The commercial contracting industry is standing at its pivot point — a moment where every decision matters.

In our latest webinar, The Pivot Point: AI and the Future of Commercial Contracting, BuildOps customer success leaders Grant Spiegel, Thurain Hlaing, and Chappell Brock dug into the results of a survey of more than 600 contractors across the US and Canada.

Their discussion made one thing clear: the industry isn’t just changing — it’s splitting. The contractors that are adapting are leaving the competition behind. 

Commercial contractors are feeling two things at once: growth and strain. The panel shared what they’re hearing and seeing every day—from regional demand spikes to office burnout and the practical ways AI is starting to help.

Regional booms are real—beyond just the headlines

“Some of the smaller clients are starting to win these bigger opportunities, work on these data centers, and are getting these contracts that are allowing them to expand a new bucket that they haven’t really seen before,” said Grant Spiegel. 

But with more work comes added pressure, and it’s not only crews that are struggling to keep up.

The labor gap isn’t just in the field

Burnout is rising, and it’s not limited to technicians. 

“The office teams are also being stretched thin,” said Chappell Brock. “They used to have someone who helped them with payroll, reporting and analytics. They don’t have that person anymore… I was speaking with a client and she was working a lot. She said, 'I tap out at about 11 hours a day.’ And that sort of pace is not sustainable in the long run.”

The commercial contracting industry is at a crossroads. Projects are getting more complex, competition is tightening, and the workforce gap isn’t closing fast enough.

But there’s good news: contractors aren’t waiting around for a miracle. They’re adapting.

According to The Pivot Point: AI and the Future of Commercial Contracting, a new report from BuildOps and Kickstand, 78% of contractors are already using or testing AI tools on the jobsite. 

That’s a stunning leap in adoption and a clear sign of where the industry is headed next.

Why This Matters

The conversation around labor shortages has dominated headlines for years. But the real story isn’t just about missing workers — it’s about evolution.

Firms that are thriving right now aren’t hiring their way out of challenges; they’re using technology to do more with the people they have.

They’re using AI to estimate faster. To flag compliance issues before they become change orders. To give field teams clarity without the back-and-forth.

As BuildOps CEO Alok Chanani said at this year’s user conference in San Diego, “Yesterday’s tools can’t build tomorrow.”

The Bottom Line

The trades don’t need saving. They need better tools and a clear path forward. This is the pivot point, and the teams that act now will define what comes next.