Association of Professional Builders rolls out AI training to ensure builders are ahead of the tech-in-construction curve

Association of Professional Builders rolls out AI training to ensure builders are ahead of the tech-in-construction curve

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we live and work, and while plenty of industries fear the effect it may have on their businesses, the Association of Professional Builders (APB) is preparing to roll out a training module to educate its members.

“We’ve been talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI) for years, but with the launch of ChatGPT, we realised just how quickly it was gaining traction globally, and as such, we didn’t want to be left behind,” said Association of Professional Builders Co-Founder Russ Stephens (pictured right with fellow Co-Founder Sky Kolade, left).

“We decided to engage an AI consultant to implement a framework in our company, ensure that we were ahead of the curve and that our 750 members could come along with us.

“Once we put this framework in place and started implementing it, we were at a point where the path forward became much clearer,” Stephens added.

Not only can Artificial Intelligence assist construction companies with planning, but it can also optimise the use of resources, assist with managing timelines, and achieve greater efficiency.

Stephens and his team are among the industry’s first to educate builders on the advancement of AI technology.

It’s a timely move given Deloitte is forecasting that AI and advanced data analytics technology could bring cost savings of 10 to 15 percent for construction projects, claiming that these technologies can also streamline the design review process and help teams produce more accurate estimates, thus ‘reducing budgets and timeline deviations by an estimated 10-20 percent and engineering hours by 10-30 percent.’

A report from Global Market Insights suggests that AI in construction is expected to be worth $151.1 billion by 2032 so now is the time for builders to harness the technology effectively and learn how to keep up with its continuous advancements.

“AI is not something to be afraid of, in fact, a lot of residential building companies are already adopting the technology by default.

“It makes no sense for our members to make their way through this AI maze alone,” Stephens explained.

“If we can figure out the structure and guide them on what the best solutions are, saving them a tonne of time, all they need do is implement time-saving systems that are going to improve their business, it’s a no-brainer for us.”

Now in its 10th year mentoring and coaching builders, APB prides itself on being an industry trailblazer and a guiding force for its ever-growing membership base across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

“Our goal at the Association of Professional Builders is to improve the residential construction industry for builders and consumers. To do that, we look at absolutely everything through that lens, AI is an exciting way forward,” Stephens added.