Until this point in my career, I’ve spent most of my time working in sustainability. While that field exposed me to many industries, home building and tech weren’t part of the mix—until now.
I was brought on as OpenHouse.ai’s first Customer Success Manager, serving as a partner and advocate for the home builders that we work with and helping them get the most value out of our AI home building solutions. I’m also responsible for synthesizing key observations, insights, and strategies from the builders that we work with and sharing them back to the rest of the OpenHouse.ai team to ensure we turn ideas and feedback into actionable solutions.
While I knew there would be a learning curve, I didn’t realize how steep it would be. As the saying goes, “You don’t know what you don’t know,” and that’s definitely been true for me!
I’m only a few months into my adventure with OpenHouse.ai, but I’ve already learned so much I thought it would be fun to share some insights and give you a sense of how things work behind the scenes at this fast-growing company bringing AI for home buyers and its builders into the spotlight.
First Things First, What is AI Really?
Our company is built on Artificial Intelligence, and although it feels like you can’t turn a corner without hearing about AI these days, I quickly realized AI is far more than trendy tools like ChatGPT.
At its core, AI is a self-learning system designed to help solve problems. Within AI, there’s something called machine learning, where computers are trained using data to identify patterns and make predictions—think Netflix suggesting shows or Amazon offering product recommendations based on your interests. And then there’s generative AI, a type of AI that can create content or recommendations, such as ChatGPT and MidJourney.
It’s wild to realize that AI has been around for a long time and is fundamental to industries like Telecommunications, Finance, and even Oil and Gas. Yet its full potential is still being unlocked at an incredible pace.
All that to say, AI home building solutions aren’t magic wands that instantly create results. They require skilled scientists and engineers to push the technology forward.
OpenHouse.ai: AI-Powered Tools for Home Builders
Our founder, Will Zhang, has an incredible backstory when it comes to AI. Growing up with a father who wrote university textbooks for Quantum Chemistry and played with supercomputer punch cards, Will was surrounded by the latest technology from an early age. That upbringing shaped his career path, leading him to co-found OpenHouse.ai in 2018 with the goal of bringing AI for home builders into a sector often seen as slow to embrace new technology.
But is that really the case? Or is it simply that the industry’s complexity has made it difficult for technology to deliver on its full potential?
The Complexity of Home Building and How AI Solves It
Home building isn’t just about putting up walls, overseeing the trades, and handing over the keys. It’s a highly intricate process that involves managing supply chains, land acquisition, design, permits and approvals, regulations, project timelines, and buyer expectations. Then there’s the unpredictability of the market. New home sales depend on shifting buyer preferences based on economic fluctuations, environmental factors, and lifestyle changes.
This is where OpenHouse.ai steps in. Over six years, our team has developed products that gather and analyze the purchasing patterns of millions of home buyers with billions of data points. This data trains our AI to solve problems home builders face, such as predicting changing market demand or converting leads into real new home sales.
Driving Engagement with OpenConnect Data
One of our flagship tools, OpenConnect, is designed to help home builders capture and convert high-intent leads directly from their websites. Using AI, OpenConnect provides OpenConnect insights into buyer behavior—everything from which floor plans they’re exploring to how often they return.
By analyzing this data, OpenConnect uncovers the “why” behind buyer intent, ranks and prioritizes leads, and personalizes the online buying experience. This boosts engagement, improves lead conversion rates, and helps builders adapt their strategies to meet buyer needs effectively.
OpenPredict and OpenFlow: From Predictions to Efficiency
OpenPredict delivers a 90-day sales prediction using billions of data points to help builders anticipate trends and make informed decisions about production capabilities. This tool’s actionable insights reduce costs and ensure homes are built to meet market demand.
OpenFlow complements this by streamlining operations. From pre-construction to completion, OpenFlow eliminates bottlenecks, minimizes delays, and ensures efficient use of resources. These tools epitomize how AI home building solutions drive productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
Discover how OpenHouse can transform your business. Schedule a discovery call today.
Customer Success and the Future of AI and Digital Transformation in Home Building
As I continue in my role at OpenHouse.ai, one thing is clear: the home building industry is on the brink of a significant transformation driven by AI home building solutions.
Whether it’s predicting sales, understanding buyer behavior through OpenConnect insights, or streamlining construction workflows, AI is helping home builders achieve measurable success.
My background in sustainability adds an exciting dimension to this journey. With tools like OpenFlow, I aim to help customers achieve not only cost savings but also environmental benefits—merging operational efficiency with sustainability.
This is just the beginning. Stay tuned for more as we continue to innovate and empower home builders with AI for home builders and buyers alike.
Stay tuned, there’s much more to come!
- Tannis Dobson, Customer Success Manager
