World of Concrete 2025: 3 Top Takeaways

The World of Concrete 2025 reminded everyone why this show is such a cornerstone for the industry. The event was packed with contractors, suppliers, and innovators showing off new mixes, equipment, and methods. But beneath all the excitement, one theme kept surfacing—estimators are carrying heavier loads than ever before.

Our team at Beam AI spent three days on the floor, talking with contractors, concrete pros, and estimators. Those conversations revealed some eye-opening truths. Here are the three biggest World of Concrete takeaways, along with practical trade show insights for anyone wrestling with today’s estimator challenges.

Our team at Beam AI spent 3 days exhibiting at WOC, chatting with contractors, concrete specialists, and everyone in between. We heard all about their everyday pain points, and it quickly became clear that some long-standing issues are now feeling a bit too long-standing. Below are the three major takeaways we noticed (and why we’re so excited to help solve them).

1. Concrete Sets the Pace for Everything

Again and again, we heard: “If the concrete isn’t ready, nothing else moves.” It sounds simple, but it captures the reality on most job sites. Concrete is the foundation, and delays here ripple into every stage—from crew schedules to rebar installation.

What’s striking is that many of these setbacks start long before trucks show up on site. Manual takeoffs and estimates still eat up countless hours of measuring PDFs, checking quantities, and re-checking for errors. One slip in those early numbers can stall the entire supply chain.

Key takeaway 1: Accurate takeoffs keep the project moving. When estimators get the numbers right from the beginning, materials and crews line up smoothly, and the pour happens on time.

2. On-Site Efficiency Has Outpaced Estimating Tech

Walking the floor, it was impossible to miss the flashy upgrades: mixers, laser screeds, and next-gen trucks. Contractors have poured decades of investment into job site efficiency. But one thing stood out—estimating hasn’t kept up.

At our booth, estimator after estimator told us the same thing: their companies rely on high-tech equipment in the field but still depend on manual takeoffs in the office. That’s a serious gap.

Key takeaway 2: Estimators need the same tech boost the field has seen. AI-powered takeoff tools like Beam AI can cut hours of repetitive work, reduce human error, and give estimators more time to focus on pricing strategy, customer relationships, and winning bids.

3. Estimators Are Overloaded—and It Shows

The most common frustration we heard? Estimators are buried. Many teams told us they can’t pursue new bids because their estimators are stuck in spreadsheets. Others admitted they want to grow but can’t find, train, or retain enough people to keep up.

Add in the wave of experienced estimators retiring, and the pressure is crushing. Creating one estimate by hand already consumes hours. Multiply that by multiple projects, revisions, and deadlines, and it’s no wonder teams feel like they’re always behind.

Key takeaway 3: The workload is unsustainable. Estimators need relief from repetitive tasks so they can spend time on strategy, refining bids, and building strong customer relationships. At WOC, when attendees saw Beam AI slash takeoff time by 90%, you could see the stress lift off their shoulders.

Where the Industry Goes From Here

Walking away from the show, one thing was clear: the real wins will come from helping estimators reclaim their time. Here’s how the conversation should move forward:

• Adopt new tools: Tech in estimating is long overdue. Automated takeoff solutions can free up hours and open the door to more bids.
  
• Invest in people: Taking busywork off estimators’ plates lets them grow professionally and contribute where their expertise matters most.
  

Bid smarter and more often: Faster takeoffs mean more accurate estimates, more submissions, and a stronger chance of landing the projects you want.

Final Thoughts

The biggest World of Concrete takeaways weren’t just about new trucks or concrete mixes. They were about people—the estimators who keep projects running but are often stretched too thin.

If you missed us at WOC, we’d still love to connect. Our team at Beam AI is focused on solving the challenges we kept hearing: endless takeoffs, limited bandwidth, and stalled growth. Book a demo, and let’s talk about how we can make estimating faster, easier, and more rewarding for your team.