Google adds home services booking to AI Mode

Google’s AI Mode will now provide consumers searching for home service contractors with direct booking and quote links through Angi, Thumbtack, Housecall Pro, and Jobber, with ServiceTitan coming soon. 

What’s happening: Robby Stein, VP of Product for Google Search, announced the development on Twitter/X on Wednesday, including a video clip showing how the functionality will work. 

• In his example, he described needing a handyman, and AI Mode surfaced four businesses as options. 
• Each of the four businesses was listed with a photo, a one- or two-sentence summary of its reviews, and links to call or book an appointment through Housecall Pro or Jobber, get a quote through Angi or Thumbtack, or visit the company’s website. 
• Watch it here

Go deeper: When asked how AI Mode will determine which contractors are shown to consumers, and their ranking, a Google spokesperson pointed Homepros to a tips page, which states, “We do our best to keep the search algorithm details confidential to make the ranking system as fair as possible for everyone.” 

• “Local results are mainly based on relevance, distance, and popularity. Together, these factors help Google find the best match for customers’ searches,” the page notes. 

Of note: Contractors do not need to be customers of the new booking partners to appear in AI Mode responses, at large. 

What they’re saying: Housecall Pro co-founder Roland Ligtenberg told Homepros that the AI Mode integration involves no additional costs for contractors. 

• “I can’t tell you exactly how they’re ranking, but in general, AI agents will prefer things of which they’re more certain and have more data about,” he said, adding that if a contractor is booked out, and “someone’s typing in, ‘I need someone tomorrow,’ they’re probably not going to show, even if it’s a better [contractor].”
• The development will benefit contractors with service availability, because “it’s a booking request based on a time, independent of a price,” he added.

What we’re watching: Google hasn’t said when ServiceTitan’s integration will go live.