Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay and established as an advantage across many markets. For the construction industry—where efficiency, safety, and cost control drive success—this technology is proving transformative.
With the construction technology market on the rise, firms that embrace AI today are positioning themselves to outpace competitors tomorrow. But with so many solutions available, how do you know which AI tools are right for your business?
This guide will help you identify priorities, understand the landscape, and select technology that delivers measurable results.
Start with Strategy: Identify Your Priorities
Before evaluating software, step back and clarify what matters most for your business.
- Are you looking to reduce waste and improve bid accuracy?
- Do you want safer job sites and fewer compliance risks?
- Is your goal to free up your finance team from manual tasks?
By identifying the outcomes you want—whether that’s faster takeoffs, safer job sites, or automated financial processes—you can narrow your focus and select technology with measurable benefits. Without this clarity, it’s easy to get lost in the noise of competing platforms.
Jobsite Optimization: AI Tools for the Field
Applying AI tools in the field is a rapidly evolving area for many construction businesses. Let’s take a look at some prominent tools and applications to keep an eye on.
Smarter Scheduling & Project Planning
AI tools like ALICE Technologies use generative algorithms to evaluate thousands of construction sequences. This kind of intelligence can translate into more accurate schedules and better resource allocation, leading to stronger bid win rates and fewer missed deadlines. Companies using AI-assisted estimation often report up to higher bid win rates than those that don’t use these solutions.
Similarly, Buildots leverages AI-powered progress tracking to consolidate site data into real-time dashboards, cutting delays by as much as half and giving project managers more control.
Safety-First Monitoring
Keeping workers safe is always top priority.
- AI wearables monitor fatigue levels and vital signs.
- AI-powered drones can scan sites for OSHA safety risks and alert teams automatically.
- Computer vision systems catch missing PPE or unsafe behaviors in real-time.
These tools are all enhancements to previously existing technology powered by AI. Together, these technologies make job sites safer and more predictable.
Seamless Field Documentation
Documentation and collaboration also benefit from AI. Platforms like OpenSpace automatically map photos to floor plans, turning site images into accessible as-built models within minutes. Fulcrum eliminates repetitive data entry with AI-powered workflows, while Fieldwire connects crews and managers through digital task tracking and blueprint markup. Each of these solutions reduces the friction between field and office, ensuring that decisions are made with accurate, up-to-date information.
Transforming the Back Office with AI
While much attention is given to AI in the field, the back office is where many construction companies see immediate efficiency gains, especially when it comes to their finance teams.
AvidXchange’s AI-enhanced accounts payable (AP) automation solution modernizes how construction finance teams manage invoices and payments with:
- AI Approval Agent: The AI Approval Agent analyzes past decisions to quickly estimate invoice approval likelihood and provides real-time insights, while keeping you in control of final approvals.
- Invoice Capture Enhancements: Enhanced invoice capture uses AI to learn from your data and deliver approval-ready invoices, minimizing manual work and streamlining future processes.
- AI Purchase Order Matching Agent: This agent automates matching invoice line items to purchase orders, speeding up approvals and increasing accuracy, with visual cues to highlight AI assistance.
Unlike tools that rely solely on algorithms, AvidXchange combines AI insights with human expertise, giving finance leaders confidence that their AP process is not only efficient but also under their control.
Choosing the Right Fit
With so many options available, the decision comes down to alignment. Here are some questions to ask yourself and your team when deciding if certain AI tools are the right fit for your construction business:
- Integration capabilities: Does it work with your project management and accounting systems?
- Scalability: Can it handle both small projects and multi-million-dollar builds?
- Ease of use: Will your teams adopt it without steep training curves?
- Security & compliance: Does it safeguard sensitive financial and project data?
- ROI measurement: Can you clearly track savings in time, money, or risk?
The Competitive Edge of AI in Construction
The companies that adopt AI now are already seeing the benefits—safer workplaces, stronger bid performance, faster project delivery, and more efficient back-office operations.
As the industry continues to evolve, success will increasingly depend on a company’s ability to create a connected ecosystem where data flows seamlessly from the field to the finance office. That integration is what allows leaders to make smarter, faster, and more profitable decisions.
AI in Construction is Meant to Enhance, Not Replace
While it can be daunting to see and hear so much about AI, these solutions are not about replacing people; it’s about enabling them to do their best work. By selecting the right mix of field and financial solutions, construction companies can unlock new levels of efficiency, improve safety, and give their teams the freedom to focus on strategy and growth.
Want to dig deeper in how AI fits into your back office finance operations? Read our guide to AI in finance here.
If you’re ready to see how AI can transform your financial operations, AvidXchange is here to help. Book your demo today and explore how AI-enhanced AP automation can give your team back their time while improving visibility and control.
Important Notice: The information presented on this page is based on research and intended for educational purposes only. Anyone seeking to follow the information contained herein should consult their own advisors and conduct their own research prior to doing so. AvidXchange, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any and all liability resulting from reliance on the information contained herein.