We Left Silicon Valley to Bring
Enterprise Technology Home
Big tech experience. Small town values.
Built for Central Valley businesses.
Our Journey
We're not your typical tech company.
Tracy Automation was founded by a team that cut their teeth at some of the biggest names in tech—Google, Meta, Amazon, Salesforce. We built AI systems that serve billions of users. We architected cloud platforms processing trillions of requests. We automated workflows for Fortune 500 companies.
But here's the thing: we grew up here. In Tracy, Stockton, Modesto—the Central Valley that people in San Francisco fly over on their way to somewhere else.
And we came back.
Not because Silicon Valley didn't work out. Not because we "settled." We came back because we saw something wrong with the picture.
The Problem We Saw
The best technology was being built 60 miles away—and none of it was reaching the businesses that needed it most.
Every small business owner we talked to was dealing with the same issues:
- •Answering the phone while trying to work
- •Manually tracking everything in spreadsheets
- •Overpaying for outdated payment systems
- •Drowning in admin work instead of doing what they do best
- •Competing against national chains with massive tech budgets
Meanwhile, the companies we worked for were using AI receptionists, automated workflows, predictive analytics, and real-time dashboards. They had entire teams dedicated to optimization.
The gap wasn't fair. And it was widening.
Small businesses weren't getting left behind because they didn't want better tools. They were getting left behind because:
- •Enterprise solutions cost $50,000+ to implement
- •Big tech companies don't care about businesses processing $50k/month
- •"Affordable" solutions were built by people who'd never run a business
- •Local IT support didn't understand modern AI and automation
We decided to fix that.
What We Believe
Every business deserves enterprise-grade technology, regardless of size.
The AI receptionist that answers calls for a $10B company? You should have that too—for $297/month, not $5,000.
The payment processing rates that Walmart negotiates? You should get those too—1.9% instead of 3.5%.
The automated workflows that save Amazon millions in labor costs? You should have those too—built specifically for your business.
Technology should be a competitive advantage, not a luxury.
We're not interested in selling you software-as-a-service and disappearing. We're building long-term partnerships with Central Valley businesses—the restaurant that's been on 11th Street for 30 years, the HVAC company everyone calls when their heater breaks, the salon where three generations have gotten their hair cut.
These are our neighbors. This is our community. And we're here to stay.
Who We Are
Chris Harwood
Founder
Background:
- • 10+ years building AI systems and automation at scale
- • Led development teams at major tech companies
- • Architected cloud infrastructure serving 100M+ users
- • Built machine learning pipelines processing billions of data points
Why Tracy Automation:
"I spent a decade optimizing systems for companies that already dominated their markets. I wanted to use those same skills to help businesses that are actually part of my community—where I can see the impact firsthand, not just in a quarterly metrics report."
Sarah Chen
Head of AI Development
Background:
- • Senior ML Engineer at Google
- • PhD in Computer Science, Stanford
- • Specialized in natural language processing and conversational AI
- • Published researcher in AI safety and alignment
Why Tracy Automation:
"Big tech builds AI for scale. We build AI for service. I grew up in Stockton—my parents ran a restaurant. I watched them work 80-hour weeks because they couldn't afford help. That's who I'm building for now."
Marcus Rodriguez
Head of Automation
Background:
- • DevOps architect at Amazon Web Services
- • Built automation systems for Fortune 100 companies
- • Expert in workflow optimization and system integration
- • Certified in 12+ enterprise platforms
Why Tracy Automation:
"I automated supply chains for billion-dollar companies. Now I'm automating the tedious work that keeps a local contractor from growing their business. Same skills, way more meaningful impact."
Jessica Patel
Customer Success Lead
Background:
- • 8 years at Salesforce leading SMB customer success
- • Helped 500+ businesses implement automation
- • Built onboarding programs serving 10,000+ users
- • Expert in translating tech into plain English
Why Tracy Automation:
"In big tech, 'customer success' meant hitting retention metrics. Here, it means Maria at the bakery can finally take Sundays off because her AI receptionist handles the weekend calls. That's the kind of success that matters."
Trusted by Central Valley Businesses
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Rating
How We're Different
1. We Speak Your Language
No tech jargon. No 40-page implementation plans. We explain things the way we'd explain them to our parents who own a business (because we literally do that).
2. We Come to You
We're based in Tracy. We meet at your location. We set things up ourselves. We train your team in person. We answer our phones (ironically, before we built AI receptionists, we weren't great at this either).
3. We Price Like Humans
We charge what it costs to run a sustainable local business, not what we can extract from VC funding. Our goal is 100 customers in the Central Valley, not 10,000 customers nationwide.
4. We Stay Until It Works
Setup isn't done when the software turns on. Setup is done when you tell us "I don't need your help anymore—it just works."
5. We Invest in Local Success
Every business we help become more efficient creates jobs, serves customers better, and strengthens the Central Valley economy. We're not optimizing for our exit—we're optimizing for the community we live in.
What Drives Us
Radical Transparency
We tell you exactly what something costs and why. We tell you when we can't help. We tell you if there's a cheaper way to solve your problem.
No BS Technology
We don't implement technology for technology's sake. If a $297/month AI receptionist doesn't make sense for your business, we'll tell you to keep your money.
Local First
We hire locally. We buy locally. We bank locally. Every dollar we make goes back into the Central Valley economy, not to investors in San Francisco.
Accessible Expertise
The skills we learned shouldn't be locked behind six-figure consulting fees. We price our services so that a business doing $300k/year can afford the same tech as a business doing $3M/year.
Long-Term Partnerships
We measure success in years, not months. We want to be the team you call in 2029 when you're expanding to a second location, not the vendor you regret hiring in 2025.
Our Promise to You
We Won't Sell You Something You Don't Need
If your current system works, we'll tell you. If there's a free solution, we'll point you to it. We only recommend what actually makes sense for your business.
We Won't Lock You In
Month-to-month agreements. No early termination fees. Cancel anytime. If you're staying with us, it's because we're earning your business every month.
We Won't Disappear After Setup
Setup is just the beginning. We provide ongoing support, proactive optimization, and regular check-ins to make sure you're getting value.
We Won't Waste Your Time
We do free consultations because we respect that your time is worth more than ours. If we can't help in 30 minutes, we won't ask for 3 hours.
We Won't Stop Improving
Every quarter, we evaluate our services. If there's a way to deliver more value at the same price, we do it—automatically, without you asking.
Common Questions
Do I need to understand technology to work with you?
Not at all. We explain everything in plain English. If you can use a smartphone, you can use our systems.
Are you just reselling someone else's software?
Sometimes yes (like our merchant processing partnership with North), but often no. We build custom solutions when off-the-shelf tools don't fit. Our AI receptionists are proprietary systems we developed specifically for small businesses.
What if I have a problem at 9 PM on a Saturday?
Text us. We may not fix it immediately, but we'll respond within an hour and prioritize it for first thing Monday (or Sunday for emergencies).
How do you compare to hiring someone from Fiverr or Upwork?
We're more expensive upfront but way cheaper long-term. We maintain your systems, provide ongoing support, and optimize as your business grows. You're not hiring a contractor—you're hiring a partner.
Do you work with businesses outside the Central Valley?
Occasionally, but our focus is local. We believe in face-to-face relationships and same-day support, which is only possible when we're nearby.
What industries do you specialize in?
Restaurants, retail, home services (HVAC, plumbing, electrical), salons, professional services, contractors. If you talk to customers and process payments, we can help.
Can I see a demo before committing?
Absolutely. Every service we offer includes a free demo or consultation. We don't ask for money until you've seen exactly what you're getting.
Where to Find Us
Headquarters
2471 North Naglee Road Suite 100
Tracy, CA 95304
We Serve
Tracy, Stockton, Modesto, Manteca, Lathrop, Lodi, and the entire San Joaquin County region
Office Hours
Monday-Friday: 8 AM - 6 PM PT
Saturday: By appointment
Sunday: Emergency support only
Contact
You'll Also Find Us At:
- • Tracy Chamber of Commerce meetings (every 2nd Tuesday)
- • Downtown Tracy Farmers Market (spring/summer)
- • San Joaquin County Small Business events
Ready to See What's Possible?
Free 30-minute consultation. No pressure, no sales pitch.
What We'll Cover:
- • Where you're losing time and money
- • Specific solutions that fit your business
- • Realistic cost/benefit analysis
- • Timeline and implementation plan
Or Just Reach Out:
🏢 2471 North Naglee Road Suite 100, Tracy
The Bottom Line
We're not here to extract value from the Central Valley. We're here to create it.
Every business we help becomes more efficient, more profitable, and more sustainable. That means better jobs, better service for customers, and a stronger local economy.
We could've stayed in Silicon Valley building products for people who already have everything. Instead, we came home to build tools for people who actually need them.
That's not charity. That's just better business.
If you're a Central Valley business owner tired of feeling like technology is built for everyone except you, let's talk. No commitment, no sales pressure—just a conversation about what's possible.
We're your neighbors. We're here to help.
- The Tracy Automation Team
Get in Touch
Ready to upgrade your business? Reach out anytime — we're local.
Telephone: 209 313-1318
Email: hello@tracyautomation.com
Address: 2471 North Naglee Road Suite 100, Tracy, CA 95304
TRACY
AUTOMATION
Built with love in Tracy, California
© 2025 Tracy Automation. All rights reserved.