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Keeping project data straight can be a gargantuan task in itself. Every build is by definition a moving target, with specs and progress status changing daily. This is where technology can help. 

Here are six recent announcements from software makers and other tech providers to help keep project info flowing in a useful way, without disrupting the job at hand:

Buildots

On Wednesday, Tel Aviv-based construction technology provider Buildots announced the launch of Dot, a plain language chatbot that gives up-to-date answers about project details. 

The new tool leverages Buildots’ comprehensive dataset and generative artificial intelligence to provide instant insights in response to direct questions, according to the news release.

Powered by OpenAI’s latest GPT models, and trained by Buildots to work for the construction domain, Dot cross-references multiple data points to provide in-depth analysis, making it easier to measure progress, track implementation and provide visibility to resolve issues before they escalate, the firm says.

“With Dot, we’re enabling a whole new way of accessing project information, as if they’re speaking with a colleague, receiving precise insights when they need them,” said Roy Danon, co-founder and CEO of Buildots, in the release.  

Users can ask Dot about progress percentages, task completions or trade-specific updates using everyday language. They can follow up on those questions to dig deep and get invaluable information that would otherwise be difficult or time consuming to obtain.  

Superintendents can use Dot to guide subcontractors by cross-referencing conditions and ensuring multiple prerequisites are met before starting new tasks. For instance, a superintendent might ask, “Give me a list of apartments where drywall closure is completed but bathroom tiling hasn’t started,” enabling them to prioritize the right tasks and allocate resources efficiently, the firm says.

“With Buildots, not only can you track progress, but now you also have this AI assistant that allows you to ask questions about your project progress and dive into it,” said Trent Nichols, national BIM director at Kansas City, Missouri-based JE Dunn, in the release. “It’s a no-brainer.”

Kojo

Materials and inventory management platform Kojo recently announced the launch of Kojo Prefab, designed to help contractors connect their prefabrication shop to the rest of their business.

The San Francisco-based firm says that over 60% of trade contractors incorporate some form of prefabrication into their building processes, according to the news release. Kojo Prefab addresses the rising demand and underscores contractors’ needs for improved productivity, quality control, safety performance and cost predictability associated with prefabrication. 

Using the tool, field teams can order assemblies from the prefab shop and track the status on Kojo’s mobile app. It also allows prefab workers to upload custom images and communicate production updates across teams, according to the release.

“As our prefab shop grew, we turned Sharpie drawings into digital PDFs, but no one was using them, and they were impossible to maintain,” said Danny Blankenship, a prefab manager at Baltimore-based United Electric, in the release. “Kojo’s Prefab not only digitizes, but the goal is for our teams to use Kojo to communicate what prefab materials are available, create POs and track deliveries — just like ordering a pizza.”

Prefab is now available as part of Kojo’s expanded suite of features, which also include Procurement, Inventory Management, Tool Tracking and Accounts Payable.

Highwire

Highwire says it has made vetting subs easier than ever. The Boston-based firm introduced its new Prequalification solution to assess default and safety risk posed by subcontractors earlier this month, according to the news release. 

The technology platform, which was developed at Harvard to ensure the safety of its students, faculty and contractors while reducing insurance costs for construction projects, streamlines the vetting process for subs while eliminating irrelevant questions that drive contractors crazy by taking scope of work into account. 



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