It’s no secret that the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace is accelerating. Even the roofing industry, which is historically slow to adopt tech, is quickly bringing AI into the fold.

A Gallup poll from last June shows that in the past two years, the percentage of U.S. employees using AI a few times a year or more has doubled from 21% to 40%. Frequent AI use is up from 11% in 2023 to 19% in 2025.

Meanwhile, one-third of all U.S. employees say their organization has begun integrating AI into their business practices. With contractors turning to technology, roofing distributors need to keep up as well. We spoke with members in the distribution space to see what their companies are cooking up to maximize efficiencies for both customers and employees.

SRS Distribution

Patrick Garcia, chief digital, AI and innovation officer at SRS Distribution, said one of the main platforms where it has integrated AI is RoofHub, which helps roofers order materials, track deliveries and access supplier information in one place.

“I think almost one in three shingles — and we’re getting close to one in two now, on the residential side — is digital to us,” he said.

In 2024, SRS built its Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence to develop operational efficiencies. Among its AI initiatives are auto-optimized templates that let customers search for and order products based on local availability and guidance on warranties.

Another feature is a “health check” on orders. Before checking out, the AI will flag it for things like missing materials needed to comply with building codes or adding products to qualify for a warranty.

SRS Distribution is involved with more than roofing, with verticals like landscaping and pools. As SRS continues to grow, Garcia said AI-driven technology allows the distributor to pursue any vertical and establish efficient platforms for customers within months. 

“If you think about distribution, it’s the same thing. It’s orders, invoices, prices, and availability. It’s just you’re selling different materials to different personas,” he said. “This is the power of the technology stack.”

On the back end, SRS Distribution is implementing generative AI that boosts the efficiency of its sales reps. These features include everything from queries like how to reset passwords to pulling up quick answers to typical questions, such as pricing and availability of materials. 

“It’s crazy how fast this space is going,” he said. “We’re launching three to five AI capabilities a month, really focused on the customer side.”

QXO

QXO Inc. discovered approximately $200 million in pricing leakage at newly acquired Beacon Roofing Supply, CEO Brad Jacobs revealed to investors, exposing massive inefficiencies from outdated systems in the building materials industry.

Rather than viewing this as a setback, Jacobs presented it as validation of QXO’s AI-driven transformation strategy, which is already delivering “double-digit productivity gains.”

“The building products distribution industry is way behind on tech,” Jacobs said. “We’ve seen companies running dozens of ERPs with outdated systems, manual 

processes, and limited inventory visibility.”

The $200 million leakage stemmed from “undisciplined discounting” through manual pricing systems. Critical materials were frequently out of stock despite accounting for most sales.

Adopting AI

In a June 2025 Gallup poll, only 6% of employees feel very comfortable using AI in their roles. Gallup provided a few ideas for helping organizations improve AI adoption. Among them are:

• Clearly communicate plans for integration. Stay ahead of adoption by informing employees. Only 15% of employees say their employers gave a clear plan or strategy.
• Provide clearly established guidance or AI use. Seventy percent of employees say their organization doesn’t have guidance or policies. These policies help prevent security risks and encourage usage.
• Train employees. Like anything else, proper training makes it easier for employees to adopt and use AI properly. They are 89% more likely to say AI has had a positive impact compared to those who haven’t been trained, according to Gallup.

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QXO implemented AI-powered systems for inventory management, pricing, and logistics. The technology is already showing results through faster, more consistent estimates that factor in current inventory, freight costs, and customer pricing history. Inventory availability has “dramatically improved” through AI systems that redict demand and automate replenishment before shortages occur. In warehouses, QXO introduced scanning and placement systems separating fast and slow movers.

The company also revolutionized supplier relationships, using “bots and other automation for procurement negotiations” while centralizing purchasing power. QXO consolidated terms across its top 20 vendors, representing 70% of spending, eliminating thousands of fragmented agreements.

“Building products distributors are watching QXO closely,” said Lilli Tillman Smith, analyst at Principia Consulting. “If their technological investments continue proving a competitive advantage, they could set a model others will follow.”

Roofing contractors should expect faster quotes, more reliable material availability, and improved delivery scheduling as suppliers adopt similar technologies. For suppliers, the QXO model indicates that substantial technology investment might become essential to stay competitive, with companies choosing between modernization or losing market share to digitally enabled competitors.

“AI is no longer optional,” Tillman Smith said. “Distributors who fail to adopt it risk falling behind.”

ABC Supply’s AI Journey 

ABC Supply Co. Inc. has been on an AI journey for the past eight years, starting with traditional AI methods, and is now embracing generative AI and Agentic workflows.

“Some of it is built into third-party tools and many of our own customer applications use a mix of AI technologies,” ABC Supply representatives said in an email.

The company has seen measurable improvements thanks to AI in its fleet and inventory management, and eCommerce metrics continue to grow.

ABC Supply predicts AI will soon be found everywhere throughout the supply chain. They anticipate it will continuously improve operations, create efficiencies, add value to customer interactions, and deliver more personalized experiences. 

As for future developments, ABC Supply is pursuing projects that will enhance customer experience.

“At the heart of our business, it’s people and relationships first, now empowered by AI to achieve even more,” the company said.

Independents

Being an independent distributor often means having to go it alone for technology investments. It’s something Jeff Muratori, owner of Division 7 Supply, said is a key battleground in the war for attracting customers.

“The Big 3 are investing millions in ERP systems, payment portals, logistical tools, contractor self-service portals,” he said. “While the roofing industry has historically lagged in adopting technology, that’s changing, and it’s changing quickly.”

He said for an independent to invest millions of dollars into technology, even something like an ERP or payment portal, is often cost-prohibitive. However, Muratori, chairman of the board of directors for purchasing collective NEMEON, said by pooling resources, independents can compete with the “Big 3.”

“We’ve partnered with Construct CRM, and they develop platforms for independents to provide some of the same tools,” he said.