The Trade Contractors Are Leading the AI Revolution in Construction with Colin Piper
The ConTechCrewShow Notes
In this episode of The ConTech Crew, host Jeff Sample sits down with Colin Piper to discuss the rapid adoption of AI in the construction industry. They explore Build Ops’ latest report on AI in commercial contracting, highlighting key trends and challenges faced by trade contractors. The episode discusses how AI is transforming workflows, tackling burnout and labor shortages, and increasing efficiency in the industry. The duo also reflects on the importance of data, training, and the need for ongoing investment to ensure AI’s success in the trade sector. Colin Piper is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at BuildOps, a leading company in construction technology. With over 20 years of experience in the AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) industry, Colin has worked with Autodesk, where he helped build marketing teams and led their construction tech initiatives. Now at BuildOps, he continues his mission to transform the industry through innovative technology, particularly focusing on the adoption of AI.
Key Takeaways Why Trade contractors are already using AI, and how is it changing their workflows How the Pivot Point report challenges the common perception about AI adoption in commercial contracting Rising burnout and a shortage of skilled labor affecting both field workers and back-office teams How AI helps streamline repetitive tasks on job sites, and what impact it has on tradespeople Effective AI adoption requires a strong data infrastructure and ongoing investment in training
Timestamps [00:00] - Episode Introduction [01:43] - Colin Piper’s Background [04:05] - The Pivot Point Report [08:20] - Rising Burnout & Labor Shortages [11:15] - AI Adoption in the Trades [14:01] - AI’s Usage & Impact on Efficiency [18:52] - Data Infrastructure & Training [25:54] - The Future of the Trades [38:34] - Closing Remarks & Resources
Follow Colin Piper: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-t-piper/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctpiper/
Follow BuildOps: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildops/ Website: https://buildops.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoBuildOps Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gobuildops/ X: https://x.com/gobuildops
The Pivot Point Report: https://buildops.com/resources/the-trades-are-at-a-pivot-point/ https://buildops.com/lp/kickstand-report/
Follow the Host: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/
Follow The ConTech Crew: Website: https://thecontechcrew.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDRThvRmSpyTZmMWY4EAjg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-contechcrew/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConTechCrew/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecontechcrew/?hl=en Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecontechcrew X: https://x.com/TheConTechCrew
More from The ConTechCrew
In this episode, hosts Jeff Sample and Nathan Hood sit down with Brian Tracy, Director of Construction Management at Ausonio Incorporated, to explore a more sustainable approach to construction technology: people first, process second, product third. Brian shares lessons from his career in construction management, technology strategy, teaching, and training, including the ideas behind Managing Construction Technology. The conversation goes beyond individual tools to examine why technology implementations fail, how owners and construction managers can influence change, the importance of interoperability and shared standards, and why the industry's future may depend more on thoughtful evolution than wholesale disruption.
Construction runs on communication. Superintendents, foremen, subcontractors, suppliers, and project teams make countless decisions through phone calls and conversations every day. The problem is that those decisions don’t always make it into project documentation and a seemingly small missed detail can lead to expensive rework. In this episode of The ConTech Crew, Jeff Sample sits down with Karly Heffernan and Alena Tuttle, co-founders of Hardline, to explore how technology can capture the conversations already happening in the field without forcing construction teams into entirely new workflows.
Trade contractors operate at the center of some of construction’s most complex workflows; estimating, procurement, scheduling, fabrication, field execution, change management, and closeout, yet their critical project data often lives across disconnected systems. In this episode, the crew previews Trimble Dimensions 2026 and sits down with Yael Hanan, co-founder and CEO of Pelles AI, to explore how AI could help trade contractors connect those fragmented systems without forcing them to abandon the tools and workflows they already rely on.
Construction is facing a growing labor shortage while jobsite safety and productivity remain major challenges. In this episode, host Jeff Sample is joined by Shamoon Siddiqui, founder of Human Friendly Robotics, who explains why the future of construction automation isn't humanoid robots. It’s purpose-built robots designed to solve specific, repetitive tasks. From robotic tile installation to intelligent wire pulling, Shamoon shares how robotics can enhance skilled trades by protecting workers' bodies, improving reliability, and helping the industry scale without replacing craftsmanship.
What does it take to launch and grow a successful commercial construction company in today's market? In this episode, host Jeff Sample invites Melissa Drew to share her journey from spending two decades with a national contractor to building a nimble construction management firm focused on large-scale government projects. The conversation explores how smaller contractors can compete with industry giants by prioritizing relationships, quality, planning, and practical technology over unnecessary complexity. Melissa also shares hard-earned lessons on bonding capacity, company growth, and choosing technology that delivers real value.