Otter.ai
AI transcription and meeting notes for site meetings and client walk-throughs.
Our verdict
Handy for meeting-heavy builders. Solo tradies may get enough from ChatGPT's voice mode or a Plaud.
Best for: Builders and PMs with lots of site and client meetings
What it does
Otter.ai records and transcribes meetings and conversations, then produces AI summaries and action items. It's useful for site meetings, client walk-throughs and recording voice notes on the drive home.
AI features
- Live transcription
- AI summaries and action items
Other voice notes & admin tools
ChatGPT
General AI assistant for emails, quote wording, SWMS drafts, voice chat and photo questions.
Verdict: The best general-purpose AI to start with. Never send its SWMS or contract wording without checking it, because it can sound confident and still be wrong.
Price: Free plan. Plus A$30/month. Business A$28/seat/month billed annually (min 2 seats).
Chime Labs
Sydney-built AI receptionist for trades that answers calls and books jobs into your job system.
Verdict: A well-priced, AU-built AI receptionist with a real free tier, so you can test it before paying. Booking straight into ServiceM8, Simpro or Fergus needs the A$399 Pro plan, so check which tier you actually need.
Price: Free plan (test calls, built-in diary, 5 quotes a week). Essential A$99/month + GST (100 minutes, then A$0.25/min). Pro A$399/month + GST (uncapped minutes, job-system booking). Enterprise on contract. No lock-in.
Claude
AI assistant that's strong at long documents: contracts, specs and tender packs.
Verdict: Great for reading the fine print in builder contracts and specs. It's not legal advice, so get a lawyer for anything serious.
Price: Free plan. Pro A$34/month incl GST (or A$340/year).
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