AI Platforms Reshape Field Service, Zero Homes Raises $16.8M, and the Digital Adoption Gap Widens

Welcome to the Service Tech Brief, your daily digest of the most important technology, software, and tools news for service providers across all trades. Today is Saturday, February 22nd, 2026.

We have a packed edition today, with major developments in AI-powered field service platforms, new fleet management tools, and some important data on digital adoption across the trades.

First, the big picture. A new report from ISG finds that field service management software is rapidly evolving into broad, AI-enhanced platforms. The research predicts that by 2028, two-thirds of enterprises will use AI to coordinate their field service teams. This is a clear signal that the shift from reactive break-fix to predictive, planned service delivery is accelerating.

Second, venture capital continues to flow into trade-specific software. Zero Homes, a startup that digitizes the entire home upgrade process, just raised 16.8 million dollars in Series A funding. For contractors, this means less time spent on design, quoting, and paperwork.

Third, data-driven decision making is becoming more accessible. WorkWave launched its new Wavelytics Decision Intelligence platform, and Granum released its first digital adoption benchmark report for the green industry. Both highlight a shift from basic reporting to prescriptive, actionable insights.

ECI Software Solutions has launched a new fleet tracking tool powered by Azuga, integrating real-time vehicle intelligence directly into its field service platforms.

Fleetio's 2026 benchmark report reveals that 53.3 percent of fleets are actively researching or piloting AI capabilities, though only 5.6 percent are using AI broadly today.

TRUCE Software has secured Series B funding for its smartphone-based video telematics platform, turning standard phones into AI-powered safety tools.

Motive has expanded its AI workforce tools with new features that automate driver qualification and compliance tracking.

Microsoft published a detailed look at how AI is reshaping frontline work, with Copilot being embedded into Teams and Dynamics 365.

Daikin has launched SkyportCare, an IoT cloud platform that gives contractors remote diagnostics, system control, and intelligent alerts. A standout feature is the Home Sale Alert, which notifies contractors when a home is sold, creating opportunities to engage new homeowners.

Granum's benchmark report surveyed nearly 700 green industry professionals and found a widening digital adoption gap. Companies that are fully digitized are 41 percent more likely to report strong performance across core workflows. The biggest barriers to adoption are training and implementation, not cost.

PestSense is launching a digital pest management platform with smart rodent stations that combine bait monitoring, snap trapping, and motion sensing. The system uses predictive analytics to forecast rodent activity.

Three trends stand out this week. First, AI is being embedded as a co-pilot or decision intelligence layer across field service software. Second, venture capital is funding vertical software platforms that solve specific, high-friction problems for trade contractors. And third, smartphone-centric, hardware-agnostic solutions are gaining traction, reducing upfront costs for service businesses.

That's your Service Tech Brief for today. Stay ahead of the curve, and we'll see you next time.