Case Study: How a Local Roofing Company Increased Their Booked Estimates by 40% with Zenplus

For David Miller, owner of Apex Roofing, the sound of a ringing phone was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it meant a potential new job. On the other, it usually rang while he was on a roof, driving between job sites, or meeting with a homeowner. Every call he missed was a lead potentially lost to a competitor who was able to answer.

His small team was stretched thin, and the administrative bottleneck of listening to voicemails, calling people back (often playing phone tag), and manually scheduling estimates was costing them more than just time—it was costing them significant revenue. This is the story of how Apex Roofing turned their biggest frustration into their greatest asset.

The Challenge: Leaking Revenue from Missed Calls

Apex Roofing faced a classic growth problem. Their quality of work was excellent, leading to strong word-of-mouth, but their intake process couldn't keep up.

• Lost After-Hours Leads: A significant number of estimate requests came in after 5 PM, when homeowners were back from work. These calls went straight to voicemail.
• Inconsistent Answering: During the day, calls were either missed or answered by whoever was free, leading to an inconsistent customer experience.
• Administrative Overload: David estimated his team was spending over 8 hours a week just managing the phone, scheduling, and following up—a full workday lost to administrative tasks.
• High Cost of Alternatives: They briefly tried a traditional answering service, but found it expensive, slow to relay messages, and incapable of actually booking appointments.

The Solution: A 24/7 AI Receptionist That Does More Than Answer

David knew he needed a solution that didn't just take messages, but actively worked to secure business. He signed up for Zenplus and, in under an hour, had a fully operational AI receptionist for Apex Roofing.

Step 1: Capturing Every Inbound Lead

First, they activated the Zenplus AI Receptionist on their main line. Using a customized script, the AI could instantly answer every call 24/7. It was configured to ask key qualifying questions that David's team needed to know:

• The property address to confirm it was in their service area.
• The type of service needed (e.g., "roof repair," "full replacement estimate," "storm damage inspection").
• The age of the current roof.

Step 2: Automating Estimate Scheduling

The true game-changer was connecting their team's Calendly account. When a caller was qualified and ready to book an estimate, the Zenplus AI seamlessly checked the team's real-time availability and booked the appointment directly on the calendar. This eliminated phone tag and filled their schedule automatically.

Step 3: Proactive Follow-Up (The Hidden Growth Lever)

Using the Zenplus Pro plan, David uploaded a list of leads who had received a quote in the past 6 months but never moved forward. He launched a simple Outbound Campaign with a script that said, "Hi, this is Alex from Apex Roofing. We provided you with a quote a few months back and wanted to follow up to see if you had any questions or were still considering the project." This simple, automated follow-up re-opened conversations and led to several new, high-value jobs.

The Results: A 40% Increase in Booked Jobs and 8 Hours Saved Weekly

The impact on Apex Roofing's bottom line was immediate and substantial.

1. 40% Increase in Booked Estimates: By capturing every after-hours and overflow call and converting them directly into appointments, Apex Roofing dramatically increased their sales pipeline within the first 60 days.
2. 8+ Hours of Admin Time Saved Per Week: The automated scheduling and qualification process completely eliminated the manual work of call-backs and scheduling, freeing up David's office manager to focus on project management and customer support.
3. Improved Professional Image: Every caller, at any time, was met with a prompt, professional, and helpful response, boosting the company's reputation for reliability.
4. Positive ROI: The monthly cost of their Zenplus Pro plan was a fraction of the value of even a single new roofing job booked by the AI.

As industry analysis from sources like Roofing Contractor often points out, operational efficiency is a key driver of profitability in the trades.

Key Takeaways for Your Business

Apex Roofing's success story shows that an AI receptionist is no longer a futuristic concept—it's a practical, high-ROI tool for any service-based business. By automating your front-line communication, you can stop spending time on your business and start spending more time growing your business.