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From March 3–7, 2026, the construction industry came together in Las Vegas for one of the biggest events of the year, CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026. With over 140,000 professionals walking the show floor and thousands of conversations happening across booths, one thing was clear.
The industry is changing, and it’s changing fast.
For us at Beam AI, it was a packed few days at Booth #N11950. We met contractors across trades, ran back-to-back demos, and had some of the most honest conversations we’ve had in a while about estimating workflows.
Here are the biggest takeaways from CONEXPO 2026.
How is AI being used in construction in 2026?
If there was one theme that came up again and again, it was AI in construction estimating.
Contractors are no longer asking “what is AI?” They’re asking, “How do I actually use this in my workflow?”
Across conversations, there was a clear shift. Contractors are not just curious anymore. Many teams are already testing tools like AI takeoff software or are actively looking to implement them in 2026.
What stood out most was the urgency. Estimating teams are under pressure, and AI is being seen as a practical way to remove manual work, not just another layer of software.
The move away from manual takeoffs is accelerating
Manual takeoffs have been the default for decades. But that’s changing.
At CONEXPO, we saw a strong willingness to move away from time-consuming workflows that keep estimators tied to screens for hours. Teams are looking to free up time for higher-value work like pricing strategy, scope validation, and winning bids.
This aligns with a broader industry trend where automation and AI are being used to improve productivity and reduce inefficiencies across construction workflows.
The takeaway is simple. The industry is not debating whether to move on from manual processes. It is figuring out how quickly that transition can happen.
This is where construction estimating software powered by AI is gaining traction. It allows teams to shift time away from manual tasks and toward higher-value work like pricing, scope validation, and strategy.
Preconstruction teams are under pressure to do more with the same people
One of the most consistent conversations we had was around capacity.
Pipelines are strong. Opportunities are there. But estimating teams are stretched.
Contractors are trying to answer a difficult question:
How do we bid more without hiring more?
This is where technology like automated takeoff software is becoming less of a “nice to have” and more of a requirement. Tools that can automate takeoffs, streamline estimating, and help teams run multiple bids in parallel are getting real attention.
Beam AI customers are becoming advocates for AI-driven estimating
One of the highlights for us was meeting existing customers at the booth.
Many of them didn’t just stop by to say hello. They came to share how AI-based takeoffs are already changing how their teams work. Some talked about faster turnaround times. Others spoke about increased bid volume.
More importantly, they’re now advocating for AI internally within their organizations.
That shift matters. It shows that adoption is moving beyond early experimentation and into everyday workflows.
Understanding the latest construction technology trends
Another clear theme across the show floor was the need to move away from disconnected tools.
Contractors are looking for workflows where takeoff, estimating, and bid management work together. Not in silos.
The interest is no longer just in standalone tools, but in platforms that can support the full preconstruction lifecycle.
Final thoughts: A few days that confirmed a bigger shift
CONEXPO happens once every three years. But the conversations we had reflect changes happening much faster than that.
The construction industry is moving toward:
- Faster workflows
- Smarter decision-making
- AI-assisted estimating
And most importantly, a shift in how estimating teams spend their time.
For us, it was a great few days of conversations, demos, and reconnecting with customers and partners.
If you stopped by the booth, thank you.
If not, we’re always happy to continue the conversation. Book a demo now!
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