97% Time Savings: How AI Is Helping Builders Skip the Admin and Strengthen Client Trust

Omaha, Neb. (June 7, 2025)  For many custom builders, Friday afternoons have long been reserved for one thing: client updates. Wrangling notes, reviewing the schedule, recapping milestones, uploading photos, formatting emails – the process can take up to an hour per project. Multiply that across a dozen active jobs, and a simple task turns into an all-consuming chore.

It’s not that builders don’t want to keep their clients informed. But the reality is: communication takes time.

Buildertrend, the leading construction management software, is changing that with the launch of AI-powered Client Updates, a new AI tool for builders that automatically generates polished, professional weekly summaries using the data builders already enter into the platform.

The results are striking: Early users report a 97% reduction in time spent, with updates now completed in just 6.5 minutes on average, compared to the 30 to 60 minutes it used to take.

“Prior to this, our team would spend noon until 5 p.m. writing updates for all of our projects,” said Michael Gutelli, co-owner of Clark + Aldine. “And if you’re running 15-17+ projects in various stages, that’s a long half day spent. Client Updates saves us time, and it also gives us a lot of clarity and visibility on what happened on that job that week.”

AI for construction: Turning job site activity into clear client communication

The new feature is designed to meet builders where they already are – in the trenches, on the job site, capturing progress throughout the day. It pulls from across the platform, reading Daily Logs, Schedule items, Change Orders and Invoices to auto-generate a draft summary. Builders can fine-tune the message, then share with just one click via the Buildertrend Client Portal.

Client Updates also gives builders full control over what’s included – whether they want to highlight inspections, share behind-the-scenes wins or flag upcoming decisions. Even items normally hidden from homeowners due to viewing permissions can be selectively added, giving the builder a true command center for client visibility.

And unlike traditional email updates, Client Updates are tracked, stored and visible – meaning homeowners don’t miss a thing, and builders can confirm their message was received.

“This isn’t just a time-saver. It’s a trust-builder,” said Sagar Desai, group product manager at Buildertrend. “Our goal with AI-powered Client Updates is to reduce the friction between what builders know and what their clients need to hear – without forcing them to choose between communication and progress.”

Solving construction’s communication gap with home builder time-saving tools

Data from Buildertrend’s platform shows that while communication is one of the top drivers of homeowner satisfaction, it’s also one of the most inconsistently delivered experiences. Only 33% of projects with client access included even a single Daily Log update in the last year – largely because builders were forced to juggle multiple tools or repeat the same effort in different formats.

Client Updates addresses this gap by centralizing the update process, creating a single, streamlined workflow. During the beta phase alone, builders used the tool to publish 180 updates, saving an estimated 115.5 hours – time that could instead be spent on job site walk-throughs, team planning or simply wrapping the day at a decent hour.

A smarter construction platform for modern builders

As the company prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026, Buildertrend is more committed than ever to helping the construction industry evolve. The launch of Client Updates represents more than just a product milestone; it’s the beginning of a new chapter.

“We’ve spent 20 years helping builders stay ahead of the curve, and AI is the next evolution of that promise,” Desai said. “You’re going to see more innovation from us, and all with one goal: helping builders do more with less.”

That sentiment is echoed by long-time Buildertrend customer Adam Copenhaver, co-founder of CopeGrand Homes:

“Buildertrend just continues to impress us with their innovation and the new AI they’re incorporating. I’m excited about the possibilities moving forward.”

With nearly two decades of product leadership and a platform used by thousands of builders nationwide, Buildertrend is setting the pace for the next era of construction technology – one that’s faster, smarter and built for the real world.

Learn more about Buildertrend’s construction client communication tools at https://buildertrend.com/communication/.

About Buildertrend:

Great builders don’t just manage projects – they run successful businesses. That’s where Buildertrend comes in. As the leading residential construction management platform, we give contractors the power to control their financials, schedules, team workflows and client relationships – all in one system. No more juggling disconnected tools or guessing on profitability. With nearly two decades of industry expertise, Buildertrend helps builders work smarter, scale faster and stay ahead of the competition. To learn more about Buildertrend, visit buildertrend.com and @buildertrend.