AI Automation for Construction
Your project managers should be on job sites, not buried in document piles.
Construction companies in the Greater Chicago area manage permits, inspections, change orders, and subcontractor invoices across dozens of active projects. We build AI automation that handles the document load so your PMs can manage the work.
The Challenge
Where construction businesses lose time every day.
Permit & Inspection Tracking
Every project has dozens of permits and inspections to track — building permits, electrical, plumbing, fire, occupancy. Each municipality has different forms, different processes, and different timelines. Missing an inspection window can delay a project by weeks and cost tens of thousands in carrying costs.
Change Order Management
Change orders arrive from owners, architects, and project managers in every format — formal AIA documents, emails, marked-up drawings, even text messages. Each one needs to be documented, priced, approved, and tracked against the original contract. The paper trail is the difference between getting paid and eating the cost.
Subcontractor Invoice Processing
A mid-size GC working 10-15 active projects might receive 50+ subcontractor invoices per month. Each one needs to be matched against the subcontract, verified against completed work, checked for retention, and approved before payment. A single person can spend a full day each week just on sub invoices.
Document Retrieval & Compliance
Lien waivers, certificates of insurance, safety certifications, and prevailing wage documentation for every sub on every project. When a GC or owner asks for a document, someone has to dig through email, Dropbox, filing cabinets, and project folders. It should take 30 seconds. It takes 30 minutes.
Our Solutions
Automation built for how construction actually works.
Permit & Inspection Management
Permit documents are scanned, data is extracted, and deadlines are tracked automatically. Inspection requirements are mapped to your project schedule. You get alerts before inspection windows, not after you've missed them.
- Extracts permit details, expiration dates, and inspection requirements
- Tracks deadlines across municipalities with different processes
- Sends proactive alerts for upcoming inspections and permit renewals
Change Order Processing
Change orders from any source — formal documents, emails, or marked-up plans — are read, classified, and data-extracted. Scope changes, cost impacts, and approval chains are tracked in one place. Your paper trail is complete and searchable.
- Reads change orders in any format — AIA forms, emails, PDFs, photos
- Extracts scope description, cost impact, and required approvals
- Tracks approval status and links to original contract terms
Subcontractor Invoice Automation
Sub invoices are matched against subcontracts, verified against completed work percentages, and checked for correct retention rates. Clean invoices approve automatically. Discrepancies are flagged with specific line-item detail so your PM can resolve them quickly.
- Matches invoices against subcontract amounts and schedule of values
- Calculates retention and verifies compliance with contract terms
- Routes exceptions to the responsible project manager with full context
Document Organization & Retrieval
Every project document — lien waivers, COIs, safety certs, submittals, and RFIs — is digitized, indexed by project, trade, and document type, and stored in a searchable system. When someone asks for a document, you find it in seconds.
- Classifies and indexes documents by project, trade, and type automatically
- Full-text search across all project documentation
- Tracks COI expirations and lien waiver status for every subcontractor
How It Works
Real automation workflows for construction.
Subcontractor Invoice → Payment Approval
- 1Subcontractor submits invoice via email or portal
- 2AI extracts sub name, invoice amount, line items, and retention
- 3System matches against subcontract schedule of values and % complete
- 4Clean invoices are approved and queued for payment
- 5Discrepancies route to PM with specific line items flagged
Change Order → Contract Update
- 1Change order document arrives from owner or architect
- 2AI reads scope description, cost impact, and timeline changes
- 3Change is logged against the original contract with running total
- 4Approval workflow triggers based on change order value thresholds
- 5Approved changes update project budget and schedule automatically
COI & Lien Waiver → Compliance Dashboard
- 1Insurance certificates and lien waivers arrive from subcontractors
- 2AI extracts coverage details, dates, limits, and signatures
- 3Documents are filed by project and subcontractor automatically
- 4Expiring COIs trigger renewal reminders before coverage lapses
- 5Per-project compliance dashboard shows status for every sub
Real Results
Numbers that matter.
Why Node Harbor
We're your neighbors, not a remote vendor.
The Greater Chicago area is constantly building — commercial developments, industrial expansions, infrastructure projects, and residential construction across a dozen municipalities. General contractors and specialty trades in Wood Dale, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, and the surrounding suburbs manage projects that span multiple jurisdictions, each with its own permitting process and inspection requirements. A 20-person GC running 10 active projects can easily generate 500+ documents per month that need to be tracked, filed, and retrievable. We're based in Elk Grove Village and we've seen firsthand how construction companies get buried in paper while trying to manage the actual work. Our automation handles the document load so your project managers can stay on site and your office staff can stop playing file clerk.
FAQ
Common questions about construction automation.
Ready to eliminate the paperwork?
30 minutes. No commitment. We'll review your current document workflows and identify the highest-impact automation opportunities for your construction operation.
Based in Elk Grove Village, IL — serving the entire O'Hare corridor and Chicago western suburbs.