Top 5 Construction Technologies Helping Builders and Designers Thrive in 2026
These tools are allowing builders and designers to spend less time in their business and more time on their business, as well as helping them win more work.
New construction technology, such as 3D scanning, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence (AI), is quickly changing the landscape for contractors. These tools are allowing them to spend less time in their business and more time on their business, as well as helping them win more work.
We’re highlighting five construction technologies that are helping builders and designers thrive:
- Augmented reality and 3D floor plan creators
- Automated measurement and digital takeoff software
- AI integrations and generative AI assistants
- Project management and time tracking software
- Smart site monitoring
To learn more about how project teams are leveraging these tools, read on. Click a link below to jump to the section:
Augmented Reality and 3D Floor Plan Creators
Augmented reality combines physical and virtual reality, allowing customers to see exactly what their space will look like after a project is completed. Using a smartphone, tablet, or LiDAR scanner, contractors can quickly create detailed 3D floor plans and renderings that allow their clients to virtually explore their new space.
Augmented reality can help with:
- Planning and designing projects, quickly creating detailed plans with dimensions.
- Communicating with clients and upselling projects, allowing clients to see a variety of floor plans with just a couple of clicks.
- Selecting materials and products, changing colors, textures, and finishes with the push of a button, and seeing the changes in real time.
Practical applications include:
- Creating floor plans and 3D walkthroughs
- Finish and furniture color selection
Case study:
Citizen Builders used Houzz Pro’s 3D LiDAR scanning feature to capture a space and create a realistic 3D plan in minutes—something that impressed clients right away.
Automated Measurement and Digital Takeoff Software
Accurately quantifying the amount of material you’ll need on a project is crucial for estimate accuracy. Not only does a material takeoff affect material costs, but it also affects the amount of labor required to finish the project, significantly impacting the price.
With integrated measurement tools, such as Houzz Pro’s 3D scanning and material takeoff applications, contractors can quickly and easily determine how much material they’ll need with improved accuracy.
As mentioned above, LiDAR scanning can return quick, accurate dimensions for any room, saving hours of measuring time. If plans have been created, Houzz’s material takeoff tool leverages AI to make quick work of material estimates, allowing you to finish more proposals and win more work.
Case study:
Legacy Builders leverages 3D scanning to capture measurements and the Estimates tool to create job proposals, eliminating the need for countless spreadsheets.
AI Integrations and Generative AI Assistants
Today, artificial intelligence is helping people do more stuff in less time, and construction is no exception. Using integrated and generative AI assistants, contractors can save time on everyday tasks, freeing them up for more complex projects.
Houzz AI is a built-in assistant that can help streamline your processes, including:
- Creating estimates or proposals with a quick prompt
- Converting takeoffs and 3D floor plans into estimates
- Creating schedules from estimates
- Tracking proposal status and bid management
- Generating schedules with a voice or text prompt
With the help of AI, contractors are saving time and money. According to a 2025 survey, Houzz Pro users have saved:
- 60% of their time building estimates
- 45% of their time creating project schedules
- Created 3D floor plans 23% quicker, and with twice the detail
Storing all your project and cost data in a single system allows you to gain deeper insights. AI can only search the data you provide, so if yours is stored in separate systems or software, you may get incorrect or incomplete information. Be careful.
Additionally, you won't need to connect a bunch of tools or worry about sensitive client data becoming exposed by accident.
Project Management and Time-Tracking Software
Construction project management and time-tracking software can help make many tasks, such as tracking finish selections and updating work progress, easier to manage. With integrated timekeeping, scheduling, and job-costing software, these platforms are one-stop shops for project information, providing internal and external users with a clear picture of project progress in real time.
Software platforms like Houzz Pro make project management and construction time tracking easier by:
- Managing subcontracts, tracking work progress, and costs.
- Automatically creating schedules that quickly respond to project conditions and events.
- Assisting with material and equipment procurement, tracking orders and deliveries.
- Helping clients keep track of progress through client portals and communication.
- Providing an integrated data center for one-stop information.
Case study:
Handyman Rescue Team in Seattle used Houzz Pro’s project management tools to improve the efficiency of their operations. As a result of implementing Houzz software, they’ve doubled their project volume without needing additional staff.
Smart Site Monitoring
Every project contains risks, and documenting everyday activities and work progression can go a long way towards mitigating some of them. By documenting personnel on site, delays, changes to the work, etc., daily, contractors can help protect themselves from claims down the line.
Houzz Pro’s Daily Log tool helps you create a visual record of job progress. Users can upload documents, pics, and even two-sided videos that show you and the project at the same time, saving them to the cloud for other users and customers to review. Subcontractors can also be invited to submit their own daily reports, providing detailed updates on work progress.
Case study:
H&L Design Build used Houzz Pro’s full-featured software to keep themselves and their customers informed daily. Now, Thomas can keep up with daily operations from his phone. As a result, revenue has nearly tripled in just two years with the platform.
Best Practices When Implementing New Software
Here are some best practices to streamline the adoption of new software technologies and help you get the most from them:
- Set goals for the new software – What do you want to achieve with this new technology? Make sure your goals are realistic and measurable.
- Clean your data – Before converting to a new software or system, clean up your existing data so you can start with a clean slate.
- Start with a small group trial – Recruit a small team of employees to test out the new system before rolling it out to everyone.
- Provide thorough training – Make sure all workers are fully trained on the new system before rolling it out.
- Keep the lines of communication open – Invite feedback and questions from everyone as the process progresses.
- Be flexible – New systems may require your team to change how they do things. Be willing to make changes as needed to increase efficiency.
Refine Construction Operations with Houzz
Construction technologies such as generative AI, 3D scanning and visualization software, and time-tracking and project management software are making a real difference for contractors and designers alike. Many have significantly increased their business size by adopting these tools.
Houzz Pro can help you leverage tools like automated Material Takeoff to save time on administrative tasks and grow your business. Reach out to our team to see how.
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