A quick scan of the software, pricing, and workforce news that actually moves the needle for shop owners. Augmented Trades participates in affiliate programs and may earn a commission — see our affiliate disclosure. We recommend tools on fit, not on who pays us.
ServiceTitan is tightening its App Marketplace — and Podium is the first big name cut off
If you run ServiceTitan and lean on Podium for review requests and two-way customer texting, check your inbox. ServiceTitan is ending its Podium integration, and affected shops reportedly got only a few weeks’ notice — by some accounts around four — with the change landing in the middle of peak season. Podium has said publicly the cutoff hit roughly a thousand shared customers; ServiceTitan hasn’t confirmed a number, so treat that figure as Podium’s claim, not gospel.
Here’s the part worth understanding, because it will affect more than just Podium users. In its App Marketplace update (June 24, 2026), ServiceTitan spelled out a new certified-integration model: third-party apps now have to meet published standards for security, performance and data transparency — and agree to “reasonable economic arrangements,” i.e. a revenue-share. ServiceTitan’s own integrations list no longer shows Podium as of early August. The two companies are publicly disputing who walked away from certification — ServiceTitan frames it as Podium declining to certify; Podium points to changing partner economics and API restrictions after a nine-year relationship. We’re not going to referee that fight for you. What matters for your shop is simpler: if a tool you depend on isn’t certified, your access to it is now a business risk you have to plan around.
If you’re losing Podium and need to keep collecting reviews and texting customers, look at replacements on fit, not on brand. ServiceTitan already lists several native-certified reputation tools (BirdEye, Broadly, PulseM, ReviewBuzz among them), and there are strong standalone options like Signpost. If you want a dedicated, easy-to-run reviews-and-reputation engine that isn’t tied to your FSM platform, NiceJob is worth a look — it automates review requests after a job closes and is simple enough for a small crew to manage. And if this has you re-evaluating your whole platform, it’s a fair moment to weigh whether ServiceTitan still earns its keep for your shop, or whether a lighter-weight system fits better.
The broader lesson: the more your reviews, texting, and booking live inside one vendor’s ecosystem, the more a single partnership decision can knock out part of your operation overnight. Know which of your tools are “certified” on the platforms you depend on.
Heads-up: the QuickBooks Online 90%-off deal ends August 27
If you’ve been putting off setting up real books, the current QuickBooks Online promotion — 90% off for three months — is scheduled to end August 27. After that, standard list pricing applies. QuickBooks isn’t a tool we have any affiliate relationship with, so this is purely a calendar flag: if QBO is already your plan, starting before the 27th saves you real money on the first quarter; if you’re still deciding, don’t let a discount rush you into the wrong accounting setup. Our accounting software guide for contractors walks through whether QBO actually fits how you job-cost.
Meta and the building-trades unions are betting on AI training for the trades
Meta and North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) announced a partnership on August 12 to invest in skilled-trades workforce development for the “AI era” — framed around the data-center and infrastructure buildout that’s soaking up electricians, pipefitters and HVAC labor. For a shop owner, the near-term signal isn’t the press release; it’s the competition for techs. The same AI boom driving these training dollars is also bidding up wages for the exact tradespeople you’re trying to hire and keep. Worth watching as you plan headcount and pay for next year.
Augmented Trades is a resource for trade contractors — not a sales floor. We call tools by their real strengths and weaknesses. Full affiliate disclosure here.
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Michael is the founder of Augmented Trades, an independent site that compares AI and software tools for trade contractors on published pricing, contracts, and real feature limits. Tools are recommended on fit for your shop — affiliate partnerships never decide coverage.