Practical guide · September 2026 · about 4 minutes · part of 10 practical ways AI could help Irish trades businesses
The customer whose boiler you serviced last year, the garden you planted in spring, the gate you fitted with a warranty — they’re all your next job. The only thing standing between you and that work is remembering to get in touch at the right time.
The short version
- AI can remember who’s due a service, check-in or reminder, and draft the message for you to approve.
- It’s one of the safer uses: it organises timing and wording, not technical advice.
- Marketing texts and emails in Ireland come with legal rules. Know them before you start.
What it would track
For each job: what it was, when it finished, any warranty period, the recommended service interval, and any follow-up you agreed. From that, it shows you who’s due and drafts a message from wording you’ve approved. For example:
- a check-in a few weeks after a finished project
- a routine service reminder
- a seasonal job — gutters before winter, a hedge cut in spring
- a heads-up before a warranty runs out
- asking permission to photograph the finished work
- “let us know if anything’s not right”
Keep messages relevant and easy to ignore. Nobody wants repeated nudges about a job that doesn’t apply to them.
Why it’s a relatively safe place to start
Aftercare is mostly about timing and wording. It doesn’t need to diagnose a fault or recommend a repair — you decide what maintenance makes sense. Just make sure no message suggests the job has been checked when it hasn’t, and that it’s clear when a customer should call you for a proper look.
The rules on marketing messages
In Ireland, marketing by text, email and phone is covered by the ePrivacy Regulations (S.I. 336 of 2011). According to the Data Protection Commission, the general rule is that you need the person’s consent. There’s a limited exception for existing customers, but it comes with conditions — including giving them a simple way to opt out every time you contact them. Sending electronic marketing without consent or a valid existing-customer relationship is an offence.
A reminder about a service the customer already booked isn’t always the same as a marketing message offering more work — but the line isn’t always obvious. Read the Commission’s guidance before you start, and get advice if you’re unsure.
Try it with one service
Pick one job with a clear cycle — an annual service, a post-installation check. Use approved wording, send the messages yourself at first, and record what happens. Once you trust the timing and the wording, routine reminders could go out automatically while anything unusual stays with you.
| Measure | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Customers due a reminder | Is it catching the right jobs? |
| Reminders actually sent | Is follow-up happening consistently? |
| Replies | Are the timing and message relevant? |
| Jobs booked | The result that matters |
| Profit from those jobs | Separates good work from busy work |
| Opt-outs and complaints | Are you annoying people? |
Lots of messages isn’t success. Useful contact that turns into work, without irritating anyone, is.
What this research can’t tell you
I haven’t found a study measuring how much repeat work aftercare reminders bring in for Irish trades businesses. The legal summary above is a plain-English outline of the Data Protection Commission’s published guidance, not legal advice — check the guidance itself.
Do past customers hear from you?
I’m running a short survey asking local tradespeople which parts of the admin cause the most trouble — including rebooking reminders and keeping track of customers. It takes 6–8 minutes, and leaving your contact details is optional.
Keep reading
- Why an AI cash-flow assistant may matter more than an AI chatbot
- The human side of AI in the trades: how trust is built
- 10 practical ways AI could help Irish trades businesses