The ConTechCrew

What happens when nearly 25 years of construction technology innovation meets artificial intelligence? Bluebeam is entering a new era, and the possibilities for construction professionals are just getting started. In this episode of The ConTech Crew, we geek out with Luke Prescott, VP of Product at Bluebeam, about the evolution of one of the construction industry's most widely used tools and how Bluebeam Max is transforming the way teams interact with drawings, markups, and project data.

From his early days swinging a hammer on construction sites to leading product and design at Bluebeam, Luke brings a unique perspective on what it takes to build technology that actually solves problems for the people doing the work. The conversation leads to the balance between 2D and 3D workflows, connecting Revit models with Studio Sessions, and Bluebeam's vision for making project information accessible across desktop, web, and mobile devices.

But the biggest shift: AI-powered markups and intelligent data workflows. With Bluebeam Max, construction professionals can begin moving beyond manually creating and managing markups toward using AI to generate, enrich, and connect information across applications. Whether it's turning a simple measurement into detailed estimating data or connecting field-level decisions directly to a BIM model, the potential to eliminate repetitive work is significant.

Key Takeaways
Discover how the company is modernizing its technology while preserving the reliability and customization that users depend on every day.
Learn how AI can create markups, update properties, map external data, and automate previously manual processes.
Explore how connected Studio Sessions and Revit integrations help bring field markups and model information into the same collaborative process.
Understand how desktop, web, iOS, and Android experiences are becoming more connected, making project information accessible to the right people at the right time.
Hear real examples of how external data, intelligent agents, and AI-assisted workflows can turn basic takeoffs into more detailed construction information.

Timestamps 
[00:00] - Episode Teaser
[03:04] - Luke's Journey and the Power of Bluebeam
[06:16] - Communication, Collaboration, and Context
[13:01] - Connecting 2D and 3D Workflows
[18:22] - Balancing Innovation with Reliability
[23:20] - Connecting Desktop, Web, Mobile, and Field Teams
[30:09] - Why Real Innovation Must Solve Real Problems
[33:37] - What Is Bluebeam Max?
[38:45] - Estimating, Integrations, and Closing Thoughts

Make an Impact at Unbound 2027:   
Join us as a sponsor and connect your brand with the Unbound community. Explore our sponsorship opportunities, packages, and benefits in the prospectus below.
Learn more about sponsorship opportunities: https://unbound.bluebeam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Unbound27-SponsorshipProspectus.pdf

Follow Luke Prescott:
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/luke-prescott
Website (Company): https://www.bluebeam.com/
LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluebeam-software/
Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/bluebeam/
Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/bluebeam_inc/
YouTube (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@Bluebeam_Official
X (Company): https://x.com/bluebeam

Follow the Host:
Jeff Sample: 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

Construction doesn’t necessarily have a technology problem. It has a connection, measurement, and predictability problem. In this episode, guest Amir Berman of Buildots challenges the idea that construction is technologically behind. From machinery and reality capture to legacy systems and project data, the industry already generates and uses enormous amounts of technology. The bigger opportunity is connecting those existing tools and data sources to understand what’s actually happening on projects and using those insights to improve future performance. 

Amir Berman is the VP of Industry Transformation at Buildots, bringing nearly 20 years of experience across technology, data, software, and product management. The conversation explores how Buildots uses AI, computer vision, reality capture, and project data to measure construction progress, identify problems earlier, and compare actual performance against the plan. Amir also introduces the Buildots Intelligence Lab and its effort to turn aggregated construction data into meaningful benchmarks that can help teams understand what “good” performance actually looks like.

Key Takeaways
Why construction’s biggest technology opportunity is connecting and leveraging the tools already in use.
How Buildots uses AI and reality capture to identify project risks before they become bigger problems.
Why standardization and measurement are essential for improving predictability across projects and businesses.
How industry benchmarks help teams understand what good construction performance actually looks like.
How production data can uncover performance gaps and create more realistic plans for future projects.

Timestamps 
[00:00] - Episode Teaser
[02:05] - Amir Berman’s Journey into Construction Tech
[07:45] - The Real Technology Opportunity in Construction
[10:45] - How Buildots Turns Reality Capture into Intelligence
[12:55] - Finding Repeatability Across Unique Projects
[15:47] - From Project Performance to Business Predictability
[18:28] - Why Buildots Created the Intelligence Lab
[28:01] - Bringing Construction Benchmarks to the Industry
[34:06] - The 95-Day Data Center Performance Gap
[41:51] - Connect with Amir 

Follow Amir Berman:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amir-berman-12770411/
Website (Company): https://buildots.com/
LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/buildots/home/
Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/buildots/
Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/buildots/
YouTube (Company): https://www.youtube.com/@Buildots

Follow the Host:
Jeff Sample: 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

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. 

Brian Tracy is a structural engineer by education and an experienced construction management professional whose career spans general contracting, owner's representation, consulting, advisory services, technology strategy, teaching, and professional development. Brian is also an adjunct instructor connected with Notre Dame's College of Engineering and a co-author of Managing Construction Technology, a book focused on creating successful technology strategies through the framework of people, process, and product.
 
Key Takeaways
Why construction companies should identify the problem before choosing the technology and how reversing that order contributes to failed implementations.
How the people, process, and product framework can create a repeatable playbook for adopting and managing technology.
Why owners and construction managers have more influence over industry technology adoption than they may realize.
How construction managers serve as generalists and interoperability agents, connecting owners, designers, contractors, trades, technology teams, and other stakeholders.
Why the future of construction technology is likely to depend on evolution, shared standards, and purposeful interoperability rather than replacing every existing workflow and platform.

Timestamps 
[00:00] - Episode Teaser
[02:49] - Brian Tracy's Journey Through Construction, Training & Technology
[06:46] - Why Construction Technology Implementations Fail
[10:15] - Building a Repeatable People, Process & Product Strategy
[13:05] - Teaching Construction Technology Strategy at Notre Dame
[18:14] - How Owners Can Drive Better Technology Adoption
[25:28] - What Does a Construction Manager Actually Do?
[33:04] - The Construction Manager as a Generalist & Interoperability Agent
[39:34] - The Future Is Evolution, Not Disruption

Follow Brian Tracy:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/btracy5/
Website (Company): https://www.ausonio.com/
LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/ausonio-incorporated/home/
Facebook (Company): https://www.facebook.com/ausonioinc/
Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/ausonio_incorporated/

Follow the Hosts:
Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/
Nathan Wood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaec/

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

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. 

They discuss Hardline’s origin story, including the communication breakdown that resulted in $150,000 of rework, and explain how AI can turn everyday calls and site conversations into actionable project documentation. The conversation also goes beyond efficiency to explore what giving superintendents time back could mean for mentorship, knowledge transfer, workforce development, and the future of construction. 

Key Takeaways
How a $150K communication mistake sparked Hardline and exposed the costly gap between verbal coordination and project documentation.
Why construction technology should augment existing workflows rather than forcing field teams to adopt entirely new processes.
How AI can turn phone calls and site conversations into documentation, decisions, tasks, daily logs, and searchable project context.
Why giving superintendents time back matters beyond productivity, creating more opportunities for mentoring, leadership, and transferring decades of field knowledge.
What AI could mean for construction’s future, from fewer screens and better field experiences to more effective agents, safer jobsites, and attracting the next generation of talent.

Timestamps 
[00:00] - Episode Teaser
[02:30] - Meet Hardline Co-Founders Karly Heffernan and Elena Tuttle
[05:24] - The $150K Mistake That Sparked Hardline
[07:05] - Turning Construction Conversations Into Documentation
[09:58] - Technology Should Adapt to Construction, Not the Other Way Around
[15:16] - What Hardline Does on the Jobsite
[22:45] - From 40 Phone Calls to a Completed Daily Log
[24:02] - AI as an Augmentation Tool, Not a Replacement
[32:17] - Preserving Field Knowledge and Creating Time for Mentorship
[41:41] - A Three-Year Vision for AI and Construction

Follow the Guests:
Karly Heffernan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karly-lynn-heffernan/
Alena Tuttle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alenatuttle/
Website (Company): https://www.hardlineapp.com
LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/hardline-app/home/
Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/hardline.app

Follow the Host:
Jeff Sample: 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

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. 

The conversation digs into Pelles AI’s vision for an AI infrastructure layer for the trades, connecting information across estimating, takeoff, project management, fabrication, schedules, contracts, and other systems. Yael also shares Pelles AI’s experience with Trimble’s 0 to 60 Challenge, why interoperability matters more than an all-in-one platform, and how better-connected data can move experienced construction professionals away from repetitive work and toward higher-value decision-making. 

Key Takeaways
Why trade contractors need a different approach to construction technology and why workflows can vary significantly not only between trades, but even between contractors working in the same specialty.
How AI can connect an existing construction tech stack rather than trying to replace estimating, takeoff, project management, fabrication, scheduling, and other specialized tools.
How connected project data can protect and improve margins, including comparing estimates against actual project outcomes and carrying lessons learned into future bids.
Why construction AI needs to lead to action, turning information from drawings, specifications, contracts, markups, schedules, and other sources into RFIs, change-order processes, purchasing decisions, invoicing, and other workflows.
Where construction AI and interoperability are headed next, including Pelles AI’s Trimble integrations, the importance of ERP connections, and why Yael believes the intelligence layer across multiple construction systems represents a major opportunity.

Timestamps 
[00:00] - Episode Teaser
[03:47] - From Construction Law to Construction Tech
[05:56] - Building AI Infrastructure for Trade Contractors
[09:52] - What a Connected Trade Workflow Actually Looks Like
[11:51] - Closing the Gap Between Estimates and Actual Results
[14:15] - Connecting Schedule, Procurement, and Fabrication
[18:30] - Trimble’s 0 to 60 Challenge and the Integration Strategy
[20:04] - Why the Future Is Connected Tech Stacks, Not One Tool
[31:42] - Rapid Fire, What’s Next, and Trimble Dimensions
[38:09] - How to Connect

Follow Yael Hanan:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yael-meretyk-hanan/
Website (Company): https://www.pelles.ai/
LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/pelles-ai/

Follow the Hosts:
Jeff Sample: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ironmanofit/
Nathan Wood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaec/

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