OpenAI is integrating third-party apps directly into ChatGPT, positioning it as a “conversational OS” that could reach roughly 800M users. For contractors in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, this creates a new high-intent channel where customers can discover, triage, and book services within chat. The piece urges building a lightweight ChatGPT app focused on emergencies and bookings, prioritizing call-first handoffs, and setting up robust attribution. Treat the initiative as a pilot and optimize for conversions and calls rather than lengthy conversations.

ChatGPT Is Becoming an App Platform. For Contractors, That Could Mean More Calls—If You Play It Right

TL;DR: OpenAI is wiring third-party apps (Spotify, Canva, Zillow, Expedia, and more to come) directly into ChatGPT. With a reported 800M users, this “conversational OS” could become a new high-intent channel where customers find, vet, and book services without leaving chat. If you’re HVAC/plumbing/electrical, prep now: build a simple app flow focused on emergencies and bookings, wire in call-first routing, and set up real attribution. Treat it as a pilot—optimize for calls, not cute chats.

What Just Changed

• Apps inside ChatGPT: Users can invoke third-party apps by name or context; these apps run within the conversation, not as separate tools.
• Big potential reach: The platform reportedly touches ~800M users, making it a sizable discovery surface.
• Conversational OS vision: OpenAI wants ChatGPT to be a hub for software and services—think one interface where people ask, decide, and transact.
• Interactive experiences: The Apps SDK supports dynamic interfaces (e.g., browsing listings, designing, soon more commerce).
• Commerce experiments: OpenAI is testing “agentic commerce” (one‑click, AI-assisted transactions), including U.S. pilots for in‑chat Etsy shopping.
• More integrations coming: Target, Uber, Peloton, Instacart and others are on deck; a fuller app store is anticipated.

Why Contractors Should Care

Your future customer may ask ChatGPT: “My AC died—who can come in the next 3 hours?” If ChatGPT can use an app to check availability, show price ranges, and book—you want to be that app, or at least be the easiest “call now” option in the flow. This isn’t about vanity traffic. It’s about intercepting moment-of-need intent and converting it into a scheduled job or a live call.

• High-intent moments: Emergencies, same-day service, seasonal tune-ups, and financing questions are perfect for conversational triage.
• Contextual discovery: If a user hints at “furnace smell” or “leak under sink,” ChatGPT could surface the right app experience right then—no traditional search results page needed.
• Less friction: In-chat forms, photo uploads, price ranges, rebates, and financing checks can all live inside one conversation.
• Fewer clicks, faster calls: If you design it right, the chat nudges the user to call or book, skipping the website maze.

Practical Plays to Test in the Next 60–90 Days

1. Spin up a lightweight ChatGPT app
   • Core flows: emergency routing, same-day/next-day booking, maintenance plan sign-up, financing pre-qual.
   • Inputs: address (serviceable?), preferred time, symptom checklist, photo/video upload for triage.
   • Outputs: time windows, price ranges, membership discounts, “call now” option.
2. Make “call first” a feature, not an afterthought
   • Prominent phone handoff at key points: emergencies, complex jobs, elderly customers.
   • Route to live dispatcher fast; offer to have the office call the user immediately.
3. Measurement that survives the black box
   • Unique call-tracking numbers for the ChatGPT app.
   • UTMs on any

     User-provided content