Leap Confronts Roofing's Hybrid Workflow Challenge at IRE 2026

LAS VEGAS, NV – January 14, 2026 – As thousands of roofing and remodeling professionals converge on Las Vegas for the 2026 International Roofing Expo (IRE), a central theme emerging from the industry is the intense pressure to do more with less. Amid this landscape of rising costs, labor shortages, and tightening margins, Baltimore-based software company Leap is stepping into the spotlight at booth #1745 to showcase its answer to a core operational challenge: the management of hybrid workflows.

The company is demonstrating its integrated software platform, which is designed to help contractors seamlessly manage a mix of both retail and insurance-based jobs without resorting to disparate systems or inefficient workarounds. For many modern roofing businesses, this "hybrid" reality is a daily struggle, and Leap's presence at IRE signals a focused effort to solve this complex puzzle through technology.

Addressing the Modern Contractor's Dilemma

The roofing industry in 2026 is navigating a period of significant complexity. Contractors are grappling with volatile material prices and persistent labor shortages that strain project timelines and budgets. These factors directly impact profitability, with many small to medium-sized businesses reporting EBITDA margins hovering between a narrow 6% and 15%. In this high-stakes environment, operational efficiency is no longer a luxury but a critical component of survival and growth.

A primary source of this operational friction lies in the fundamentally different processes required for retail projects versus insurance restoration work. Retail jobs are often driven by customer relationships, detailed estimates, and direct sales, requiring tools that facilitate professional presentations and financing options. Conversely, insurance work involves a complex web of adjusters, specific documentation requirements, and multi-layered payment structures.

Many contractors find themselves patching together solutions—using one system for CRM and sales, spreadsheets for production tracking, and separate accounting software—creating data silos and communication gaps. These disjointed processes often lead to costly errors, messy handoffs from sales to production, and a lack of real-time visibility into a job's true profitability. Leap's showcase at IRE aims to address this very conundrum, proposing that a single, connected solution can bring order to this chaos.

The Promise of a Unified Workflow

At the heart of Leap's presentation is the concept of a truly unified platform that works the way contractors do. The company is highlighting how its two core products, Leap SalesPro and Leap CRM, integrate to create a seamless workflow from the initial customer conversation to the final invoice.

Leap SalesPro equips field teams with a powerful in-home selling application. Sales representatives can generate accurate digital estimates, present professional "Good/Better/Best" proposals, offer homeowners integrated financing options from multiple lenders, and capture e-signatures on contracts—all from a single device. This not only speeds up the sales cycle but also standardizes pricing and protects margins by eliminating guesswork.

Once a job is sold, the data flows directly into Leap CRM, which serves as the central hub for operations. This is where the platform's "hybrid" capabilities become most apparent. Project managers can track job progress, manage production schedules, and communicate with crews and subcontractors. The system's strength is magnified by its deep integrations with other critical industry tools. For instance, contractors can pull precise measurements from services like EagleView, document job site progress with CompanyCam, and even order materials directly from suppliers like SRS Roof Hub and Beacon, all without leaving the Leap environment. This integration is vital for managing the distinct documentation and procurement needs of both retail and insurance jobs within one system.

"No sales pressure. No generic demos," stated Patrick Fingles, CEO at Leap, in the company's announcement. "Contractors want tools that work the way they do, not software that creates more friction. That's what we're showing at IRE." This philosophy underscores the company’s focus on adapting its technology to existing business realities rather than forcing contractors into a rigid, unfamiliar process.

Digital Transformation on the Expo Floor

Leap's focus on integrated workflows is reflective of a broader trend of digital transformation sweeping across the construction industry, a movement that is highly visible on the IRE 2026 show floor. For years, roofing has been perceived as a trade slow to adopt new technologies. However, the confluence of economic pressures and the availability of more user-friendly software has accelerated this shift. Exhibitors across the Las Vegas Convention Center are showcasing everything from drone-based inspection tools and AI-powered estimating to sustainable materials and smart roofing sensors.

Within this wave of innovation, the software market for contractors has become increasingly competitive. Companies like ServiceTitan, AccuLynx, and JobNimbus have all gained traction by offering solutions to streamline field service and project management. Leap aims to differentiate itself by zeroing in on the end-to-end process for home improvement contractors, with a particular strength in the point-of-sale experience and the unification of disparate job types. While some platforms may specialize heavily in insurance restoration or commercial projects, Leap is positioning itself as the go-to solution for residential contractors who need the flexibility to excel at both retail sales and insurance work without compromising efficiency.

The expo provides a critical venue for contractors to conduct side-by-side comparisons and determine which platform best fits their unique operational needs. For many, the decision will come down to how well a system can eliminate manual data entry, reduce the risk of information falling through the cracks, and ultimately provide a clear, actionable view of their business's financial health.

From Lead to Final Invoice: A Practical Look

To make the concept of a unified workflow tangible, Leap's demonstrations guide contractors through the complete lifecycle of a job. The journey begins when a new lead—whether from a web form, phone call, or referral—is automatically captured in Leap CRM. The system can trigger automated follow-ups and allows sales managers to assign the lead and schedule an appointment.

From there, a sales representative uses Leap SalesPro in the customer's home. They build a detailed, accurate estimate, present it professionally, and secure a signed contract and initial payment on the spot. This information, including the signed contract and scope of work, is instantly available to the back office. This clean, digital handoff to the production team is where many traditional workflows break down.

With Leap, the production manager receives all necessary information without delay. They can schedule crews, create purchase orders integrated with their suppliers, and monitor the project's progress through a centralized dashboard. Field crews and office staff can add notes and photos, ensuring everyone is aligned. As the project concludes, the system facilitates the creation and delivery of the final invoice and the collection of the final payment. Throughout this entire process, business owners and managers can access real-time reports on sales performance, job profitability, and production efficiency, enabling them to make informed decisions to steer their business forward. By walking through this practical application, Leap demonstrates that a connected workflow is not just an abstract concept but a concrete path to a more organized, predictable, and profitable business.