by Arnie Gess, president of Construction Links Network

AI in construction is quickly moving beyond the conversation stage. This week, we’re seeing it applied to estimating, payroll, ERP, project intelligence and everyday workflows — solving practical problems where time, accuracy and better decisions matter.

Also in this edition: new approaches to tracking job profitability and weather-related costs, measurable progress tracking for heavy civil projects, construction payment technology gaining global recognition, and a Canadian push to rethink how public agencies procure construction software. There’s a lot happening across ConTech so let’s get into it.

Have news to share? We’re always looking to spotlight forward-thinking companies and ideas. Submit your ConTech or PropTech updates by Tuesday end of day for next week’s edition.

JT Wimsatt has selected EZO’s EZRentOut construction equipment tracking software to improve visibility and management of equipment moving between its large-scale construction projects and jobsites. The Valencia, California-based structural concrete contractor works on hotels, parking structures, high-rise residential buildings, universities and airports, requiring accurate information on equipment reservations, availability and return dates. After evaluating multiple rental management systems, JT Wimsatt deployed EZRentOut to centralize equipment reservations, scheduling, dispatch, GPS tracking, maintenance, invoicing, payments and reporting. The platform also integrates with QuickBooks, QuickBooks Online, Xero and Sage. Equipment visibility is becoming increasingly important as contractors manage more rented assets across multiple projects. EZO says customers using EZRentOut have reported equipment turnaround improvements of up to 25% and nearly 30 hours per week in reclaimed administrative time after replacing manual tracking processes. The platform currently supports customers managing more than $100 million in active construction rental projects.

BOXABL Inc. has signed a non-binding modular housing agreement with LC Vegas Acquisitions, LLC for the potential purchase of up to 1,580 newly designed ranch homes over three years, representing an aggregate potential value of approximately $233 million. The agreement covers three-bedroom, 2.5-bath homes of approximately 1,400 square feet, with BOXABL responsible for engineering, design, Nevada state approvals, interior mechanical systems and project management. LC Vegas Acquisitions would handle site development, permitting and exterior elements but is not obligated to purchase any homes under the agreement. BOXABL also amended the deal to include Class A Common Stock incentives tied to deposit size to encourage larger orders. The announcement follows several recent BOXABL developments, including adding licensed general contracting capability in California, unveiling a modular server pod concept for AI and cloud-computing infrastructure, and launching new housing supply-chain partnership opportunities.

STACK Construction Technologies has launched STACK IQ, a new AI construction estimating capability that allows contractors to complete takeoffs, estimates and other preconstruction tasks using natural-language prompts. STACK IQ connects STACK with AI models including ChatGPT and Claude, enabling estimators to describe what they need conversationally while the system performs tasks using real project data. Applications include building complete takeoff libraries from spreadsheets, auditing estimates for missing items, generating client-ready proposals, creating projects from emails and connecting STACK with tools such as Outlook, Excel and Monday.com. Developed in response to customer demand for greater control over repetitive preconstruction workflows, STACK IQ is designed to reduce manual processes without requiring users to navigate complex menus or predefined workflows. Early customers report using the technology to improve estimate and proposal consistency, identify missing takeoffs and questionable unit rates, and streamline bid preparation. STACK IQ is available to all STACK customers across every subscription level at no additional charge.

hh2 Cloud Services has launched Vyki, an AI construction payroll assistant designed to identify and correct time tracking and payroll issues before they reach the pay run. Built specifically for construction back-office workflows, Vyki reviews incoming time data for missing hours, incorrect cost codes and potential compliance risks, then can make corrections with user approval while recording every change in a reversible audit trail. Unlike software that only alerts administrators to problems, Vyki can complete assigned tasks while allowing companies to control its level of autonomy. The AI assistant understands construction-specific requirements including cost codes, job phases, crew structures, union and non-union payroll, prevailing wage and multi-state taxes. Vyki operates within hh2’s existing time tracking platform, eliminating the need for a separate system or login. Available now to hh2 customers using time tracking and payroll, Vyki is initially focused on payroll workflows, with hh2 planning to extend the AI assistant into additional construction back-office functions, including accounts payable.

Construction Spike has expanded its construction workflow automation solutions to help contractors streamline business processes, reduce repetitive administrative tasks and improve operational efficiency. The automated workflows are designed to organize essential activities including lead management, customer communication, follow-ups, task tracking and internal processes, allowing construction teams to spend less time on manual updates and more time on projects, customers and business growth. Rather than relying on disconnected tools, spreadsheets or manual reminders, contractors can create structured, repeatable workflows that improve consistency, accountability and visibility from initial customer contact through project completion. Construction Spike says its contractor-focused approach is designed to address common operational challenges such as missed follow-ups, scattered information and inconsistent processes without adding unnecessary complexity. The customizable workflow solutions can support construction businesses of different sizes, from growing contractors seeking better organization to established companies looking to connect systems and increase productivity.

Datumate has launched Progress Tracking, a new DatuBIM module designed to replace subjective construction percent-complete estimates with measurable, evidence-based progress data for heavy civil projects. The technology connects three traditionally separate sources of project information: design files in CAD or IFC, schedules from Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project, and as-built site conditions captured through drones and photography. Each design object is linked to the schedule activity responsible for building it and then measured against current site captures to create a documented record of completion. Designed specifically for roads, rail, bridges and earthworks, Progress Tracking includes a Design Object Editor that converts 2D CAD files into measurable geometry without requiring a BIM retrofit. The module uses drone data that project teams may already be collecting, eliminating the need for new hardware or a separate reality-capture program. With DatuBIM used on more than 9,000 sites worldwide, Datumate says the new capability gives owners and contractors a consistent progress measurement supported by shared project data and site evidence.

Nomic has announced strategic investments and long-term commercial partnerships with engineering and design firms Aurecon and Arcadis, accelerating the deployment of AI agents across the built environment. Aurecon is scaling Nomic’s AI platform across its 6,700-person workforce following a four-year partnership, while Arcadis is embedding Nomic AI agents into its project-delivery model after a six-month trial involving about 150 engineers across 12 countries. Nomic’s domain-specific AI platform enables architecture, engineering, construction and operations teams to deploy agents across drawings, specifications, BIM models, contracts, standards and other project information. Applications include reviewing drawings against firm standards, checking code compliance, supporting submittal reviews, researching RFIs and answering complex project questions with traceable results. Rather than replacing professional judgment, Nomic positions AI agents as a way to reduce repetitive work while maintaining human oversight for critical decisions. The company says successful AEC adoption will require more than software, including workflow design, governance, training and performance measurement. Nomic ultimately aims to provide an open intelligence layer connecting AI with the existing systems and institutional knowledge used across the built environment.

Australian-founded Payapps – An Autodesk Company has earned four major international technology awards in 2026, recognizing its construction progress claim software, workflow automation and customer impact across Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Payapps won a Gold Stevie Award for Company of the Year – Construction & Civil Engineering Technology, plus three SaaS Awards for construction and property management, finance and FinTech, and workflow automation. The cloud-based construction software standardizes the submission, assessment and approval of progress claims, replacing fragmented spreadsheets and emails with shared digital workflows that integrate with construction ERP and financial systems. Payapps now supports more than 57,000 users and manages over AUD $35 billion in progress claims annually, while being used by 34 of Australia’s Top 50 builders. Now part of Autodesk, Payapps helps contractors improve payment visibility, compliance, commercial control and workflow consistency, demonstrating how specialized construction technology can reduce administrative risk and streamline critical financial processes.

SMARTBUILD Construction Solutions Inc. has launched the BUY CANADIAN TECHNOLOGY Initiative, a nationwide campaign urging federal, provincial and municipal governments to extend Buy Canadian procurement policies to construction software and digital platforms used on publicly funded infrastructure projects. The Canadian construction technology company is calling on governments to designate construction and infrastructure software as a strategic category, establish procurement thresholds appropriate for software contracts, and apply Canadian-content requirements to project technology platforms. SMARTBUILD argues that existing federal and Ontario procurement policies can exclude many software purchases because of contract-value thresholds or technology exemptions, allowing Canadian public infrastructure projects to rely heavily on foreign platforms. The company says its Toronto-hosted construction management platform has supported more than $250 million in municipal infrastructure across 54 projects in 31 Ontario communities, with customers reporting administrative productivity improvements of up to 50%. SMARTBUILD is also inviting other Canadian ConTech companies to join the initiative and advocate for procurement policies that support Canadian-developed technology, domestic jobs, data sovereignty and investment in Canada’s technology sector.