Andrew Swiler
Founder of Ironback, a dedicated AI operations partner for service businesses. Andrew leads every client roadmap personally, backed by a team that builds and runs the work.
Background
Before founding Ironback, Andrew built AI operations systems for service businesses. He kept seeing the same gap: buying AI tools and actually getting value from them are two different things, and the space between costs a mid-sized service business $150,000 to $400,000 a year.
The pattern was predictable. A 30-person company buys a CRM, a scheduling tool, a voice AI agent, and a compliance app. Six months later, half of it is shelfware. Nobody had time to configure it, connect it to the other systems, or train the team.
Ironback was built to fill that gap. Not a SaaS tool, not a consulting engagement, not a staffing firm. A dedicated partner who knows your P&L, backed by a team that does the work. One signature. One monthly retainer. Month 1 is an operational audit across 7 categories; months 2 onward are build and run.
Areas of Expertise
AI Operations for Trades
Designed and deployed AI operations systems for 25+ specialty trade verticals, from fire sprinkler inspection to marine diesel repair.
Voice AI & Call Handling
Built voice AI systems that handle after-hours emergency calls for contractors — capturing jobs that would otherwise go to voicemail and a competitor.
Compliance Automation
Automated NFPA, OSHA, EPA, and state-level compliance documentation for field service companies, replacing paper forms with digital workflows.
Estimating & Quoting Systems
Developed AI-assisted estimating workflows that cut quote turnaround from days to hours for complex trade jobs.
Operational Waste Analysis
Created the Month 1 AI Value Assessment methodology, which typically surfaces $150K–$400K in annual operational waste across 7 categories with EBITDA impact projections.
Published Articles
Industry analysis and operational insights for specialty trade contractors.
How Fire Sprinkler Companies Lose $95K a Year to Missed Calls and Manual Dispatch
A 30-person fire sprinkler company with 8 trucks and a front desk that closes at 5 PM is bleeding money in seven places. Here's the math.
The Hidden Cost of After-Hours Downtime for Compressed Air Service Companies
When a manufacturing line goes down because the compressed air system failed at 11 PM, the plant manager is calling every number in their phone. If yours goes to voicemail, you just lost an $11,000 job.
Why Biohazard Cleanup Companies Can't Afford to Send Callers to Voicemail
When someone calls a biohazard cleanup company, they're in the worst moment of their life. They are not going to leave a voicemail. They're going to call the next number.
Commercial Boiler Service Companies Are Losing $140K a Year to Manual Operations
A 35-person commercial boiler service company running paper-based inspections and manual dispatch is bleeding $140K annually. The math is on your payroll.
Standby Generator Service Companies: The $115K Operations Problem Nobody Talks About
Generator service companies live and die by response time. When the power goes out, the customer calls three companies. The one that answers gets the job.
Mobile Hydraulic Repair Companies Waste $135K a Year on Dispatch Alone
When a hydraulic cylinder blows on a job site, the contractor is losing $5,000-$15,000 per hour in idle equipment and crew time. Your response time is their bottom line.
Commercial HVAC Companies: $145K in Annual Waste Hiding in Your Back Office
A 40-person commercial HVAC company with 200+ maintenance contracts is spending $145K a year on manual scheduling, paper-based inspections, and missed after-hours calls.
The Estimating Bottleneck That Costs Commercial Roofing Companies $175K a Year
A commercial roofing company with 2 estimators and $22K average tickets is losing $175K annually because quotes take too long, follow-ups don't happen, and storm calls go to voicemail.
Environmental Remediation Companies Spend $195K a Year on Manual Compliance Work
Environmental remediation is the most documentation-heavy trade in the industry. Every job generates 50-100 pages of compliance paperwork. Most of it is still done by hand.
Mobile Crane Companies Lose $155K a Year to Scheduling Chaos and Missed Calls
A crane sitting idle because dispatch sent it to the wrong site costs $3,000-$5,000 per day. A missed call for a $16,500 pick costs even more.
Industrial Electrical Contractors Lose $165K a Year to Slow Quotes and Manual Dispatch
At $18,500 per average job, an industrial electrical contractor that takes two weeks to deliver a quote is handing revenue to the company that quotes in three days.
Emergency Tree Removal Companies: How to Capture $180K in Storm-Season Revenue You're Currently Losing
After a major storm, a tree service company gets 200+ calls in 48 hours. The ones that answer every call and schedule fastest capture 60% of the available work.
Fire Alarm Companies Waste $95K a Year on Inspection Paperwork and Missed Callbacks
Fire alarm and life safety companies run on inspection contracts. When your inspection paperwork takes longer than the inspection itself, something is broken.
Commercial Refrigeration Companies: Every Hour of Downtime Costs Your Customer $1,000+
When a walk-in cooler fails at a restaurant or a display case goes down at a grocery store, the clock starts on $1,000+ per hour in spoiled product. Your response time determines whether they call you next time.
Underground Utility Contractors: $130K in Annual Waste from Manual Estimating and Dispatch
Underground utility work runs on tight margins and tighter schedules. When your estimating takes two weeks and your dispatch runs on phone calls, you're leaving $130K on the table.
Commercial Plumbing Companies Leave $120K on the Table Every Year in Unfollowed Quotes
A commercial plumbing company sends 300 quotes per year. 40% never get a single follow-up. At $9,500 per job, that's $120K+ in recoverable revenue sitting in your inbox.
AI Voice Agent for Fire Sprinkler Companies
AI voice agents help fire sprinkler companies handle calls faster, route emergencies instantly, and automate scheduling with structured, real-time responses.
Fire Sprinkler Inspection Invoice Automation
Automate fire sprinkler inspection invoicing to reduce billing time from 10 days to 48 hours, improve NFPA 25 compliance, and recover $13K in cash flow.
Industries Served
Andrew has built AI operations playbooks for fire sprinkler inspection, commercial fire suppression, industrial compressed air, commercial steam boiler, biohazard cleanup, standby generator service, mobile hydraulic repair, emergency tree removal, commercial garage door, heavy equipment repair, marine diesel, private aviation, commercial aquatics, equine veterinary, and high-end hardscaping — among others.
Talk to Andrew about your operation
Start with the Operations Scorecard or book a 20-minute call. No pitch. Just an honest read on whether AI operations makes sense for your business right now.