David Basiji explains why the real bottleneck is getting from BIM and CAD into the shop and then through every cut, bend, weld, and handoff without losing time, accuracy, or visibility.

Robert and David trace the unlikely path that led David from bioengineering and the Human Genome Project into construction tech, then into PipeServer - a platform built to connect design tools, fabrication equipment, and the field. Along the way, they expose why “paper to PDF” is not digitization, why exact lengths can be the wrong answer in fabrication, and why the smallest workflow mistake can ripple into massive delays.

Discover:

• Why fab shops need a live system, not static cut lists and spreadsheets
• How PipeServer moves data from Revit, AutoCAD, Tekla Structures, and SDS2 into machines and shop workflows
• Why field fit, bend stretch, and fabrication sequence details have to be handled intelligently
• How cloud-connected tracking prevents down-rev files, duplicate cuts, and security headaches
• Why AI is not the right tool for deterministic shop workflows, but is powerful for analyzing bottlenecks and productivity data

David also breaks down how PipeServer expands beyond a single pipe cutter brand to support the entire fab shop, from manual tools to automated machines, and why the biggest opportunities may be with mid-market and smaller shops that have been underserved by legacy software.

If you care about prefab, BIM, production efficiency, or the future of construction data flow, this conversation is essential listening.

David Basiji is at PypeServer, where he helps build software that connects design, fabrication, and field execution. He brings deep technical experience from bioengineering, machine development, and building scalable products.

Perfect for contractors, fab shop leaders, VDC teams, and construction tech buyers who are tired of process chaos and want a clearer, faster path from model to field.

Raymond, co-founder of Structured AI, joins Robert to explain how agentic AI reviews drawings, detects cross-disciplinary inconsistencies, and flags code issues inside complex Revit and BIM workflows—without taking over professional liability.

They discuss why Raymond left architecture, how Structured AI is improving construction quality control, why AI adoption depends on change management, and what it means to treat a building set like an intelligent asset you can actually ask questions of.

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in architecture, engineering, construction, AI adoption, and the future of infrastructure.

Raymond Zhao

is the co-founder of

Structured AI

, a construction AI company helping engineers and builders detect issues faster, reduce review burden, and improve drawing QA.

Joe and Ryan tell the origin story: two project management guys at Thomas Cavanagh Construction sitting in a boardroom, griping, until one of them said "nobody's coming to save us." So they saved themselves. Spreadsheets first. SharePoint and Power BI next. And every new tool they bolted on fixed one thing and loosened something else — like fixing a leak on iron pipe. Tighten this joint, spring a leak two fittings down. That's tech debt, and most contractors are drowning in it without ever calling it by name.

Then Palantir showed up at their shop for a boot camp, and they spent the next stretch of their careers building what became TOM — Total Operations Management — the operating system that now runs Cavanagh and became the product Cavtera sells today.

We also get into the stuff that actually kills software rollouts: forgotten passwords, phone screens zoomed to twelve thousand percent, and the difference between tracking productivity and tracking progress (hint: they are not the same thing, and your budget is neither one). Plus my pitch on why you should stop counting grains of sand and start tracking your downtime instead.

If you missed Part 1, go back and watch it first. Part 3 drops next week.

Real People, Real Work, Real Talk.

Takeaways

• Palantir Foundry is an ecosystem that allows businesses to organize and assimilate all their data, enabling the creation of custom applications and solutions.
• Change management is a critical aspect of implementing new technology, and the process involves untangling legacy systems and processes to build tools around the best way to work. Technology adoption in the construction industry presents challenges and opportunities.
• Understanding the true ontology of the construction business is crucial for successful technology integration.

Chapters

• 00:00 Tackling Change Management and Solutions Engineering
• 45:22 Understanding Ontology and System Elements

Alan Espinoza of Reconstructive AI returns for the full Texas Drive Time conversation, and he opens by reframing the number the industry hides behind. It isn't that seven out of ten implementations failed. It's that seven out of ten people struggled to use what you bought them. Different problem. No software fix.

Then the harder question: what are we actually training these models on? An architect, a GC, and an owner will each get a different answer out of the same tool, because each one is prompting it to defend their own position. If AI learns the industry as it behaves today, all we've built is a faster way to point fingers.

Host Robert Zimmerman and Alan cover the administrative state built out of CYA contract language, the 96% of data that goes straight to the shelf, CPM schedules as a backwards pass from a date corporate already picked, and what walks out the door when your one indispensable guy retires.

Plus a Reconstructive AI update — Y Combinator, GC incubators, and agents crawling county permit records to find work early.

🎧 Also on YouTube.

Real People. Real Work. Real Talk.

#ConTech #AIinConstruction #ConstructionTechnology #ConstructionProductivity

In this episode of the ConTech Exec Podcast, we dive into the pressing cybersecurity challenges facing the construction industry. With a staggering 74% success rate for cyberattacks targeting construction companies, it’s clear that cybercriminals are capitalizing on vulnerabilities across the sector.

We explore the most common threats, including ransomware attacks, phishing scams, supply chain breaches, and insider threats—issues that collectively cost the industry billions each year. As technology adoption and IoT device usage surge, the digital footprint of construction projects continues to expand, offering even more entry points for hackers.

But all is not lost. This episode emphasizes that cybersecurity isn’t just the responsibility of IT departments—it’s a company-wide imperative. From comprehensive training programs to keeping systems up-to-date, we discuss actionable strategies to safeguard your business. Plus, we touch on the future potential of emerging solutions like blockchain technology to strengthen security protocols.

Tune in to learn how construction leaders can prioritize cybersecurity and protect their companies from becoming the next victim of a costly cyberattack.

In Episode 2510, host Robert Zimmerman kicks off the season with a sharp look at how AI and automation are transforming construction — and where things are still falling flat.

You’ll get a practical breakdown of three major players:

• ALICE Technologies – AI-driven scheduling that’s reshaping project planning

• Build Robotics – autonomous heavy equipment that’s already digging, grading, and delivering

• Bild.AI – field data capture and real-time insights for smarter decision-making

💡 In this episode, Robert covers:

• How to cut through the AI buzz and find what’s actually usable

• Real examples of automation in the field

• Why “tech readiness” is more cultural than technical

• Action steps for execs looking to explore automation responsibly

🎯 Whether you're curious about AI tools or already rolling them out, this episode helps you think strategically about adoption, integration, and ROI.

📲 Connect with the show on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram (@contechexec)
🔔 Subscribe now for upcoming interviews with leading voices in ConTech

🎧 Let’s get real about what’s working — and what’s not — in AI and automation on the jobsite.

From taking a Stanford class that sparked his interest in the field to gaining hands-on experience with a commercial contractor in Salt Lake City, Josh shares how these experiences laid the foundation for Roger.

We dive into the transformative role AI is poised to play in construction over the next 50 years,

• from automating risk management
• to streamlining administrative tasks—
• pushing general contractors to redefine their value.

Josh explains Roger’s unique approach of blending consulting services with AI-driven solutions to tackle critical tasks like scope of work development, contract writing, and risk management.

We also explore the resistance

• to adopting new technology in construction.

• the increasing acceptance of platforms like Procore,
• and the challenges of bridging the gap between the construction and tech worlds.

Whether you're a seasoned industry professional or just curious about the future of ConTech, this episode offers a fascinating look at how AI and innovative thinking are reshaping the industry.

Connect with Josh Whisenant:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwhisenant/

Roger Website: https://tryroger.com/

Connect with Robert Zimmerman:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-zimmerman-015b1922b/

Contact Austin Lane Technologies: www.almobile.com

Summary

In this episode of the Contact Exec Podcast, host Robert Zimmerman welcomes Cameron Page, the CEO and founder of ClearStory.

A company that aims to streamline the change order process in construction.

They discuss the evolution of ClearStory from its original name, X-Tracker, to its current branding, which reflects its mission to bring transparency and clarity to construction paperwork.

Cameron shares his journey from being a project manager to identifying the inefficiencies in the change order process, which led to the creation of ClearStory.

He emphasizes the importance of real-time communication and the challenges faced by project managers in tracking costs and managing change orders effectively.

Cameron elaborates on the three main workstreams involved in change orders:

forward pricing,

time and material (T&M) work,

and surprise change orders.

He highlights the manual processes that often lead to delays and miscommunication, stressing the need for a more efficient system.

The conversation also touches on the importance of technology adoption in the construction industry, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how ClearStory aims to bridge the gap between general contractors and subcontractors by providing a unified platform for managing change orders.

The episode concludes with Cameron sharing insights on the future of construction technology and the necessity for industry professionals to adapt to new tools and workflows.

ClearStory, construction technology, change orders, project management, construction industry, efficiency, transparency, digital transformation, subcontractors, general contractors

Takeaways

"The challenge of change orders is that the nature of the tools for how we communicate and share change orders is not very real time."

"If you want to get paid for the change orders, the best thing you can do is reduce your cycle time for processing and sending the associated costs."

"The job of a good software provider is to help drive best practice and good workflow."

"You can't force software on people to try and reinvent the wheel and change their core workflows and processes, because it won't scale."

"The more clearly and quickly you can communicate that change, the better off you're going to be."

Transforming Change Orders: The ClearStory Revolution

"A clear story is an architectural window."

"I wanted to know what our true cost exposure was."

"If you want to get paid for the change orders, reduce your cycle time."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to ClearStory and Its Evolution

02:03 Identifying the Change Order Challenge

05:57 Understanding Change Order Workstreams

11:52 The Importance of Real-Time Communication

19:42 The Role of Technology in Construction

29:30 Building a Unified Platform for Change Orders

39:32 Future of Construction Technology and Adaptation

Join us as we sit down with top industry experts, innovators, and executives who are redefining how construction teams lead, adapt, and thrive in the digital age.

In this episode, we dive into the evolution of construction leadership with Eric, a seasoned construction leadership coach. We discuss:
✔️ The shift from command-and-control leadership to a coaching mindset
✔️ How AI is changing the value of specialized skills in construction
✔️ Why generalists with strong relationship-building skills are the future
✔️ The importance of accountability, training, and bridging the office-field divide
✔️ How construction leaders can inspire, guide, and elevate their teams

Whether you’re a construction executive, project manager, or industry professional, this podcast will provide you with actionable insights to help you lead more effectively in today’s evolving construction landscape.

🎧 Subscribe now to stay ahead of the curve in construction tech, leadership, and innovation!

#ConstructionLeadership #ConTechExecPodcast #ConstructionInnovation #AIEvolution #ProjectManagement #LeadershipDevelopment

Follow Eric on Linkedin

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Hannibal Smith had it half right. A plan is a beautiful thing when it comes together — but on a real jobsite, it only comes together when the people doing the work are the ones who build it.

This episode, Robert sits down with Nialli's Nancy Knowlton and Alan, the team behind Nialli Visual Planner — digital pull planning built to mirror the Last Planner System.

Nancy co-invented the interactive whiteboard before carrying that collaboration pedigree into construction;

Alan came up through the boots-on-the-jobsite research that shaped the product. Their case is simple: the plan isn't a document handed down from an office.

It's a set of promises the trades make to each other.

We get into why so much of the industry still forces work through critical-path schedules nobody in the field ever agreed to, and what changes when you put the foremen at the wall instead.

We talk about the heroics trap — the superintendent pulling it out of the fire at the last minute — and why that runs out of road in a market with no labor to spare.

And we dig into the part most teams ignore: the data a pull plan throws off, and what it's quietly telling you about who's reliable, which region is winning, and where the next delay is coming from.

What we cover:

• How Nialli went from the inventors of the interactive whiteboard to digital pull planning
• The Last Planner framework in plain terms — should, can, will, did
• Why low-bid, transactional contracts work against the plan, and Glenn Ballard's relational-contract counterpoint
• Getting construction off heroics and onto a process that holds
• Reasons-for-variance data, regional analytics, and bidding on capacity instead of price
• New jobsite-photo and organizational-learning features — and where AI actually fits ("chat with your data," not buzzwords)

Check out Nialli at nialli.com. Link in the comments.

New episodes of The ConTech Exec Podcast every week — subscribe so the next plan comes together in your feed.

We go beyond the blueprints to discuss the real-world challenges, the leadership lessons, and the cutting-edge technology that is finally solving construction's toughest problems—from minimizing risk and liability to connecting field work and digital documentation.

If you're an Executive, project manager, or a trade professional looking to grow your business, improve project flow, and build a more efficient team, you're in the right place.

Subscribe now to connect with the execs and get the institutional knowledge you need to stay ahead

This weeks Episode

Construction Meets Hardline

Karly Heffernan & Alena Tuttle

Host Robert Zimmerman sits down with Karly Heffernan and Alena Tuttle, founders of Hardline, to discuss their journey from finance and family construction business to launching a game-changing construction tech company.

They reveal the painful $150,000 loss that sparked the idea for Hardline, and how their AI agent is tackling the industry's pervasive problem of undocumented verbal conversations and "selective amnesia."

Learn how they are focusing on building a tool that simplifies the daily work of field teams, takes "something off their plate," and is evolving into a "reasoning model" to anticipate risk before it happens.

Key Discussion Points & Timestamps

• [05:50] The Hardline Origin Story: Karly shares the catastrophic project change that resulted in a $150,000 loss and why it proved the need for better documentation.
• [08:20] The Problem with Verbal Agreements: Why "selective amnesia" and a reliance on trust make construction sites vulnerable to disputes, and how Hardline acts as a solution without requiring extra effort.
• [12:30] Hardline's Product in Action: Details on how the tool passively takes construction-specific notes from phone calls and site walkthroughs, and integrates with systems like Procore, ACC, and Fieldwire.
• [18:00] Technology vs. The Builder: Discussing the "dissonance" between software design and the hands-on nature of field work, and why many existing tools fail to meet workers where they are.
• [25:35] The Liability Waterfall: A breakdown of how risk is pushed down the chain of command in construction, and why digital documentation is crucial for small- to medium-sized contractors to qualify for future bids.
• [35:20] Anticipating Risk with AI: The vision for Hardline to evolve past simple documentation into a "reasoning model" that can flag potential issues, like scheduling roofers during a predicted weather delay.

Robert Zimmerman sits down with Theo Yeung and Mohit Lohia from The Bullpen, a specialized sales development firm that bridges the gap between construction tech founders and the executives who need their products. With 20,000 dials a day across verticals, The Bullpen has a front-row seat to what's working — and what isn't — in today's ConTech go-to-market landscape.

In this episode:

• Why mid-market construction companies are the go-to-market sweet spot for ConTech founders
• The AI divide in construction: who's embracing it, who's still shaking hands and playing golf
• The critical difference between products that have AI and products that are built on AI — and why it matters in 2026
• Storytelling over statistics: why facts tell but stories sell in construction sales
• How The Bullpen qualifies, vets, and represents ConTech founders before they ever get to a meeting
• What construction executives should actually do when they get that cold call
• Scaling challenges: what happens when you catch the whale and have to deliver
• Why most founders build in a bubble — and how to break out of it before you burn your budget

Key Takeaway: "AI isn't going to take your job — but someone using AI will."

Whether you're a ConTech founder ready to go to market or a C-suite executive trying to cut through the noise and find tools that actually move the needle, this conversation delivers the unfiltered reality of what it takes to win in construction technology sales.

🎧 Subscribe to ConTech Exec wherever you listen to podcasts.

Construction technology, ConTech, construction podcast, go-to-market strategy, construction sales, AI in construction, construction tech founders, SaaS for construction, construction executives, The Bullpen, mid-market construction, construction innovation, proptech, construction software

In this episode of theConTech Exec Podcast, Kyle Potts from Skanska breaks down 25 years of industry evolution, from email overload to AI-driven solutions.

We dive into the ongoing challenge of keeping tech useful (not just trendy), why face-to-face conversations still matter, and how the next generation of builders can blend innovation with real-world experience.

If you’re in construction, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss!

Get Linkedin with Kyle

📌 Description:
In this solo episode of The ConTech Exec Podcast, I dig into the uncomfortable truths behind AI, data dashboards, and productivity myths in construction. Titled “Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics,” this monologue pulls no punches on why data alone won’t save your projects—but the right strategy might.

Highlights include:

• 🚧 Why construction productivity has only grown 0.4% annually—despite the tech hype

• 📊 How data quality makes or breaks AI success on the jobsite

• 💸 What’s really behind the $40B in labor inefficiencies plaguing the U.S. construction industry

• 🤖 Field-forward strategies for using AI responsibly (without alienating your crew)

• 🛠️ The leadership, training, and culture shifts that drive real ROI from tech investments

👷 Need help aligning your data strategy with boots-on-the-ground realities?
As a construction tech advisor, I help executives and project teams make smarter decisions with the data they already have—before throwing money at another platform.

📩 Let’s connect: www.linkedin.com/in/robert-zimmerman-contech-exec

Robert's most viral article was called "Percent Complete Is Your Biggest Lie," and this conversation is why it struck a nerve. Stop trying to measure everything with money — spending $50,000 doesn't mean you got $50,000 of work done. A photo tells you what's really behind the wall, what's going up next, and where you actually are. OpenSpace pulls that visual data off 360 cameras, drones, and phones, locates it automatically, and turns it into real productivity numbers you can't argue with. The reporting most builders rely on has a garbage-in, garbage-out problem — it's the last thing anyone wants to do at the end of the day, and half of what gets written down is myth.

Jeevan's read on why good tools fail: the real cost isn't money, it's time and attention, and that's the scarcest thing in an industry where 70% of the market is mid-to-small contractors stretched thin with no R&D budget. The tools that take off don't make a fancy pitch — they take something painful and make it a hundred times easier. They get into location being everything (the superintendent doing "judging by the shadow in this photo" Sherlock Holmes work to place a defect, when a timestamp would've settled it in five seconds), and the OpenSpace origin story where the team made themselves bad interns on real projects just to learn the work.

And the part Robert's been pounding the gavel on for years: cash flow. The average sub waits 56 days to get paid, partly because nobody's fully sure the work got done — a Russian doll of trades, GCs, owners, and LPs all hedging. Staple the field reality to the invoice, take the fear out of it, and net terms can move toward zero. Cash flow is king. If everybody trusts they'll get paid, the whole job runs smoother.

Trillions are being invested in data centers, energy infrastructure, and digital transformation.

Yet construction productivity is still 30% lower than 1990.

In this episode of ConTech Exec, Robert Zimmerman sits down with Todd Zabelle, Founder of Strategic Project Solutions and the Project Production Institute, to break down:

• Why projects are production systems — but aren’t managed like them
• The real difference between activity and flow
• How Taylorism still shapes modern project delivery
• Why maximizing trade utilization actually hurts performance
• What AI can’t fix in construction
• Why megaprojects keep failing despite better software

If you care about:
AI in construction
Construction productivity
Project management
Lean construction
Data center construction
Capital project delivery

This conversation is foundational.

Construction doesn’t have a labor problem.

It has a flow problem.

And AI won’t fix what leadership won’t face.

With clear examples, data-backed insights, and simple next steps—you’ll walk away knowing exactly how to break these habits and keep your projects on track.

More from Context-Exec:

• Listen to other episodes here: Contech Exec Podcast

• Visit our site for additional content and community news: Context-Exec Website

• Connect with me: Robert Zimmerman on LinkedIn – Robert Zimmerman

Kamran spent 12 years on the GC side at Turner and Webcor before teaming up with a co-founder who helped build Facebook's original computer vision and AI team. Together, they're building tools that catch spec conflicts, submittal discrepancies, and coordination gaps before they become field problems.

They get into the limits of LLMs on spatial reasoning, the institutional knowledge time bomb, why AI needs to pick the right construction problems (not all of them), and the danger of an AI that's too confident to be useful.

Real conversation.

Contact: kamran@primepoint.ai | primepoint.ai

That tool is SiteRise, and it's built around one idea: own your data from real estate phase through ribbon cutting, and don't let it live with the GC.

This episode covers retail construction's real pain points — HVAC RFIs, storefront coordination nightmares, TI dollar misallocation, and the compounding cost of a single missed opening day. We also get into data governance, the coercion economy, bid leveling, and why the best framer is always the best trim carpenter.

Texas drive time. 45 minutes. Worth every mile.

In this episode, Robert Zimmerman talks with Emma Nazim and Molly Abbott, founders of Constructable, about why mid-market construction firms are underserved by today’s project management software.

They break down:
• What “mid-market” actually means in construction
• Why enterprise tools fail smaller operators
• How user experience impacts adoption and productivity
• The growing gap between modern software expectations and construction reality
• What builders should demand from their tech stack moving forward

Tech isn’t the savior.
It’s the amplifier.

And right now, most systems are amplifying friction.

After building a connectivity-as-a-service platform to ~$50M ARR and selling to private equity, Vince went and asked contractors what they actually hated. Two answers came back: insurance compliance and the skilled-labor shortage.

In this episode he breaks down why the GC, the sub, and the broker never share a system of record — and how his platform Forsured closes that loop and monitors policies before they lapse mid-project. Then he gets into his second bet: a construction-specific talent platform aimed at pulling the next generation into the trades.

A rare look at how an outsider investor reads construction's oldest problems.

Guest: Vince Giacomini, Founder & CEO, Forsured (former CEO, Premier Wireless Solutions)

It’s not.
It’s quietly bleeding money — and AI is only exposing the damage.

In this episode, I sit down with Rishi Srivastava, founder of Being Human, to talk about why accounts payable is where financial control starts breaking down long before anyone notices.

We cover:

• How redundant AP work compounds cash risk

• Why unstructured invoices and approvals destroy visibility

• Why AI doesn’t fix broken workflows — it exposes them

• Why governance failures show up in finance first

• And why chasing tools instead of control makes things worse.

This is not about automating invoices faster.
It’s about leaders losing control without realizing it.

If you’re responsible for cash flow, risk, or outcomes — this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar.

🎧 Listen if you own the decision.
🚫 Skip it if you’re looking for tools or tactics.

Connect with Rishi:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishi-srivastava-automation/

Website: https://beiinghuman.com/

In this episode, Robert Zimmerman digs in with Dave Knowles, founder of TopBuilder and Contractor BI, to break down the real problem:
Contractors don’t have a data shortage.
They have a visibility problem.

We get into the messy stuff no one likes to admit out loud:

• ERPs, job-cost systems, estimating platforms, and spreadsheets that don’t talk to each other.

• Inaccurate reports that executives are forced to “trust anyway.”

• Why builders still run multi-million-dollar companies with tools that can’t track a cost code without breaking a sweat.

• How a real single source of truth can uncover trends long before they turn into cost overruns.

Dave explains how Contractor BI helps contractors finally see:

• Real-time job performance

• Profit fade before it becomes profit loss

• Labor + materials trends

• Forecasting gaps

• Cash flow exposure on new bids

If your dashboards look like ransom notes made from four different systems, this episode is your fix.

Link In with Dave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-knowles-8936259/

Find out about ContractorBI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/topbuilder-solutions-llc/posts/?feedView=all

They get into AI's real role in the back office, why local market data can't just be transplanted from Texas to North Dakota, the workforce shortage hitting both the trades and the accounting profession, and what CFMA's 11,000 members and 45-year community actually bring to the table.

If you're in construction tech and you've never had a conversation with a construction financial professional — this is where that changes.

If you want straight talk about tech, adoption, process, and jobsite reality—this episode delivers.

Topics Covered:
• AI confusion vs. AI value
• Field adoption and why it still lags
• The automation trap
• Construction egos (yes, we go there)
• Why processes matter more than software
• What’s actually coming next for ConTech

Smart, blunt, funny, and full of stuff you can use Monday morning.

After losing $100,000 to a client who "couldn't remember" the work, Peter sat in his superintendent's truck, looked at his Nextel phone, and asked himself: what if we just documented it as it happened?

What started as a call-in voice log system in 2001 — with Turner Construction's San Diego Convention Center as the first customer — evolved into Note Vault (acquired by Bentley Systems in 2020) and now Command Post, a field-first documentation platform designed for the people actually building things.

In this episode, Robert and Peter dig into:

• Why foremen don't write things down (and what actually fixes it)
• The $15M Turner dispute settled by timestamped field notes
• How a $500K rework claim disappeared in one meeting
• Why the lowest bidder is construction's race to the bottom

Free for single users. Download Command Post Notes in the App Store.

Because it’s built for the office, not the field. In this episode, Robert sits down with Gabe Guetta, CEO & Co-Founder of Salus, to unpack pencil-whipping culture, broken safety processes, field adoption challenges, and why construction needs tools that feel as easy as paper. If safety is supposed to protect people—not paperwork—this conversation will hit home for every contractor rethinking their tech stack.

Gabe Guetta – LinkedIn
• LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabeguetta (CEO & Co-Founder, SALUS)

Salus – Company Website
• Official website: https://www.salussafety.io – Safety management and digital field compliance platform built to streamline construction safety operations.

What happens when you trust AI to flag safety hazards before they become life-threatening?
In this episode, Robert Zimmerman sits down with Adam Krob, Director of Information Technology at Boh Bros. Construction, to unpack the real-world wins and fails of AI in safety-critical construction environments.

We cover:

• How to balance automation with human sense when lives are on the line.

• Why acting faster with AI can give contractors a competitive advantage — if you do it right.

• Setting practical AI benchmarks for small and mid-size construction companies.

• A step-by-step buzzword filter for spotting overhyped “AI-powered” tools.

• Is AI making us lose our critical thinking edge?

Whether you’re a construction executive, safety manager, or tech innovator, this episode delivers insights you can use today to integrate AI without losing human judgment.

📌 Contact The ConTech Exec: https://contech-exec.com
📌 Connect with Robert Zimmerman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-zimmerman-contech-exec
📌 Connect with Adam Krob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-krob

#ConstructionTechnology #AIinConstruction #ConstructionSafety #DigitalTransformation #ConTechExecPodcast

Three takeaways:

• Pay-if-paid and indemnity clauses can be company-ending — and they usually go unread.
• Saving 25% on the drawings budget can cost multiples downstream in rework and change orders.
• The risk sits with whoever doesn't have a lawyer. Change that, and the dynamic changes.

Kendall Hoyd is the founder of FairBuild AI, a contract-intelligence platform built for trade subcontractors and suppliers.

Follow the ConTech Exec Podcast and never miss an episode.

On this episode of the ConTech Exec Podcast, Robert Zimmerman talks with Andy Bergmann (Mavix Coaching) about training construction teams to handle hard conversations, negotiate change orders, and uphold jobsite culture without creating drama.

Highlights:

• Why “culture equals what you tolerate” and how to enforce standards.

• Promotion pitfalls: perks don’t create authority.

• Hiring and training strategies: screen for character, invest in skill-building.

• How to measure ROI on training by tracking behavior, not just attendance.

Links:
👉 Get Andy’s free communication training: https://mavixcoaching.com
👉 Explore more episodes and services: https://www.contech-exec.com

In reality, land development, design, permitting, and construction often overlap, creating incomplete plans, communication breakdowns, and costly rework.

In this episode of the CONTEC Exec Podcast, Robert Zimmerman sits down with Landon Messal from SiteMarker to unpack one of the biggest challenges in the construction industry: overlapping project phases and the lack of reliable field data.

They explore why projects often start before designs are complete, why incomplete plan sets are still being priced and built, and how poor communication leads to costly change orders.

They also discuss how AI, better data governance, and improved field data collection could transform how projects are built.

• Why construction phases increasingly overlap

• The hidden cost of incomplete plan sets

• Why communication failures create project losses

• Why only 4% of AEC data is organized and accessible

• How AI could reshape decision-making in construction

• The role of leadership and change management in adopting new technology

construction industry

construction technology

AEC industry

construction project management

construction productivity

construction data

AI in construction

construction communication problems

construction planning

construction leadership

construction innovation

land development

construction workflow

construction change management

Adam shares valuable insights into how his company is pioneering the use of AI to automate simple tasks, simplify complex processes like takeoffs, and enhance schedule analysis.

The conversation emphasizes the critical balance between leveraging technology and maintaining the human touch in construction.

Adam discusses how AI should be a supportive tool, not a replacement for human expertise and relationships—an essential factor in the industry’s long-term success.

They also dive into the challenges of structuring and organizing construction data, which is necessary for the effective use of AI and analytics.

As the industry works through these hurdles, the conversation highlights the importance of taking a thoughtful approach to AI adoption, including addressing sustainability concerns and the environmental impact of technologies like data centers.

Listen to this episode to understand the potential of AI in construction while keeping the balance between technological advancement and human expertise.

🔗 Listen Now
Follow Adam on Linkedin:Adam Krob, Boh Bros. Construction

Robert Zimmerman, ConTech Exec Podcast

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

#AI #ConstructionTech #BohBros #ConstructionInnovation #Sustainability #ArtificialIntelligence #TechInConstruction #DataAnalysis #ConstructionManagement #HumanExpertise #TechBalance

SmartPM analyzes schedule data at a forensic level—revealing compression, risk, integrity issues, rework indicators, and the optimism bias that quietly destroys profit. If you’ve ever stared at a CPM update and thought, “This feels like creative writing,” this episode is for you.

• Why 88% of baseline schedules fail basic quality checks

• Why CPM isn’t the problem—our inputs are

• How SmartPM surfaces delay risk before it becomes expensive

• Why optimism bias is the most expensive drug in construction

• What executives should be asking when reviewing schedule health

• Why “bad data” is the real reason tech adoption failed for years

• How contractors can start fixing scheduling culture one metric at a time

• Groundbreak conference stories, AR safety demos, and the “pucker factor” at 300 feet

• Why incremental improvements matter more than moonshot claims

• The unicorn-fart test of schedule realism (yes, it came up)

This is a tactical, practical deep dive into the real-world messiness of schedules, data hygiene, project controls, and the future of digital construction.

SmartPM: https://smartpm.com
Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexteplitxky/

Construction. Technology. Real talk—without the buzzwords.
Subscribe & follow for weekly episodes with builders, innovators, and operators reshaping the industry.

What We Cover:🔗 Learn More / Request a Demo⛏️ Subscribe for More ConTech Exec:

In this episode, Robert Zimmerman sits down with Joseph Leiva, PE, CEO & Co-Founder of Kaster, to talk about why subcontractors keep playing banker while everyone else collects interest.

Joe grew up in a family-owned construction business, lived through the 90-day payment cycle, and decided enough was enough. He built Kaster to automate the paperwork, payroll, and compliance chaos that keep subs waiting for their own money.

💬 What’s inside:

• Why subs float millions while chasing invoices

• How compliance red tape and certified payroll drain cash flow

• The real-world cost of one bad paycheck ($900 and counting)

• How automation and AI finally put the paperwork on autopilot

• Why a simple phone call still solves more problems than email ever will

If you’ve ever financed a job you didn’t own — this one’s for you.

🌐 Learn more about Kaster → https://www.kaster.app
🔗 Explore ConTech Exec → https://www.contechexec.com

He says that's still the reality on almost every job site.

This week we get into public sector construction, where every dollar spent on software is a dollar a taxpayer thinks should've gone to a project. Owners maturing off spreadsheets. Data centers as infrastructure, and the Nebraska power plant that had no customer until one showed up. And AJ's bigger argument — that construction spent twenty-five years digitizing paper and called it transformation.

Plus the Empire State Building, built in under a year with everybody working out of the same building. Which last time I checked is not how we do it anymore.

New episode every week.

But they’re solving the wrong problem.

In this episode, KP Reddy explains why construction doesn’t have a tech gap

It has an execution gap.

From BIM to AI, the industry keeps repeating the same cycle:
New tools layered on top of broken workflows.

We get into:

• Why projects lack predictability
• How RFIs expose deeper system failures
• The reality of “value engineering”
• What AI should actually be doing in construction
• How Zero RFI is rethinking project delivery from the ground up

If you’ve ever wondered why your jobs feel like controlled chaos…
This episode will hit home.

Data is your biggest asset—but only if it’s managed, structured, and usable. In this episode, we cover:

• What data governance actually means for contractors

• Why usability matters as much as security

• How training and culture drive adoption

• The role of data lakes, analysts, and architects

• Why IoT and AI are changing the data game

• How to become a truly data-driven organization

If you’re a construction executive, project leader, or technology decision-maker, this conversation will give you a practical roadmap for taking control of your firm’s data and turning it into real business value.

🔗 Connect with Robert Zimmerman on LinkedIn
🔗 Learn more at ConTech-Exec.com
🔗 Connect with Christian Burger on LinkedIn

His verdict on two decades of construction tech promises is not what you'd expect. The vendors weren't the problem. The industry doesn't want to be reinvented — it wants to be better in about 10,000 specific ways. What got underestimated was how hard organizational change is when every project is a temporary organization stitched together from firms with different contracts, incentives, and digital maturity.

We cover the Procore study on expertise, the change order research showing only 7% of GCs rate themselves very effective at managing T&M work, why 38% of projects run over schedule while only low-20s run over cost, and what separates owners who think tech means software from owners who think tech means better information.

Steve Jones is Senior Director, Industry Insights Research at Dodge Construction Network. Free research at construction.com.

#ConstructionTech #ConstructionManagement #ProjectControls #ConstructionIndustry #Preconstruction

It has a data problem.

In this episode, Robert Zimmerman and Landon Messal unpack why “data governance” is the missing foundation behind productivity, forecasting, and real operational control.

From overlapping project phases to inconsistent data in the field, the conversation exposes how the industry is building faster—but thinking slower.

Key takeaways:

• Why productivity in construction has stalled while other industries surged

• How poor data structure limits AI and decision-making
• The importance of measuring production (not just tracking spend)

• Why solving 80% of the problem beats chasing edge cases
• How to create simple feedback loops that actually improve performance

This episode is a reality check—and a roadmap—for construction leaders who want to move from reactive to predictive.

Connect with Landon Messal on LInkedin

Be sure to check out Sitemarker -

https://www.sitemarker.com/

In this episode of the ConTech Exec Podcast, Robert Zimmerman sits down with Rocky Cherry, CEO of Cherry Coatings, to discuss what really happens at the end of a job when trade stacking, schedule compression, and workflow breakdown collide.

Rocky shares stories from the field, lessons from growing a national coatings contractor, and why culture and execution discipline matter more than most companies realize.

Topics include:

• Why finish trades absorb the pressure of schedule delays
• How technology is helping contractors document disruption and cost impacts
• The role of culture and servant leadership in scaling construction companies
• Why safety and planning actually improve production
• Preparing construction teams for the next wave of digital transformation

Rocky also shares an unforgettable story about retiring Derek Jeter at the final game in Old Yankee Stadium—and the leadership lesson it revealed about preparation and opportunity.

If you're a construction executive, contractor, or operations leader navigating workflow complexity, this conversation delivers practical insight into execution clarity in modern construction.

In this episode of the ConTech Exec Podcast, Robert Zimmerman sits down with Albert Bou Fadel, founder and CEO of SmartBarrel, to discuss how accurate data, workforce management, and technology adoption are reshaping the industry.

From the fight against time theft to the role of AI and the need for standardization, this conversation cuts through the hype and gets to the core of what’s holding construction back — and where innovation is driving it forward.

Key Takeaways:

• SmartBarrel is redefining workforce management with biometric accuracy

• Accurate data is more valuable than massive amounts of unreliable numbers

• Resistance to change remains a major hurdle in construction tech adoption

• AI can enhance analysis, but only when data quality is high

• Budgeting decisions directly impact project success and profit margins

• Standardization and data audits are critical for future growth

👉 Learn more at: https://contech-exec.com

For more on SmartBarrel, check out their website.

https://smartbarrel.io

Follow Robert Zimmerman on Linkedin!

www.linkedin.com/in/robert-zimmerman-contech-exec

Veteran builder-turned-founder Steve Dell’Orto joins Robert to unpack why preconstruction is the true profit center—and why most teams still run it with spreadsheets and heroics.

• We go deep on ConCntric’s “40 facets of pre-con,”
• structured data as institutional memory,
• practical agentic AI (Amplify),
• and what owners now expect in RFPs.

Steve explains how unifying

• SCHEDULE
• COST
• VALUE ENGINEERING
• PROCUREMENT
• COLLABORATION

in one platform increases win rates 20–30%, reduces duplicate data entry, and helps small teams operate like big GCs.

If you’re serious about predictability, adoption, and doing more with the people you already have, this one’s for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Steve Dell'Orto has 26 years of experience in the construction industry.
• The construction industry faces challenges in adopting technology, but it's not as backward as perceived.
• Pre-construction is crucial for project success and profitability.
• Data is often underutilized in the pre-construction phase.
• Involving subcontractors early can lead to better project outcomes.
• The platform developed by Concentric aims to streamline pre-construction processes.
• Digitization is essential for all project sizes, from small renovations to large-scale developments.
• AI can significantly enhance efficiency in construction management.
• The Built by Builders community fosters innovation in construction technology.
• Adoption of technology is crucial for survival in the evolving construction landscape.

For More info on ConCntric click here

For More info on Robert and the ConTech Exec click here

Three takeaways:

• Generic AI gets ~60–65% of the way on a construction task; the last mile is construction- and company-specific.
• Capturing senior field workers' "method to the madness" isn't about replacing them — it's about giving the next generation the why.
• "There is only one owner of the data, and that's the customer."

Puneet Raj is the CEO of Fieldwire, the field-first construction management platform now part of the Hilti Group.

Follow ConTech Exec for a new conversation every week. If this one made you think, share it with someone who runs the field.

In this episode of The ConTech Exec Podcast, Robert Zimmerman sits down with Christopher Mouflard, founder of Marked Up AI, to talk about a problem the industry has quietly normalized: incomplete drawings.

This isn’t a discussion about software features or faster workflows.
It’s a conversation about decision risk, governance breakdowns, and why responsibility keeps sliding to the least experienced person on the project.

We cover:

• Why rework has become “acceptable”

• How incomplete drawings create executive-level exposure

• What happens when teams are stretched thin and oversight disappears

• Why more tools don’t fix sequencing problems

• Where technology actually should be applied — and where it shouldn’t

If you’re accountable for outcomes, margin, and risk — this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar.

If you’re looking for tools, tactics, or implementation advice, this is not for you.

Host Robert Zimmerman sits down with Alan to take apart the stat everybody quotes — that 95% of tech rollouts fail — and why it's almost never the software. It's the implementation: wrong person in charge, no executive sponsorship, and nobody ever asked why the team didn't want to use the thing. Alan's premise is simple: you can't fix what you don't know is broken, so map your broken workflows first.

They get into what actually works — one-on-one over top-down mandates, showing people what's in it for them (the Universal Studios story), capturing the institutional brain before your clash-detection wizard retires off a $400M job, and the incentives that move a job site the way Duolingo streaks and seatbelt beeps move everyone else. And the one that always lands with a sub: use the tool, get tracked faster, get paid faster. Cash flow is king.

Even when the subject is artificial intelligence, it comes back to people. That's the whole game.

Learn about AI-powered analytics and IoT technology enhancing safety, compliance, bidding, and procurement.

Zimmerman highlights the benefits of platforms like Procore, Slack, and ALMobile, offering insights into improving quality control, payroll, and as-builts. Tune in to uncover how embracing innovation can optimize efficiency and reduce errors for better project outcomes.

🎧 Listen now to stay ahead in the digital construction revolution!

#digital construction workflows augmented reality, construction technology, AI in construction, Procore, safety compliance, digital blueprints)

In this episode, I sit down with David Swider and N.K. Chaitanya from Track3D, two guys who realized the jobsite already HAS the answers — we just never bother checking the back of the book.

We get into:

• Why “take pictures and pray” is not a workflow

• How Track3D turns casual walk paths into hard production numbers

• Why AI shouldn’t replace people — it should replace the stuff people hate doing

• What deviation detection looks like when it’s actually usable

• The moment NK realized most 360° captures are viewed zero times

If you’ve ever walked a jobsite and thought,
“Someone should be tracking this… but it ain’t gonna be me,”
this episode will hit home.

This is construction. It’s messy, loud, unpredictable — and Track3D is trying to give us something rare: clarity without more work.

👉 Follow the show for more no-BS conversations about tech that actually helps builders build.

In this insightful episode of ConTech Exec, we sit down with Lee Robertson, a senior engineer at Austin Lane, to explore the intricacies of UI/UX design in the construction tech industry. Lee dives into how Austin Lane’s mobile application is tailored to meet the needs of construction professionals, balancing intuitive design with powerful functionality.

From the fundamentals of color theory and interface placement to addressing the tech proficiency gap among users, Lee shares the challenges and strategies involved in crafting a user-friendly experience. Discover how user feedback, gathered through conferences and internal channels, drives innovation, and learn about the exciting integration of AI to streamline workflows and boost efficiency.

In this episode of The ConTech Exec Podcast, I’m joined by Alex Issakova, a former Silicon Valley AI insider and the voice behind The Long Signal.

We dig into the parts of AI nobody wants to talk about:

• Why large language models don’t actually reason

• How bad data creates confident, wrong answers

• The real environmental cost of AI (energy, water, data centers)

• Why AI mirrors our worst human behaviors

• And why “faster” isn’t always better—especially in construction and business

This isn’t anti-AI.
It’s pro-thinking.

If you’re an executive, builder, or operator trying to figure out where AI helps—and where it absolutely doesn’t—this episode is required listening.

🎙️ Listen now and decide where AI belongs in your business.

From field-to-office misalignment, to outdated ordering workflows, to the six-to-eight people who touch every PO, Eric breaks down why procurement is still construction’s most expensive blind spot — and how the right digital tools can finally fix it.

🔥 What You’ll Learn

• Why manual procurement destroys subcontractor margins

• The real cost of redundant workflows & admin overhead

• How digital procurement cuts waste, errors, and delays

• Why AI and analytics are becoming essential to buying smarter

• What “digital maturity” looks like for contractors in 2025 and beyond

If you’re a subcontractor, GC, estimator, or operations leader, this episode shows you exactly where the money leaks — and how to plug them.

#ConstructionTech #Procurement #MaterialsManagement #SubBase #DigitalTransformation #ConTechExec #AIinConstruction

In this episode of the ConTech Exec, Christian Burger, founder of Burger Consulting Group, brings over 30 years of experience in the construction technology industry to the table. He shares actionable insights on software selection, ERP implementation, and IT strategy for mid-size to large construction companies.

Key topics discussed include:

• The growing labor shortage and its impact on construction productivity.
• How artificial intelligence (AI) can begin to revolutionize both office and field operations.
• The shift from legacy ERP systems to agile cloud-based software solutions.
• Strategies for addressing data integrity challenges and adopting emerging technologies like AI and robotics.
• The balance between field and office dynamics in driving IT innovation.

Christian also explores how companies can future-proof their IT infrastructure to remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry. Whether you're a construction executive, tech leader, or industry professional, this episode is packed with practical advice and future-focused trends.

Links:

Burger Consulting Group

Christian on Linkedin

Robert on Linkedin

From chillers and switchgear to financing and factory capacity, Mike breaks down how AI and structured data are helping contractors, OEMs, and suppliers finally see what’s really happening in the supply chain.

We talk about:

• Why lead times are a terrible indicator of reality

• How $830 billion gets tied up in construction finance

• What “verticalizing the supply chain” really means

• How BuildVision turns chaos into capacity planning

• The role of AI in cleaning unstructured construction data

If you’ve ever wondered why you’re still waiting on equipment that was “in stock” six months ago, this episode is your therapy session.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts

Buildvision Website

📩 Contact: robert@ConTechExec.com
🌐 More insights: www.ConTechExec.com

Olivier Grinda thinks that's a cop-out — and he sold his last company to come prove it.

A repeat founder who ran the turnaround at Clearco, Olivier crossed into construction through the Stackpoint venture studio to attack a $175B+ annual problem: rework. In this episode he argues that tech rollouts don't die because field crews are stubborn — they die because the tool solves 80% of the job and sends you back to Excel for the rest.

His rule: solve the discrete problem 100%, lean into how people already work, and never tell a 30-year superintendent how to do his job. When his team gets it right, document review drops from four days to fifteen minutes. A sharp, contrarian take on AI adoption on the jobsite.

Guest: Olivier Grinda, Founder & CEO, [construction AI startup — confirm name/spelling] (former COO, Clearco)

They dive into how AI-powered payroll and gamification are transforming the way contractors manage teams, automate compliance, and reward performance. Lou shares how his team built Lumberfi with real-world jobsite input—creating software that actually works for the people in the field.

From fighting tech fatigue to boosting engagement and simplifying compliance, this conversation highlights how modern construction companies can use technology without overwhelming their crews.

If you’ve ever thought payroll was harder than concrete, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• How AI automates construction payroll and compliance

• Why gamification keeps field teams engaged

• The right way to roll out tech without burning people out

• How Builder Facts helps workers manage certifications

• Why the future of construction starts with workforce tech that works

Memorable Moments:

“Lumberfi is taking off. It’s amazing.”
“AI is built right into the software.”
“Tech fatigue in this industry is real.”

🎧 Listen now and discover how AI payroll is reshaping the construction workforce—one paycheck at a time.

Learn strategies to bridge the gap between

• design and field teams,
• optimize design contracts,
• and foster a culture of innovation.

Gain practical tips for

• benchmarking,
• user validation,
• implementation planning,

Also take a look into Haskell's visionary 2025 innovation program. Perfect for construction professionals eager to drive efficiency and innovation.

#contech #construction #planning #innovation #AI

Estimating and Takeoffs were eating 50–60% of overhead.

In this episode of The ConTech Exec, Patrick breaks down how Togal.AI was built to solve that exact choke point.

We get into:

• Why takeoffs still look like they did 30 years ago—just with a mouse instead of a scale ruler
• How Togal trained millions of plans using 25 architects and engineers to label data with surgical precision
• Why mid-market contractors shouldn’t waste years trying to build AI workflows from scratch
• The real future: predictive assemblies, automated drywall takeoffs, and full plan sets generated from a prompt
• The danger of companies “pencil-whipping” data and expecting AI to magically fix it
• Why the firms who adopt AI will 10x output—and the ones who don’t will get left behind.

We also hit the bigger picture:

compute constraints,

data center pushback,

water and power fights,

workforce shortages,

and why AI is about to reshape every knowledge job in construction.

Listen in if you want the real story—not hype—on where AI is taking precon and what leaders should be prioritizing right now.

Want to be on the show or run your AI Readiness Score?

Email me r.zimmerman@contech-exec.com

To Contact Patrick:

Visit https://www.togal.ai/

or reach out on Linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-e-murphy-79318832b/

In this episode of The ConTech Exec Podcast, host Robert Zimmerman sits down with Jack Carrere, CEO and co-founder of Prokeep, to uncover how fragmented communication between contractors and distributors is quietly killing productivity across the industry.

From text messages lost on personal phones to delayed deliveries and AI-driven order automation, Jack explains how Prokeep is bringing order to the chaos — connecting over 1,000 distributors, 8,500 locations, and 3 million contractors in one unified workflow.

💡 You’ll learn:

• Why poor communication costs more than bad estimates

• How AI is helping distributors quote and deliver faster — without losing the human touch

• The shift from counter calls to digital transparency

• Why behavior change matters more than new software

  
  

  If you are a distributor and want to Find out more about ProKeep: https://www.prokeep.com

In this episode, we explore how this iconic skyscraper was built with efficiency, flow, and respect for the workforce—hallmarks of lean construction—long before these principles were formally defined.

We contrast its streamlined approach with today’s more bureaucratic industry and discuss how emerging technologies like AI can revolutionize construction—if applied with the right mindset. Plus, we examine innovative project delivery models like Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) that foster collaboration and shared success.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on how the past can inspire a more productive, technology-enabled future for construction professionals, project managers, and industry innovators.

🔔 Subscribe now and stay ahead of the curve in construction and project management! ConTech Exec Podcast

Check Out Kyles work and pages:

Podcast

Book - The No Bullsh*t Project

Linkedin: Kyle Nitchen

The problem isn’t labor. It’s not technology.
It’s the system.

In this kickoff episode, I sit down with Todd Zabelle, founder of Strategic Project Solutions and the Project Production Institute, to unpack the truth behind construction’s productivity flatline — and why we’ve been managing projects with 1916 playbooks in a 2026 world.

We cover:
🔹 The 3 eras of project delivery — from Taylorism to today
🔹 Why “working harder” kills flow
🔹 The real cost of WIP (work in process)
🔹 Bottlenecks, variability, and how to control them
🔹 Why AI can’t fix chaos — it just measures it faster

Construction isn’t broken. It’s mismanaged.

👉 Follow the series: The Flow Problem | Part 2: The Hidden Factory on Every Jobsite drops next month.

🎙️ Hosted by Robert Zimmerman, ConTech Exec.

Check Out

PPI - Project Production Institute: https://projectproduction.org

SPS - Strategic Project Solutions: https://www.strategicprojectsolutions.com/index.html

#ConTechExec #FlowProblem #ToddZabelle #Construction #Leadership #AI #ProjectProduction

In this episode of The ConTech Exec Podcast, host Robert Zimmerman sits down with Tom Deane, Co-Founder & CEO of Project Mark, to break down why traditional CRMs like Salesforce struggle in the construction industry—and what a construction-specific CRM should actually do.

We cover:

• Why generic CRMs fail contractors, GCs, and subcontractors

• How construction CRM software should handle preconstruction, operations, and closeout data

• The role of business development, relationship management, and project data

• How AI fits into construction CRMs (and where it doesn’t)

• Why culture, process, and accountability matter more than tools

• How to get visibility into backlog, forecasting, and revenue without Excel

If you’re a:

• General contractor

• Specialty contractor

• Construction executive

• Preconstruction or BD leader

…and your CRM lives in spreadsheets, silos, or nobody actually uses it—this episode will hit home.

Key takeaway:
Construction technology should support how builders work—not force them to work like sales reps.

In this episode of The ConTech Exec Podcast, host Robert Zimmerman sits down with Emma Nazim and Molly Abbott, co-founders of Constructable.AI, to talk about how they’re tackling one of construction’s biggest pain points: too much software and not enough connection.

They dive into:

• 🧱 Why they started with drawings as the true source of project truth

• 💬 How Constructable’s integrated markup and collaboration features replace Bluebeam sessions and endless email chains

• 🤖 What “grounded AI” really means — and how they prevent hallucination by keeping everything tied to your own data

• 📱 Field-first design — from voice-to-text punch lists to offline functionality

• 💡 A pricing model built for simplicity: flat, transparent, and contractor-friendly

Whether you’re a GC, a subcontractor, or a tech-curious exec, this episode reveals what real innovation looks like when you start with jobsite reality, not Silicon Valley hype.

Check out Constructable's website: https://www.constructable.ai/

In this episode of the ConTech Exec Podcast, host Robert Zimmerman breaks down how large contractors are already using AI and data-driven tools—and what medium-sized contractors must do now to keep pace.

You’ll learn:

• Why bad data creates confident idiots and verified data creates leaders.

• How Suffolk uses predictive analytics to reduce safety incidents.

• How Mortenson uses ALICE Technologies to recover months on project schedules.

• How Skanska and Suffolk leverage AI to identify jobsite hazards before accidents happen.

• How PCL Construction’s Job Site Insights™ platform uses IoT + cloud to monitor job conditions in real time.

• How Turner Construction built live dashboards (Project Pulse) to replace lagging monthly reports.

We’ll also map out a 90-day playbook for mid-market GCs and specialty contractors:

1. Build data foundations (governance, cost code standards, BI dashboards).

2. Run a safety AI pilot with Newmetrix/Oracle.

3. Test schedule optimization with ALICE.

4. Add IoT sensors to protect materials and finishes.

5. Establish a rhythm of change management and workforce upskilling.

The bottom line: it’s time to get serious. The contractors who prove they can deliver predictably with data will win the next decade.

🔗 Connect with Robert Zimmerman on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robert-zimmerman-contech-exec
🔗 Visit the ConTech Exec website: https://contech-exec.com

👉 Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with your peers in construction tech.

#ConstructionTech #AIinConstruction #DigitalTransformation #ConTechExec #ConstructionInnovation

The ConTech Exec YouTube Channel

ALMobile Payroll Cost Estimator

In this episode, we tackle the challenges and opportunities of technology adoption in the construction industry. From debunking the analog workflow’s hidden costs to mapping out strategies for real ROI, we break down how contractors can thrive in a tech-driven world. Topics include data strategy, workforce training, and realistic KPIs for success. Whether you're navigating integration issues, battling slow adoption, or curious about the latest innovations like AI and BIM, this episode offers actionable insights. Tune in to discover how to drive efficiency, safety, and productivity in your projects.

Episode Summary
In Episode #3 of The ConTech Exec, Robert Zimmerman explores the hurdles construction companies face when adopting new technologies—and the immense benefits that await those who succeed. With real-world examples, Robert outlines how outdated processes drain resources and how strategic changes can unlock substantial ROI.

Key discussion points include:

• The cost of analog workflows versus digital solutions.
• Building a robust data strategy for actionable insights.
• The importance of training to bridge the skills gap.
• Prioritizing integration and measuring success with KPIs.

Robert cuts through the hype, emphasizing that while transformative technologies like AI and AR dominate headlines, foundational data and strategic implementation often yield the best returns. Listen in to learn how to prepare your team and processes for the next step in construction innovation.

Stay tuned for the next episode, where Robert discusses how to make tech more user-friendly for the construction workforce.

Follow Robert on LinkedIn

Eshan Jayamanne, Founder & CEO of Krane, joins Robert to talk about why the construction supply chain stayed broken for so long — and what changes when jobsite delivery data starts flowing upstream into preconstruction.

They cover the whiteboard that started it all, why hospitals are quietly fighting data centers for the same transformers and switchgear, and why the right time to find your bottleneck is before you pour, not after.

Eshan also explains why Krane refuses to pitch itself as "AI for anything" — lead with the problem, and let the tool be the how.

Three takeaways:

• Your procurement log is a diagnostic. Columns, macros, submittal ties — the spreadsheet tells you exactly how a team actually works.
• Design around the supply chain. Same cost, two supplier paths, six months of schedule difference. That decision belongs in precon, not month nine.
• The tools now train the people. GCs are using these systems to onboard new project engineers faster than the jobsite learning curve ever allowed.

Eshan Jayamanne is a licensed PE and third-generation builder who worked at Stantec, WebCore, Boldt, and Chevron before founding Krane, now deployed across major healthcare and data center programs.

Listen, follow the ConTech Exec Podcast, and share it with someone still running their supply chain off a whiteboard.

The planning stage isn't broken. It's missing. Engineers got pulled out of the how. Tradespeople got pulled out of the what. The CM sits in the middle making bars. Three groups, three languages, nobody speaking the same one. AI doesn't fix that. AI walks in, asks for a price, and gets handed a schedule made by someone who never built anything.

Todd makes the case that AI is a subordinate tool. Useful for equipment data, dossier work, requirements management, traffic routing. Not useful for designing the production system. That still takes a human who's been on the tools and knows operations science. One plus one doesn't equal two. Capacity utilization isn't linear. The sum of cycle times isn't the cycle time. None of that is in the model.

Then we got into the data center build. Switchgear delays. Labor shortfalls. A town that kicked out its own council to stop a data center. GPU supply tightening. Banks getting jumpy on syndication. Todd's read: it's not 1999.com. It's 2012 fracking. Everybody at the feeding trough. Three years from a thinning.

The Empire State Building got built in less than a year with sketches. We can't build a tilt-up on time with 3D models and an MRP system. Todd has a theory about why. So do I.

This one's for the executives who keep buying AI as the answer without asking what the question was.

They dive deep into the four-year journey of building a construction-specific AI that focuses on more than just data—it's programmed to understand human intent and the complex workflows that govern your job site.

Discover how this new layer of project intelligence is finally solving some of construction's most persistent and expensive problems, including:

• The Rework Crisis: Why rework costs the industry over $60 billion globally and how AI can prevent mistakes that are often repeated across multiple projects.

• The Power of Lessons Learned: How to pull historical job data out of disparate silos and transform it into a "shrinking database" of actionable insights that actually improve efficiency and safety.

• Data Governance & Process: The crucial difference between an estimating model and an operational model, and why fixing your people and processes is the only way to successfully leverage new technology.

If you're a contractor hesitant about AI, or a firm looking to seamlessly integrate intelligence without disrupting your tech stack, this is a must-listen on how the future of construction management is non-invasive, intent-driven, and centered on eliminating costly errors before they happen.

• The Contractor’s Nightmare: Why it’s not if you deal with a legal issue, but when, and how to avoid the "flowers at a funeral" scenario where lawyers arrive too late.
• Managing Expectations: The critical art of aligning an owner's "Taj Mahal" vision with a realistic budget to ensure a happy client.
• The AI Revolution in Contracts: Learn about Eliot’s "First Rule Contract Training" and how it combines AI to decode contracts with the human element of training and negotiation.
• The Drunken Cheerleader: A candid discussion on why relying solely on large language models like ChatGPT without human critical thinking and experience (the Star Trek's Kirk and Spock analogy) is a recipe for disaster and negligence.

"The digitization of the information is going to become table stakes. You have to understand it."—Eliot Wagonheim Don't let a one-sided contract sink your business.

Tune in to understand how education, technology, and old-school mentorship will define the next generation of construction professionals.

Discover the truth behind the AI hype and how it’s shaping the future of the construction industry. Hugh unpacks key insights, including

If you’re curious about the real impact of AI on construction and what industry leaders should do to stay ahead, this episode is a must-listen.

🎧 Tune in now for actionable tips, expert analysis, and a clear vision of the future of AI in construction!

Be sure to check out Hugh Seaton's Work

Website: https://hughseaton.com

Work: https://www.thelink.ai

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughseaton

Jeff Kaufman, founder of JIT Pro, started as a field carpenter, ran large projects as a superintendent, and moved into management where he traced nearly every late job back to the same root cause: procurement. In this episode, Jeff explains why expediting procurement doesn't save time — it compounds risk that lands three months later when the steel package shows up wrong. He and Robert get into hidden buffers versus strategic buffers owned by the whole project team, the silent transfer of risk that happens when contractors sign unrealistic schedules, and why working backward from required on-site dates often proves the buying should have started before the contract was even signed. They also cover the Living Building Challenge's double procurement process, cognitive overload on project teams, and who JIT Pro is built for: growth-stage GCs jumping from two jobs a year to five.

Guest: Jeff Kaufman, Founder, JIT Pro (jit-pro.com)

#ConstructionTechnology #Procurement #ConstructionPlanning #GeneralContractor #ConTech

Steve's whole case is that construction is so fragmented we make huge decisions off two or three stories and call it the truth. It's usually somewhat true — and somewhat true is exactly how you burn yourself. He gets a call a week from a founder with fresh money and a shiny thing that's going to reinvent the industry, and he stops them with one question: how does this help a superintendent on a Wednesday morning at 9:15? If you can't answer that, you've got tech searching for a problem.

The rest of the conversation: why there's no silver bullet, only Kaizen — a thousand things done a little better, maybe ten thousand — and why every exhibitor promising to solve everything is setting itself up to fail. Why technology is GPS: it won't tell you where to go, it'll only get you there once you know. And the AI study he was about to present — fewer than half of contractors even know the AI features already sitting in their tools, adoption is thin on the project-management side, but for the ones who've done the real behavioral work to embed it, it's night and day, and it's showing up in their margin.

It comes back to people, the way it always does in this business. As Steve puts it: everybody wants to be first to be third. Let the other guy try it and bollocks it up — just be the fastest third.

The thesis is simple: don't automate the operator, automate the busy work. Zachry's partnered with Bedrock Robotics on an excavator that can handle the dull, repeatable half of the job — loading dirt in a truck — so the skilled operator gets out of the cab and runs the work that takes a human: moving pipe, setting retaining wall panels, covering multiple crews. A dump run is no fun. Let the machine do that.

What sold her on Bedrock wasn't the Waymo pedigree on the team — it was that they actually showed up. From day one they wanted input from the field, not just executives: operators, engineers, the equipment team, safety, ops. Rachel's advice to any ConTech founder is the same — put your boots on, spend a day in the heat in the PPE, and learn what the work really is before you build for it. And contractors have to meet them halfway: on innovation, the high tide raises all boats, and if you hold your cards too tight the good tools get swallowed up before they ever mature.

The rest of the conversation: why this is the moment robotics finally arrives — AI, computer vision, and autonomous-vehicle hardware all maturing at once — why it's about capacity and capturing the institutional knowledge of a 30-year operator, not replacing anyone, and why adoption, not the tech, is where most of it dies. Build the best thing in the world; if it isn't easy and safe and predictable, it's useless.

Oh — and they went from first phone call to hardware on the equipment in about a week.

In this episode of the ConTech Exec Podcast, Robert Zimmerman sits down with Anna Berger, Co-Founder of Trayd — an all-in-one back office operating system built exclusively for specialty contractors. Anna grew up watching her father run a construction business on razor-thin margins, stepped into his back office, and couldn't believe what she found: a $1.2 trillion industry still running payroll on paper timecards and Excel spreadsheets.

The result? Payroll admins trapped in a seven-day hamster wheel with no time to innovate, a single bad paycheck costing upwards of $960 to correct, and compliance exposure that can dwarf that figure many times over.

What you'll take away from this conversation:

• Why construction payroll is the most complex in any industry — and why tools like ADP and Paychex keep failing contractors
• The real cost of a single payroll error — and why 100% accuracy isn't a goal, it's the only option
• Why unstructured labor data is the single biggest obstacle blocking AI from delivering real value in construction
• How getting field workers genuinely bought into digital tools — not just compliant with them — is the key to clean data
• The compliance trap: how rising regulatory pressure on public works is raising the stakes for every specialty contractor

For C-suite leaders in construction, this episode connects two of the most critical operational realities you face: your data is only as good as the process that captures it, and your margins are only as good as your payroll.

🔗 Connect with Anna: linkedin.com/in/annajberger | buildtrayd.com

🎙️ Follow ConTech Exec on LinkedIn for executive-level insights on the construction company of the future.

In this episode of the ConTech Exec Podcast, Patrick Hennessy dives into the transformative power of AI in construction, exploring how tools like ChatGPT and CoPilot are revolutionizing knowledge transfer, data organization, and efficiency across the industry.

🏗️ Key topics include:
✅ How AI simplifies learning & enhances productivity
✅ The importance of data security & AI policies in construction tech
✅ Challenges of integrating AI with legacy systems
✅ Why a cultural shift is essential for AI adoption
✅ Patrick’s journey into construction technology & the future of innovation

Don’t miss this insightful discussion on how AI is shaping the future of construction!

🌐 Follow for more ConTech insights: https://www.linkedin.com/company/contech-exec-podcast

#ConTech #AIinConstruction #Innovation #DataSecurity #DigitalTransformation #ConstructionTechnology