Can AI Take Over Your Flooring Admin? with Steve Jones

Recorded live at the Flooring Forum during The Flooring Show 2026 in Harrogate, Steve Jones, founder of BillyBot, joins The UK Flooring Podcast to discuss how AI could reduce the admin involved in running a flooring business. After building his own commercial flooring company, Steve began developing an AI assistant around problems he had experienced first hand. He explains why quoting became the starting point, and why getting it right involved far more than asking ChatGPT to produce a price. Steve talks through how BillyBot uses supplier price lists, customer information and individual pricing rules to build quotes. The conversation also explores handling emails, preparing RAMS and keeping track of jobs, with opportunities to review information and approve documents before they are sent. With questions from the Flooring Forum audience, the session covers room scanning, voice notes, floor plans and managing fitter availability. Steve also explains why critical measurements still need checking and how the systems behind AI help produce more consistent results. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How Steve moved from commercial floor fitting to developing AI software for flooring businesses. Why quoting was one of the most complicated processes to automate. How supplier price lists and emailed price changes can feed into a quoting system. Applying different markups, minimum charges and customer pricing rules. The difference between a basic ChatGPT prompt and a connected business system. How customer emails can be used to create jobs and update existing records. Drafting email replies and RAMS for approval before sending. Using room scans and voice notes to create floor plans and quotations. Why measurements still need checking when planning critical cuts. Managing fitting diaries, fitter skills, availability and job notifications. How reducing repetitive admin could free up time for other parts of the business. Memorable Quote: “It’s like talking to a human assistant. It’s exactly how it should work.” Steve Jones Speaker Information: Steve Jones Flooring Contractor and Founder, BillyBot Steve has worked in flooring since leaving school and built his own commercial flooring business. He created BillyBot to tackle the repetitive admin involved in running a flooring company, drawing on his experience of quoting, managing jobs and keeping the business organised. Where to Find BillyBot: Website: [https://billybot.ai/](https://billybot.ai/) Where to Find The UK Flooring Podcast: Website: [https://theukflooringpodcast.co.uk/](https://theukflooringpodcast.co.uk/) YouTube: [   / @cockerillco6141  ](   / @cockerillco6141  ) Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/show/59DLhGP...](https://open.spotify.com/show/59DLhGP...) Apple Podcasts: [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...](https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...) Instagram: [  / theukflooringpodcast  ](  / theukflooringpodcast  ) Facebook: [  / theukflooringpodcast  ](  / theukflooringpodcast  ) Produced by Cockerill & Co. Subscribe for more conversations, practical advice and business lessons from across the flooring industry.