All Episodes

November 26, 2025 27 mins

MEP and construction leaders are scrambling to train and retain HVAC techs, while customers expect faster, clearer service. In this episode, Ryan Englin sits down with Lee Bridges, VP of Product Management at XOi Technologies, to unpack how real jobsite data, AI-powered workflows, and human-first leadership are changing the game for HVAC technician training and field service profitability.

You’ll hear how XOi captures millions of equipment data points, turns tech videos into customer-ready summaries that save 5-10 minutes per visit, and helps contractors sell maintenance with defensible transparency. Lee also shares XOi’s “Learning With Your Boots On” initiative, why “love is a differentiating product feature,” and how a decade in the music industry shaped his approach to building software techs actually want to use.

Whether you run a service division, lead an MEP business, or you’re an HVAC operations exec, this conversation is packed with practical ways to level up training, margin, and customer trust.

Takeaways

  • 00:57 — What is XOi? A field-service platform built around the equipment lifecycle for HVAC and commercial kitchen, designed to help techs capture and use jobsite data.
  • 03:58 — AI where it actually helps. Why XOi treats AI as a tool (not a gimmick) to save time and improve technician communication.
  • 04:26 — 50M+ data points in a year. How standardized equipment data turns into sales enablement and defensible recommendations.
  • 06:22 — One-tap AI summaries. Turning photos, videos, and notes into a customer-ready report in seconds, cutting 5-10 minutes per call.
  • 08:57 — Capacity = profit. Saving minutes per job adds up to 1-2 extra calls/week/tech, and better CX.
  • 09:41 — “Learning With Your Boots On.” A company-wide program that puts non-technicians in front of real equipment to build empathy and product insight.
  • 12:46 — From studio to software. How Lee’s music-industry hustle (hundreds of albums) translated into product creativity and execution.
  • 19:31 — Love as a product feature. Commitment + empathy as a framework for building tools that close the user’s goal gap.
  • 23:13 — Advice to apprentices. Set the goal and make it happen. 

Connect With Lee:

Website: https://xoi.io/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgeslee/ 

Support Titans of the Trades:

If you found this episode insightful, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Titans of the Trades. Your support goes a long way in helping us bring more impactful discussions your way.

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.