ChatGPT has done both builders and technologists a huge service by opening up the conversation about AI. Previously, AI discussions were limited to product team meetings and tech conferences. Now, even the most tech averse are curious enough to ask questions and explore the answers. More than ever before, construction professionals of all training and backgrounds are ready to demo and demystify AI technology.
For this reason, 2023 was the tipping point in adoption and development of AI throughout construction workflows.
How will generative AI change everyday tasks?
If you’ve tried out ChatGPT, you experienced how generative AI harnesses the massive database that is the internet. In construction, we see generative AI harnessing that same internet data, in combination with proprietary construction project data, and being used for:
Automating repetitive communications - Chatbots are answering common and previously documented subcontractor/owner/stakeholder questions to reduce the burden on peers and superiors.
Document creation - Chatbots and generative AI can draft RFIs, submittals, reports, and change orders based on verbal inputs and contract terms to boost productivity.
Data retrieval - Like Siri may help you find a restaurant nearby, project managers querying AI chat assistants can quickly summon information from various systems rather than searching through disconnected apps, files and folders.
Meeting summarization - The days of “Can someone take notes?” are gone thanks to AI listening in on meetings and generating automatic notes, action items, daily reports and highlights.
Contract review and compliance - As one of the lengthiest and most tedious documents in construction, AI reviewing contract agreements and flagging risks, missing info, and non-standard terms is helping lawyers and builders alike through software like Document Crunch.
Decision support - Chatbots, armed with more historical data than our brains can recall, are providing data-driven guidance on bidding, purchasing, hiring, and other critical decisions.
Training/onboarding - Employee and safety training often follows a set protocol - AI chatbots can now administer those processes, answer questions and provide tailored coaching.
These applications of generative AI will benefit all teams and workflows at a construction company, but how will AI transform individual workflows? How will the workflows of project managers, bid managers, accountants and others evolve as each software adds AI capabilities?
AI for Project Managers
AI in construction project management software can analyze real-time project data to flag issues, provide insights into root causes, and recommend preventative actions to keep projects on budget and on schedule. Armed with this information, without having to spend hours digging for it, project managers can focus on critical tasks and make quicker, better decisions on job sites. AI in construction scheduling software can optimize schedules by factoring in uncertainties and historical data on task durations. It can also analyze progress to detect high risk/low float paths. Ultimately, the ROI of AI in construction management is faster issue resolution and proactive risk management to prevent delays.
AI for Pre-Construction Teams
Not only is estimating/takeoff a highly manual process, it’s also critical to bid estimates and contract values that enable general contractors to make a profit. In construction estimating and takeoff software, AI can now automate quantification from drawings and assemblies, learn cost patterns from historical data, and identify cost risks. Once estimates are communicated through construction bidding software, AI can then analyze massive amounts of historical bid data to recommend optimal markup strategies and even assess win probability. By crunching the numbers and analyzing discrepancies, AI gives estimators valuable time to add their insight to the project scope and value. AI helps pre-construction teams provide faster and more accurate estimates, which can make the difference in winning a bid.
AI for Construction Accounting
For accounting teams in construction, AI can reconcile invoices, capture expenses, request receipts and automate other repetitive accounting tasks. AI can also gather data from bidding, project management and scheduling software to analyze expenses and forecast cash flow. AI can crunch all the numbers so that accountants can focus on applying those numbers.
AI for BIM Managers
Construction design software has already revolutionized how we design new builds and plan renovations. With AI, BIM software will only work faster and more efficiently, while considering local building codes, regulations and existing infrastructure. Costly rework can be avoided with highly detailed, deconflicted designs. Using AI, BIM managers get to focus on the profitability of a project, while software can determine the constructability.
Does all construction software need AI functionality?
After considering the possibilities, it’s hard to imagine a SaaS product not incorporating AI into its functionality, but software without AI will continue to exist for many reasons.
Data Limitations - Some applications may not have access to the extensive structured and historical datasets required to effectively train and implement AI. Without these data sets as an input, the software would not have quality output.
Niche Software - Software focused on narrow use cases may not benefit significantly from generalized AI capabilities. If the data sets are not broad and deep, the AI is not as critical and powerful.
User Resistance - The reality is that software is only as useful as its users are willing. For some workflows, users may prefer human-driven processes over AI and this could limit the workflows that develop and adopt AI in the future.
Development Costs - Implementing production-ready AI can require substantial upfront development, data labeling, and computing investments. If any of the above limitations exist, it may not make sense for certain software and workflows to invest in AI software development based on the demand.
Incorporating AI where it can augment people and processes makes sense, but it may not prove critical or practical for every construction SaaS. The companies that implement AI most thoughtfully will likely gain a competitive edge.
Beyond software, how will AI impact construction projects?
Construction technology includes way more than just software. Construction machinery, equipment, tools and materials are also benefiting from the evolution of AI. Jobsite robots, laborer exoskeletons, and autonomous vehicles are using computer vision, planning algorithms, and other AI to automate tasks like material handling, bricklaying, assembly, and more. Sensors and cameras that use embedded AI edge computing for real-time analytics, anomaly detection, and predictive alerts are notifying superintendents and project managers of equipment health, project progress, safety conditions, material logistics, worker biometrics and more. Wearables like AR/VR Headsets use AI to understand environments, track activities, identify hazards, and overlay contextually relevant information to assist workers and their supervisors. Smart glasses, belts, and safety helmets that use AI are providing hands-free information, warnings, and instructions to workers in real-time. Drones are even using AI for autonomous navigation, site assessments and safety surveillance.
If you’re not already imagining all the other ways AI could be impactful, read this post again.
AI will transform construction projects for the better, and it doesn’t have to disrupt a single workflow to do so. Thoughtful, intentional AI will be embedded into the work you’re already doing, not “bolted on” to add more clicks. You won’t need all new software and hardware to harness AI, you’ll just need the right technology providers, who are already replacing outdated data processing with AI-enabled data sets.
If you want to experience the power of construction AI software, try out Document Crunch today and see how it can analyze and help you navigate your contract in seconds. Saving you, and your lawyers, costly review and negotiation time.
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