Shovels Review

Shovels is a data platform designed for finding qualified contractors using building permit data. It helps sales and marketing teams target the right installers with rich, easy-to-understand permit and contractor information. What sets Shovels apart is its huge database—over 185 million building permits and 3.3 million contractors—powered by AI for accuracy and transparency. The tool is great for market research, sales targeting, and go-to-market planning, especially if you want fast insights without dealing with raw data. You can start seeing results quickly since no data engineering is needed. Shovels offers three easy ways to access data: an online platform, API integration, and database exports for tools like Snowflake or BigQuery. Shovels fits smoothly into your tech stack by integrating with CRMs, custom apps, and BI tools, enhancing lead targeting and enrichment. However, it’s not a full CRM or a general contractor management system. Instead, it’s best used for permit-driven sales and market intelligence when you want precise contractor insights without extra setup or data wrangling.