New Research Reveals Strong Contractor Optimism About AI's Transformative Impact on Construction Industry

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BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 5, 2025--

Dodge Construction Network (Dodge), in partnership with CMiC, today released AI for Contractors, a new research report examining how AI is reshaping the construction industry. The comprehensive study reveals that 87% of contractors believe AI will have a meaningful impact on construction, with many predicting extensive industry-wide transformation.

“For decades, construction firms have lacked the tools to transform the data they’ve collected into action. AI-enabled solutions are changing that,” says Gord Rawlins, president and CEO of CMiC. “In fact, this research highlights the high-impact results contractors are achieving today; 92% effectiveness in automated proposal generation and 86% in contract risk review. What makes these findings truly remarkable is that they represent real outcomes our customers and peers across the industry are experiencing today.”

From Task-Doers to Strategic Decision-Makers

Contractors envision AI reshaping core aspects of their operations, elevating project managers from administrative roles to strategic positions that enable predictive insights rather than reactive responses. The anticipated benefits extend across scheduling optimization, cost control, and enhanced project delivery quality.

• 85% of contractors expect they will spend less time on repetitive, mundane tasks.
• Over 70% believe they can make better decisions because AI offers insights they might not arrive at on their own.
• 75% look ahead to AI helping them learn from past projects by mining historical data

Organizational Readiness Varies

While current adoption remains limited, more than half of surveyed companies are actively exploring AI through pilot programs and preparing staff for AI-related roles.

• 40% are currently allocating a dedicated budget to AI
• 38% are creating implementation teams
• 19% report adapting legacy workflows for an AI environment
• 51% are actively evaluating several potential AI-related changes across their teams

Strong Results from Early Adopters

Only 20% to 50% of contractors are aware that specific project and company management functions are AI-enhanced, and usage is even lower, with 20 of the 23 functions studied used by fewer than 15%. Despite this limited use, the study uncovered remarkably positive feedback from early adopters. 70% or more of contractors already using a combination of AI-enabled project and company management functions report that they are highly effective compared with their previous methods. This lays the groundwork for rapid expansion in the use of AI in the industry.

Top AI Capabilities of Interest

Contractors expressed particularly strong interest in several emerging AI functionalities:

For Project Management:

• 81% recognize the benefit of automated constructability analysis to identify potential field issues during design
• 80% express interest in intelligent permit submission with automatic compliance checking
• 79% note strong potential for autonomous project optimization that adjusts schedules and resources in real time

For Company Management:

• 76% identify opportunities in dynamic pricing optimization based on market conditions and risk factors
• 92% acknowledge the value of automated contract creation and management
• 79% value intelligent bid-no-bid decision support

Concerns and Obstacles About AI for Construction

Over half of contractors express concerns about data accuracy (57%) and security (54%), and more than one third worry about implementation costs and internal resistance. The biggest challenge to wider use of AI in construction is the state of data quality at most contractors’ organizations. Only 26% of contractors rate their current data quality as high.

“We designed this study to look at the use of AI in the digital tools already deployed by contractors because that may offer the best solution to the challenge of data quality,” says Steve Jones, Senior Director, Industry Insights Analytics at Dodge. “But it is also heartening to see that many contractors are aware of the key challenges and the need for a rigorous approach to successfully implementing these tools at their organizations.”

Looking Ahead

The research indicates the construction industry is nearing a tipping point for AI adoption,” said Steve Jones, Senior Director of Industry Insights Analytics at Dodge. “With high awareness, strong interest, and powerful validation from early adopters, contractors appear poised for significant expansion in their use of AI-enabled tools in meaningful ways.”

To explore the full findings and additional insights into how AI is reshaping construction workflows, download AI for Contractors.

About the Research

This study was conducted by Dodge in collaboration with CMiC, examining contractor perspectives on AI adoption, readiness, and impact across 24 specific functionalities for project and company management.

About Dodge Construction Network

Dodge Construction Network harnesses data, analytics, and industry connections to be the leading source of insights and opportunities in the commercial construction industry. With five trusted solutions - DCC, The Blue Book, Sweets, IMS, and Principia - Dodge connects construction professionals across all stages of the building process. Designed for both small teams and large enterprises, these tools simplify complexity, empowering you to build thriving businesses and communities. With over a century of experience, Dodge Construction Network is the catalyst for modern construction. To learn more, visit construction.com.

About CMiC

As an industry pioneer, CMiC delivers complete and unified Financials and Project Management software solutions for construction and capital projects firms. CMiC’s powerful software transforms how firms optimize productivity, minimize risk and drive growth by planning and managing all financials, projects, resources, and content assets—from a Single Database Platform™. With customers throughout North America and overseas, CMiC serves one-quarter of ENR’s Top 400 Contractors and hundreds of small and mid-sized construction firms, from general and specialty contractors to heavy/highway and project owners. Over $100 billion in construction revenue is handled by CMiC annually.

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SOURCE: Dodge Construction Network

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PUB: 12/05/2025 09:00 AM/DISC: 12/05/2025 09:01 AM

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