A major contractor using ALICE Technologies on a $200M rail project cut five months from the schedule just by adjusting the build sequence (yes, five months, that’s not a typo).
Most construction companies are still finding out about delays after they happen (when the sub calls saying they can’t start because the previous trade isn’t done). AI changes that.
Why Projects Run Late
Construction delays aren’t random. They follow patterns.
Weather impacts concrete pours, permit approvals stall sitework, and material deliveries slip by weeks. But most contractors don’t have systems that track those dependencies in real time or simulate what happens when one domino falls.
The result? You find out about the problem when your schedule is already blown. Not two weeks earlier when you could’ve re-sequenced trades or expedited materials (and avoided the entire delay claim).
The 5 AI Tools Changing Construction
1) AI Estimating & Takeoff
Tools: Togal.AI, iBeam
Reads blueprints automatically and performs material takeoffs in minutes instead of hours. AI identifies every door, window, linear foot of drywall, and cubic yard of concrete from your PDF drawings.
Real example: Togal.AI reduces estimating time by 80-90% compared to manual takeoff. A Florida commercial GC using iBeam cut bid turnaround from 3 days to 4 hours (which is good, because manually counting 847 light fixtures at 11 PM on a Friday isn’t anyone’s idea of a rewarding care).
Cost: $200 to $600 per month + $20 to $50 per takeoff.
2) Progress Tracking & Site Documentation
Tools: OpenSpace, Buildots, Doxel
Uses 360-degree cameras or autonomous robots to scan jobsites daily. AI compares what’s actually built to your BIM model and schedule, flagging delays or out-of-spec work before it becomes a punch list disaster.
Real example: Buildots reduced project management overhead by 20% after detecting schedule slippage days after it happened (not three weeks later when you’re already paying for three trades standing around wondering who’s going first). Doxel cut total project costs by 11% on a healthcare facility by catching framing errors early (before drywall went up and turned a $2,000 fix into a $40,000 change order).
Cost: $1,500 to $5,000 per month + $15,000 to $50,000 hardware (cameras, robots, mounting systems).
3) AI Project Scheduling
Tools: ALICE Technologies, Procore Assist
Simulates thousands of build sequences and calculates the fastest path forward based on weather, material lead times, labor availability, and site constraints. When something changes (rain delay, permit approval, or rush order), AI recalculates the entire schedule in minutes.
Real example: ALICE cut 5 months from a $200M rail project by optimizing the construction sequence. Procore Assist answers scheduling questions in seconds by searching project specs, RFIs, and submittals (because finding the answer buried in a 400-page spec manual at 11 PM the night before concrete placement isn’t a sustainable project management strategy).
Cost: $2,000 to $10,000 per month for ALICE; Procore Assist is included with Procore subscriptions ($375 to $1,000 per user/month).
4) AI Safety Monitoring
Tools: Smartvid.io (integrates with Procore)
Scans jobsite photos and videos for PPE violations, unsafe equipment use, and fall hazards. AI flags risks in real time and predicts where the next accident is most likely to happen based on historical patterns.
Real example: Smartvid.io doesn’t just “see” violations; it connects the dots. One contractor saw their incident rate drop 40% after the system flagged scaffolding issues across three sites that supervisors had missed during daily walkthroughs.
Cost: $200 to $800 per month (add-on to Procore or standalone).
5) AI Document & RFI Management
Tools: Pillar, Pype (Autodesk Construction Cloud)
Uses natural language processing to read contracts, specs, and RFI threads. AI extracts key requirements, deadlines, and conflicting language—then auto-generates RFI responses or flags risky clauses before you sign.
Real example: Pillar auto-generates RFI responses using project context, cutting turnaround time from days to hours. Pype scans subcontracts and pulls out every compliance obligation, milestone, and submittal deadline so you don’t find out you missed a critical date when the owner sends the default notice (turns out relying on a project coordinator with a highlighter and a 6-month-old Excel tracker isn’t the most reliable contract management system).
Cost: $500 to $2,000 per month for Pillar; Pype pricing varies by project size.
Why Most Contractors Can’t Use AI Yet
79% of construction companies have little to no AI implementation right now. The barrier isn’t the technology; it’s bad data infrastructure.
You can’t train AI on chaos. If your schedules live in Excel, RFIs are buried in email threads, and site photos are scattered across 14 phones, AI will amplify that mess (not fix it).
Before implementing AI, you need:
- Centralized project data: All schedules, submittals, and RFIs in one system
- Real time connectivity: 4G/5G or Wi Fi on jobsites so AI tools can pull data from Procore, BIM 360, or your ERP
- Secure access controls: Multi factor authentication on every AI account (if your project data leaks, your competitors see your bid breakdowns)
- IT support that understands construction: Your partner needs to know the difference between office network downtime and stopping a concrete pour because tablets lost connection
Is Your Construction IT Infrastructure Ready for AI?
We help construction companies assess their current systems, identify AI opportunities, and implement tools that reduce delays without disrupting active jobsites.
→ Schedule a free construction IT assessment
Want to learn more about our AI & automation services?
→ Check out our AI & Automation page
Published: Feb 3, 2026
