The AI Tools NZ Roofers Are Actually Using

Forget "paste this into ChatGPT." Here's what actually works.

If you've seen AI training that tells you to "copy this prompt and paste it into ChatGPT" — forget it. That gives you generic text you still have to rewrite. The real value in 2026 is AI built into the tools you already use, working alongside you as you work.

This lesson covers the AI tools NZ roofing companies are using right now to save real time.

1. Xero — AI is already in your accounting software

Xero launched XeroForce in May 2026 — a natural language AI agent builder. If you're on Xero, you already have access to AI features that can:

• Reconcile transactions faster — Xero's AI suggests matches for bank transactions. Most roofing businesses just click "OK" on 80% of them.
• XeroForce — type what you want in plain English: "Show me all invoices overdue by 30 days" or "Create a recurring invoice for ABC Roofing monthly maintenance." Xero builds the workflow for you.
• Xero AI Bootcamp — Xero partnered with ASB to offer a free AI bootcamp for NZ small businesses. If you bank with ASB, check it out.

What to do: Log into Xero, look for the AI features in your dashboard. If you can't find them, ask your accountant to show you — they've had access longer.

2. Job Management Software — AI quoting and scheduling

NextMinute (NZ-built, all trades)

• Quoting, scheduling, timesheets, invoicing in one platform
• Mobile app for the crew on site
• Plans from $99/month for small teams
• Not "AI-powered" in the marketing sense, but eliminates the manual admin that AI would otherwise help with

Tradify and Fergus (NZ-built)

• The most widely used NZ-built job management tools
• Quoting, job tracking, invoicing
• Fergus has inventory management built in (good if you carry stock)

The point: These tools don't need "AI prompts." They already handle the quoting, scheduling, and invoicing that you'd otherwise try to do with ChatGPT. Use the right tool for the job.

3. Microsoft Copilot — if you use Excel or Word

If you're on Microsoft 365, Copilot is built into Excel, Word, and Outlook. For roofing businesses:

• Copilot in Excel: "Analyse my job costs for the last 6 months and show me which types of jobs have the best margins." Copilot reads your spreadsheet and gives you the analysis — no formulas needed.
• Copilot in Word: "Draft a site-specific health and safety plan based on these job details: [paste your notes]." It generates a proper document, not a chatbot response.
• Copilot in Outlook: Summarises long email threads and drafts replies in your tone.

Cost: ~$45 NZD/month on top of your Microsoft 365 subscription. Worth it if you live in Excel and Outlook.

4. Claude Cowork — AI that works on your desktop

Claude Cowork (from Anthropic) is different from ChatGPT. Instead of a chat window, it runs on your desktop and can:

• Read your actual files — spreadsheets, quotes, site photos
• Work across multiple applications at once
• Synthesise information from different sources (your CRM + your spreadsheet + your email)
• Generate proper documents in Word/PDF format, not chat text

For a roofing business: you could give Claude Cowork access to your quote spreadsheet and your last 10 job files, and ask it to "analyse which quotes converted and which didn't, and tell me what the difference was." It reads the actual files and gives you real analysis.

Cost: Part of Claude Max subscription ($20-40 USD/month). Available on Mac and Windows.

5. AI in Google Workspace (if you use Google)

• Gemini in Gmail: Drafts replies, summarises threads, searches your inbox
• Gemini in Sheets: Analyses data, creates formulas, generates charts
• Gemini in Docs: Writes first drafts of any document

If your roofing business runs on Google rather than Microsoft, this is your equivalent of Copilot.

The honest truth about "AI prompts"

The internet is full of "100 ChatGPT prompts for roofers." Most of them produce garbage that sounds like a robot wrote it. Your customers can tell. And you spend more time editing the AI output than you would have spent just writing the thing yourself.

The real value isn't in prompts. It's in:

1. Using AI-powered tools (Xero, NextMinute, Copilot) that handle the work for you
2. Using AI for analysis — "what patterns do you see in my job data?" not "write me a quote"
3. Using AI for research — comparing materials, understanding regulations, checking competitor pricing
4. Using AI for first drafts — when you need a proper document, not when you need a quick email

What to do this week

1. If you're on Xero: Explore the AI features. Ask your accountant about XeroForce.
2. If you're not using job management software: Try NextMinute or Tradify (both NZ-built). This will save you more time than any AI prompt.
3. If you live in Excel/Word: Try Copilot. The Excel analysis alone is worth the subscription.
4. If you want deeper AI integration: Try Claude Cowork. It works on your actual files, not just a chat window.

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Key Takeaways

• Forget "paste this prompt into ChatGPT" — use AI-powered tools instead
• Xero has AI built in (XeroForce) — you may already have access
• Job management software (NextMinute, Tradify, Fergus) eliminates manual admin
• Copilot in Excel analyses your job costs without formulas
• Claude Cowork works on your actual desktop files, not just a chat window
• The real value is in tools, analysis, and research — not prompt copy-paste

Disclaimer: This is general information about available tools, not endorsement of any specific product. Pricing and features change — verify directly with providers. Mention of specific companies does not imply partnership or endorsement.