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Oliver Buchannon
Kevin Chan

I’m Kevin Chan, founder of ChanAutomation, a consulting practice that helps service and trade businesses remove repetitive admin with smart automations, better workflows, and custom tools built around how they actually work. I started The Ops Shortcut because most AI and automation content is aimed at tech companies. Nobody was translating it into plain language for the plumber, the security installer, or the HVAC company owner. This newsletter is that translation. Every edition covers one thing that can save your business time this week. That’s the whole deal. If you want help implementing any of it, you can find me at chanautomation.com.

Automation

+1

The Software You Already Pay For

Jun 16, 2026

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2 min read

The Software You Already Pay For

The cheapest automation has no new bill. Here is how to find it.

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan
The Paperwork Before the Invoice

Jun 9, 2026

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2 min read

The Paperwork Before the Invoice

The agreement gets built by hand. Every new customer. That's the tax.

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan

Automation

+1

When Your Two Systems Don't Talk to Each Other

Jun 2, 2026

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2 min read

When Your Two Systems Don't Talk to Each Other

One person was holding two systems together by hand. Then she took a week off.

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan

Automation

+1

When Dave Leaves

May 26, 2026

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2 min read

When Dave Leaves

One person knows everything. What happens when they're gone?

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan

Pricing

+1

You're Still Charging 2022 Prices

May 19, 2026

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2 min read

You're Still Charging 2022 Prices

How to raise your rates, which clients you'll lose, and why the math works out in your favor.

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan
Eight Calls a Day

May 12, 2026

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2 min read

Eight Calls a Day

What your new tech is actually telling you about your ServiceM8 setup

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan

retention

+5

The Wrong Problem: Why Your HVAC Business Isn't Growing (And It's Not Your Marketing)

May 5, 2026

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3 min read

The Wrong Problem: Why Your HVAC Business Isn't Growing (And It's Not Your Marketing)

How an HVAC business found $45,000 in contracted revenue sitting idle in their job history.

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan

Reputation

+3

14 reviews. 340 jobs.

Apr 28, 2026

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2 min read

14 reviews. 340 jobs.

Why Your Techs Can't Be Your Review Strategy

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan
The Two-Trip Problem Costing Trade Businesses Hours Every Week

Apr 21, 2026

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2 min read

The Two-Trip Problem Costing Trade Businesses Hours Every Week

Why techs are showing up to jobs without the right information — and how to fix it

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan
The Invoice Timing Problem Killing Your Cash Flow

Apr 14, 2026

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2 min read

The Invoice Timing Problem Killing Your Cash Flow

Why sending invoices at the end of the week is costing you money

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan
How One ServiceM8 Business Cut Admin Time by 40%

Mar 31, 2026

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3 min read

How One ServiceM8 Business Cut Admin Time by 40%

A real before-and-after from a field service company

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan
3 AI Tools That Actually Make Sense for Your Service Business

Mar 24, 2026

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3 min read

3 AI Tools That Actually Make Sense for Your Service Business

A no-fluff breakdown of what's worth trying right now

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan
The #1 Automation Every Service Business Should Set Up First

Mar 17, 2026

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2 min read

The #1 Automation Every Service Business Should Set Up First

How to stop losing leads after hours without hiring anyone

Kevin Chan
Kevin Chan

The Ops Shortcut

Every Tuesday, service and trade business owners get one practical workflow fix, AI tool, or automation tip they can use that week. No jargon. No fluff. Just the shortcut from someone who builds these systems for a living.

© 2026 The Ops Shortcut.
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