search results, fill their calendars faster, and deliver better customer experiences — without hiring more staff.

The future belongs to the companies who respond first.

Final Takeaway: The Fastest to Respond Wins

If there’s one thing to remember from today’s episode, it’s this:

Speed to lead is everything.

AI helps you respond instantly, qualify accurately, and book efficiently — 24/7.

Whether you’re a one-man crew or managing multiple teams, the businesses that adopt AI now will own their market in the next 12 months.

So start small, stay consistent, and keep your pipeline full.

Join the Movement

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, make sure to like, subscribe, and leave a review.

For more resources to grow your excavation or septic business — including free templates, AI tools, and access to our mastermind community — visit ExcavationMarketingPros.com.

Let’s keep your phone ringing, your equipment running, and your business booming.