TL;DR

Automation in construction isn’t about replacing workers—it’s about giving them better tools to work smarter, faster, and with fewer mistakes. The biggest concerns—complexity, reliability, and cost—are valid, but automation is already proving its worth by reducing rework, admin tasks, and decision-making bottlenecks. The future belongs to those who embrace automation now, not later.

Here are some things you can do now:

1. Start Small – Implement CDEs and daily reporting automation to get teams comfortable.

2. Automate Schedule Adjustments – Use AI-driven labor tracking to optimize workforce planning.

3. Upgrade Project Intelligence – Move from guesswork to predictive insights for better decision-making.

The future belongs to those who embrace automation now.

Why Are People Skeptical of Automation?

First one being is the idea that automation removes people from the process is completely false. In reality, these tools rely on human input, approvals, and historical decision-making. This is augmentation, not replacement.

Also, the biggest pushback against automation? It feels like more work.

• Construction teams have spent years refining their workflows. Introducing automation means changing processes that took months to build.

• If an automation system fails, it undermines trust and creates new headaches.

• Many automation tools promise simplicity but end up adding complexity.

And let’s be real—most ConTech solutions have a history of being expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to implement. No one wants another software eating up their bandwidth. Trust but verify.

What Does Construction Automation Actually Look Like?

Automation is already here. The best tools today augment teams, reduce manual labor, and help projects stay on track.

Here are some scopes where automation can provide impact close to immeadatley:

1. AI Scheduling to automatically adjusts schedules based on resource constraints, risk analysis, and existing project conditions like Outbuild

2. Robotics for Layout & Labor tools that automate layout like Dusty Robotics , material placement, and even bricklaying or concrete finishing are already in use.

3. Document Processing AI-powered tools can sort, source, and search project documents in seconds, saving hours per week on admin work.

4. Logistics & Route Planning can automates material deliveries and labor scheduling for max efficiency like what Sonar Labs is building.

5. Financial Automation can reduce data entry errors and redundancies across platform, speeds up billing cycles, improves cash flow tracking, & automate collection strategies.

Automation is already reducing rework and underperformance between teams. This alone is a massive win, given that up to 70% of all rework can be traced back to admin, engineering and design-related errors.

& heres how it can help augment skilled worker output, not replace them..

It will eliminate redundant admin work (so field teams can focus on actual construction), reduce repetition-based injuries by handling heavy or high-precision tasks, and ultimately increase bandwidth so leaders can focus on higher-value project goals and safety initiatives set by the prime GCs.

With automation, skilled labor can take on bigger projects faster.

• Skilled trades aren’t being replaced, they’re working more efficiently.

• Admin work isn’t going away, it’s just being handled in the background.

• With a labor shortage, automation helps teams do more with less.

The Real Value – How Automation Augments Construction Teams

Here are some repetitive task teams can automate,

1. Submittal submissions & reviews

2. Daily report drafting for project superintendents

3. Document search (no more digging through shared folders)

4. Financial reporting & WIP updates

5. Task creation you can automatically create these and set reminders for your team based on email conversations & internal comms

The fact remains that construction is still very much a hands-on industry. Automation exists to highlight risk, catch errors early, and streamline processes. The best automation tools give teams a clearer picture of what’s happening so they can make smarter decisions.

Building Trust in Automation – How to Get Buy-In from Construction Teams

You may be asking, well L.D. what is the best way to introduce automation without resistance? Show how it helps people win more projects, finish projects faster, track changes faster, and adjust labor resources.

I would focus my communication on growth and production, not compliance. And show how automation as an investment in longevity.

Start with familiar processes and build from there.

Example:

• Instead of expecting teams to manually log labor hours, use AI tracking like 24/7 monitoring tools and person specific badging to see who's on the job and for how long. Solutions like Vendoor can help solve for this.

• Instead of typing out daily reports, let an AI system draft them automatically for review.

Companies like Genda are proving that automation reduces project disputes. A recent study found that project leadership spent 16% of their time arguing with subcontractors. Automation and visibility cut that down by 5%. and their tool doesn't impede on existing workflows at all, so adoption has been easy and clear.

What’s Next – The Future of Construction Automation

The biggest impact areas in the next 5 years:

• Tighter Project Budgets: AI-driven pricing will reduce budget overruns.

• Lower Insurance Premiums: Fewer errors = lower risk and liability.

• Faster Project Timelines: With less admin friction, projects will move faster.

• Fewer Legal Disputes: Less rework and miscommunication = fewer legal issues.

What Should Construction Leaders Do Next?

Go all-in on Digital Transformation, but start with augmentation

1. Start Small – Adopt CDEs, automate your admin tasks, and automate your job site labor tracking for daily reporting, THEN scale up.

2. Automate Schedule Adjustments – Use AI-driven labor tracking to optimize your workforce.

3. Upgrade Your Project Intelligence – Stop guessing and start using predictive insights.

Big picture: Use automation to increase speed, reduce rework, and bid more competitively.

Final Thought: The Cost of Doing Nothing

It is estimated that 4-6% of total project costs are attributed to rework. Almost 80% of cost deviations on projects are related to design and admin related task, not actual construction. 48% of rework is caused by miscommunication.

Your competition is already automating bid analysis, have seen a reduction in rework, testing augmented labor through the use of robotics, and have better financial forecasting. If you’re still relying on manual workflows, you’re already behind.

The smartest contractors are questioning how they work and adopting better tools. Are you? 🚀

If you need help figuring out what tools you can leverage to best augment your people and teams, reach out to me I can send you a comprehensive list of tools that can take you to the next level.

Thanks for reading! Until next time!

L.D. Humphreys