The ConTech Exec

In this episode of The ConTech Exec Podcast, host Robert Zimmerman sits down with Lou Perez, co-founder of Lumberfi, a workforce management platform built specifically for the construction industry.

They dive into how AI-powered payroll and gamification are transforming the way contractors manage teams, automate compliance, and reward performance. Lou shares how his team built Lumberfi with real-world jobsite input—creating software that actually works for the people in the field.

From fighting tech fatigue to boosting engagement and simplifying compliance, this conversation highlights how modern construction companies can use technology without overwhelming their crews.

If you’ve ever thought payroll was harder than concrete, this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn:

• How AI automates construction payroll and compliance

• Why gamification keeps field teams engaged

• The right way to roll out tech without burning people out

• How Builder Facts helps workers manage certifications

• Why the future of construction starts with workforce tech that works

Memorable Moments:

“Lumberfi is taking off. It’s amazing.”
“AI is built right into the software.”
“Tech fatigue in this industry is real.”

🎧 Listen now and discover how AI payroll is reshaping the construction workforce—one paycheck at a time.

“Preconstruction decides profit, risk, and experience—ConCntric is making it measurable, collaborative, and fast.”

Veteran builder-turned-founder Steve Dell’Orto joins Robert to unpack why preconstruction is the true profit center—and why most teams still run it with spreadsheets and heroics.

• We go deep on ConCntric’s “40 facets of pre-con,”
• structured data as institutional memory,
• practical agentic AI (Amplify),
• and what owners now expect in RFPs.

Steve explains how unifying

• SCHEDULE
• COST
• VALUE ENGINEERING
• PROCUREMENT
• COLLABORATION

in one platform increases win rates 20–30%, reduces duplicate data entry, and helps small teams operate like big GCs.

If you’re serious about predictability, adoption, and doing more with the people you already have, this one’s for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Steve Dell'Orto has 26 years of experience in the construction industry.
• The construction industry faces challenges in adopting technology, but it's not as backward as perceived.
• Pre-construction is crucial for project success and profitability.
• Data is often underutilized in the pre-construction phase.
• Involving subcontractors early can lead to better project outcomes.
• The platform developed by Concentric aims to streamline pre-construction processes.
• Digitization is essential for all project sizes, from small renovations to large-scale developments.
• AI can significantly enhance efficiency in construction management.
• The Built by Builders community fosters innovation in construction technology.
• Adoption of technology is crucial for survival in the evolving construction landscape.

For More info on ConCntric click here

For More info on Robert and the ConTech Exec click here

The biggest threat to construction projects isn’t weather, budgets, or labor shortages — it’s broken communication in procurement.

In this episode of The ConTech Exec Podcast, host Robert Zimmerman sits down with Jack Carrere, CEO and co-founder of Prokeep, to uncover how fragmented communication between contractors and distributors is quietly killing productivity across the industry.

From text messages lost on personal phones to delayed deliveries and AI-driven order automation, Jack explains how Prokeep is bringing order to the chaos — connecting over 1,000 distributors, 8,500 locations, and 3 million contractors in one unified workflow.

💡 You’ll learn:

• Why poor communication costs more than bad estimates

• How AI is helping distributors quote and deliver faster — without losing the human touch

• The shift from counter calls to digital transparency

• Why behavior change matters more than new software

  
  

  If you are a distributor and want to Find out more about ProKeep: https://www.prokeep.com

Construction isn’t behind on technology — it’s drowning in it.
From Procore to Bluebeam to DocuSign, today’s jobsite runs on a tangled web of disconnected tools.

In this episode of The ConTech Exec Podcast, host Robert Zimmerman sits down with Emma Nazim and Molly Abbott, co-founders of Constructable.AI, to talk about how they’re tackling one of construction’s biggest pain points: too much software and not enough connection.

They dive into:

• 🧱 Why they started with drawings as the true source of project truth

• 💬 How Constructable’s integrated markup and collaboration features replace Bluebeam sessions and endless email chains

• 🤖 What “grounded AI” really means — and how they prevent hallucination by keeping everything tied to your own data

• 📱 Field-first design — from voice-to-text punch lists to offline functionality

• 💡 A pricing model built for simplicity: flat, transparent, and contractor-friendly

Whether you’re a GC, a subcontractor, or a tech-curious exec, this episode reveals what real innovation looks like when you start with jobsite reality, not Silicon Valley hype.

Check out Constructable's website: https://www.constructable.ai/

Communication isn’t just soft skills — it’s a foundation of productivity.

On this episode of the ConTech Exec Podcast, Robert Zimmerman talks with Andy Bergmann (Mavix Coaching) about training construction teams to handle hard conversations, negotiate change orders, and uphold jobsite culture without creating drama.

Highlights:

• Why “culture equals what you tolerate” and how to enforce standards.

• Promotion pitfalls: perks don’t create authority.

• Hiring and training strategies: screen for character, invest in skill-building.

• How to measure ROI on training by tracking behavior, not just attendance.

Links:
👉 Get Andy’s free communication training: https://mavixcoaching.com
👉 Explore more episodes and services: https://www.contech-exec.com

The construction industry runs on data — but most of it is unreliable.

In this episode of the ConTech Exec Podcast, Robert Zimmerman sits down with Albert Bou Fadel, founder and CEO of SmartBarrel, to discuss how accurate data, workforce management, and technology adoption are reshaping the industry.

From the fight against time theft to the role of AI and the need for standardization, this conversation cuts through the hype and gets to the core of what’s holding construction back — and where innovation is driving it forward.

Key Takeaways:

• SmartBarrel is redefining workforce management with biometric accuracy

• Accurate data is more valuable than massive amounts of unreliable numbers

• Resistance to change remains a major hurdle in construction tech adoption

• AI can enhance analysis, but only when data quality is high

• Budgeting decisions directly impact project success and profit margins

• Standardization and data audits are critical for future growth

👉 Learn more at: https://contech-exec.com

For more on SmartBarrel, check out their website.

https://smartbarrel.io

Follow Robert Zimmerman on Linkedin!

www.linkedin.com/in/robert-zimmerman-contech-exec

On this week’s episode of the ConTech Exec Podcast, host Robert Zimmerman sits down with Christian Burger of Burger Consulting Group to unpack one of the most overlooked yet mission-critical topics in the construction industry: data governance.

Data is your biggest asset—but only if it’s managed, structured, and usable. In this episode, we cover:

• What data governance actually means for contractors

• Why usability matters as much as security

• How training and culture drive adoption

• The role of data lakes, analysts, and architects

• Why IoT and AI are changing the data game

• How to become a truly data-driven organization

If you’re a construction executive, project leader, or technology decision-maker, this conversation will give you a practical roadmap for taking control of your firm’s data and turning it into real business value.

🔗 Connect with Robert Zimmerman on LinkedIn
🔗 Learn more at ConTech-Exec.com
🔗 Connect with Christian Burger on LinkedIn

The Information Age is giving way to the Age of AI—and construction leaders can no longer afford to wait. Trillions of dollars are already flowing into energy, infrastructure, and data centers, and the companies who get serious about data and digital transformation will capture the opportunities ahead.

In this episode of the ConTech Exec Podcast, host Robert Zimmerman breaks down how large contractors are already using AI and data-driven tools—and what medium-sized contractors must do now to keep pace.

You’ll learn:

• Why bad data creates confident idiots and verified data creates leaders.

• How Suffolk uses predictive analytics to reduce safety incidents.

• How Mortenson uses ALICE Technologies to recover months on project schedules.

• How Skanska and Suffolk leverage AI to identify jobsite hazards before accidents happen.

• How PCL Construction’s Job Site Insights™ platform uses IoT + cloud to monitor job conditions in real time.

• How Turner Construction built live dashboards (Project Pulse) to replace lagging monthly reports.

We’ll also map out a 90-day playbook for mid-market GCs and specialty contractors:

1. Build data foundations (governance, cost code standards, BI dashboards).

2. Run a safety AI pilot with Newmetrix/Oracle.

3. Test schedule optimization with ALICE.

4. Add IoT sensors to protect materials and finishes.

5. Establish a rhythm of change management and workforce upskilling.

The bottom line: it’s time to get serious. The contractors who prove they can deliver predictably with data will win the next decade.

🔗 Connect with Robert Zimmerman on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robert-zimmerman-contech-exec
🔗 Visit the ConTech Exec website: https://contech-exec.com

👉 Subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with your peers in construction tech.

#ConstructionTech #AIinConstruction #DigitalTransformation #ConTechExec #ConstructionInnovation

🎙 Can AI Keep You Alive on the Jobsite?
The ConTech Exec Podcast — Hosted by Robert Zimmerman

What happens when you trust AI to flag safety hazards before they become life-threatening?
In this episode, Robert Zimmerman sits down with Adam Krob, Director of Information Technology at Boh Bros. Construction, to unpack the real-world wins and fails of AI in safety-critical construction environments.

We cover:

• How to balance automation with human sense when lives are on the line.

• Why acting faster with AI can give contractors a competitive advantage — if you do it right.

• Setting practical AI benchmarks for small and mid-size construction companies.

• A step-by-step buzzword filter for spotting overhyped “AI-powered” tools.

• Is AI making us lose our critical thinking edge?

Whether you’re a construction executive, safety manager, or tech innovator, this episode delivers insights you can use today to integrate AI without losing human judgment.

📌 Contact The ConTech Exec: https://contech-exec.com
📌 Connect with Robert Zimmerman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-zimmerman-contech-exec
📌 Connect with Adam Krob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-krob

#ConstructionTechnology #AIinConstruction #ConstructionSafety #DigitalTransformation #ConTechExecPodcast

Welcome to another solo installment of the Context-Exec Podcast! Today, we're unpacking the top three habits that trip up construction tech adoption—from jumping on the next shiny tool to relying on paper when digital tools could streamline your projects.

With clear examples, data-backed insights, and simple next steps—you’ll walk away knowing exactly how to break these habits and keep your projects on track.

More from Context-Exec:

• Listen to other episodes here: Contech Exec Podcast

• Visit our site for additional content and community news: Context-Exec Website

• Connect with me: Robert Zimmerman on LinkedIn – Robert Zimmerman