AI Safety Signals for Contractors to Prevent $4M Claims and Impress Owners with Josh Kanner
The ConTechCrewShow Notes
In this episode, the ConTech Crew Host Jeff Sample Alongside Co-Host Rob McKinney gets into the evolving world of construction technology with returning guest Josh Kanner, Sr. Director, Product & Strategy, Construction & Engineering Intelligence at Oracle. Together with the crew, they discuss how innovation, AI, and real-time data are transforming the industry from top to bottom. The conversation explores lessons learned from years in the field, how startups scale in construction, and the tech adoption hurdles that continue to challenge the sector. From predictions on AI’s impact to the critical importance of understanding what happens on the jobsite, this episode is packed with insightful, future-facing perspectives. Whether you’re a contractor, a tech provider, or somewhere in between, the episode offers value on navigating construction’s digital transformation while staying grounded in real-world execution. Key Takeaways AI adds value through visibility, not replacement. Jobsite photos and payroll data offer predictive safety signals. Vinny, the AI assistant, helps reduce incident rates and costs. Owners are demanding better data for long-term asset use Startups must focus on solving real problems, not chasing hype. Operationalizing data is where transformation really happens.
Timestamps [00:00] - Intro and guest introductions [03:30] - Background of Josh. [08:40] - Vinny the AI and early wins in safety data [12:16] - Scaling a construction tech startup the hard way [22:06] - How AI is integrated across project scheduling and safety [23:25] - Real-world ROI: Bolt, Suffolk, and Severn Trent case studies [32:54] - Getting actionable data from photos, payroll & more [37:20] - Challenges through which contractors can learn. [44:33] - Final thoughts on collaboration and the future of construction data
Follow the Guest: Guest (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshkanner/ Website: https://www.oracle.com/ LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/oracle/ Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/Oracle/ Youtube (Company): https://www.youtube.com/oracle/ Twitter (Company): https://x.com/oracle
Follow the Co-Host: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conappguru/
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 Twitter: 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.