Chatbot for craft businesses: Requests pre-sorted

A chatbot on the website of a craft business answers standard questions, records inquiries in full with location, scope, photos and desired date, and distinguishes emergencies from plannable orders. In this way, instead of "Please call back", ready-made inquiries come to the office – even in the evenings and on weekends.

In the skilled trades, the problem is rarely a lack of demand, but a lack of time: the boss is on the construction site, the office is staffed half-day, and many inquiries are incomplete. A chatbot closes exactly this gap.

What the chatbot does in the craft business

Standard questions: catchment area, services, whether you also accept small orders, emergency service hours.
Record requests in full: type of work, location, scope, desired period, contact details.
Request photos: A photo of the dripping faucet or wall often saves an on-site appointment.
Recognizing emergencies: Water pipe bursts or heating failures in winter are immediately sent to the emergency service.
Suggest dates for viewings when released.

Example: a request on Sunday evening

Example from a plumbing company:

Customer writes	Chatbot responds
"Our pool is to be renewed."	asks for location, size of the bathroom, desired period
"Approx. 8 m², in Schwerin, in spring."	asks for two photos and asks for shower or tub
uploads photos	summarises, takes contact details, suggests viewing appointments
votes Tuesday afternoon	confirmed; the office will receive a full request with photos on Monday

Chatbot or telephone assistant?

Many trade customers prefer to call, especially in emergencies. An AI telephone assistant takes on the same tasks on the phone – see AI telephone assistant for craft businesses. The chatbot plays to its strengths when it comes to predictable orders, because customers can send photos there and answer in peace. Both can be combined.

What belongs in the chatbot – and what doesn't

Belongs in it	Doesn't belong in it
Services, catchment area, emergency service	Binding prices without viewing
Procedure from quotation to execution	Commitments to appointments without release
Information on subsidy programs for customers, if maintained	Remote technical diagnostics

Further processing of enquiries

To ensure that the request does not remain in the inbox, it is automatically passed on: as a task in the office, as an entry in the craftsman software or as an appointment in the calendar. How this interacts is shown in the article Digitizing order processing in the skilled trades.

Getting started in three steps

Collect the most common queries and write down the questions you ask each time.
Set up a chatbot with these questions and your content.
Test for two weeks and compare requests from the chat with inquiries by phone.

Our AI chatbot runs GDPR-compliant on servers in Germany and can be brought to your website in just a few days. More about the industry on the AI in the skilled trades page.

About the funding: The consultation and accompanied introduction can be funded with 80% via INQA coaching (up to €1,200 per day, up to 12 days). In the new federal states, BAFA consulting funding is also eligible until 31.12.2026 . Funding is provided for consulting, not software. The funding check shows what fits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a chatbot worthwhile for small craft businesses?

Yes, if inquiries come regularly via the website or the office is not staffed continuously. The chatbot records inquiries completely and saves queries.

Can the chatbot accept photos from customers?

Yes. Photos of the damage or room help with the assessment and sometimes save an on-site appointment.

How does the chatbot recognize emergencies?

Via fixed terms and questions, such as "water leaks" or "heating failed". Then he refers to the emergency service or immediately notifies the responsible person.