HBS Managing the Future of Work BuildOps' Alok Chanani on rewiring commercial contracting
Jul 30, 2025
Alok Chanani, Co-founder and CEO of BuildOps, dives into the challenges faced by commercial contractors, including administrative burdens and the shortage of skilled technicians. He highlights how integrated operations apps and AI can enhance efficiency and improve job prospects within the industry. Alok also discusses the transition of veterans into entrepreneurship, showcasing their leadership skills. Additionally, he explores how advanced scheduling technologies are transforming operations, emphasizing the need for better training and career paths in the trades sector.
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Hiring Trades to Build Empathy
- BuildOps hired skilled tradespeople like dispatchers and technicians to build empathy into their platform.
- This collaboration with technical talent created a product that resonates deeply with industry users.
Partner for Successful Onboarding
- Diagnose customer pain points by deeply understanding their unique workflows and friction.
- Educate customers on onboarding and build a partnership for successful software implementation.
Military Leadership Shapes Business
- Military leadership principles like clarity, trust, and extreme ownership translate powerfully to business.
- Effective leadership is about enabling teams, not barking orders.