We’ve known for a long time that the restoration industry is only going to get busier and offer more security for business owners as time goes on. We’re seeing evidence of that right now. Every year, we have more storms, more hurricanes and more fires. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the reality, and this keeps restoration companies very, very busy. In addition to being in constant demand, restoration is not vulnerable to the economic climate the way other industries are. If a house is flooded, it has to be cleaned. Mold has to be remediated. Fire damage has to be repaired. Between the rise of climate change and the recession-proof nature of the business, restoration professionals can rest assured that the work — meaningful, fulfilling work —is always there. We don’t have to create opportunity; we just have to seize it.

As a whole, the restoration industry is not taking advantage of technology. We actually live in a world where cars can drive themselves, but we still have to send a technician out every day to check for moisture. The processes we use to serve our customers and run our offices make no sense. There are so many pieces and a lot of redundancy. Because of this, business owners are easily overwhelmed and constantly stressed. Many of these problems could be fixed by integrating the technology available to us.

Technology is our greatest opportunity, and now with younger people entering the workforce, this is the perfect time to tap into this resource. If we can bring in more professionals who truly understand both technology and the customer experience, we can design new systems to push our industry forward. This means we can make the process easier for our clients, who are in a state of crisis and need as much simplicity and clarity as we can offer. Tech also allows us to operate more efficiently behind the scenes while improving billing, which allows us to do more with higher profit margins. As a franchise, we’ve been working on integrating technology for a while, and since we made this a priority, our system has become much easier, more efficient, and better for the people we serve.

First, the biggest threat I see is industry-wide reluctance to move forward with technology. Customer expectations evolve with tech, and any time a restoration company refuses to keep up, they’ll find themselves in hopeless competition with someone who will adapt. Another threat comes with the challenge of attracting those younger professionals who have those innovative skill sets. These people are more likely than previous generations to have college degrees and big dreams of online fame or entrepreneurial success. They’re not really thinking about a field like home services, and that’s a loss for both us and them. This is an industry where a driven professional can make great income, have a really positive impact on others’ lives and influence the entire field through innovation. It’s hard for young people to see that potential in an industry where we’re still stuck on “the way it’s always been done.” On the flip side, if the industry as a whole can start demonstrating a commitment to innovation, we have a chance to bring on those tech-forward minds and truly capitalize on our strengths as a recession-proof business that offers high practical and emotional value to our communities.