Austin, Texas, September 13, 2025
News Summary
Buildxact has launched Blu, an AI assistant suite and platform upgrades aimed at helping small and mid-size homebuilders cope with labor shortages and speed routine work. Blu includes automated takeoffs, an estimate generator, an estimate reviewer and an assembly/recipe assistant, with features like automatic plan scaling, perimeter measurements and supplier pricing integration. The company reports over 8,740 takeoffs and 600 estimates created, claiming 13,113 hours saved—roughly $655,650 in labor value at $50/hour. The update also adds digital signatures, onsite timesheets, workorder links and integrated dealer price lists, with unlimited-user plans and training available.
Buildxact launches Blu AI suite and platform upgrades to tackle homebuilding labor shortage
Buildxact, a construction management software provider with North American headquarters in Austin, Texas and roots in Australia, launched an enhanced platform today that adds a new AI assistant called Blu and several AI-assisted tools aimed squarely at easing an acute labor shortage in home construction. The company says the new features are intended to help builders complete more work with existing crews by speeding routine estimating, takeoffs, scheduling and administrative tasks.
Top-line impact and usage data
The announcement included specific usage and time-savings figures for the new Blu takeoff tool. Since its release in June 2025, the Blu: Takeoff Assistant has been used to complete more than 8,740 takeoffs. Users have completed more than 600 estimates through Blu, and about 10% of those estimates have been sent to customers as quotes. Buildxact reports that use of Blu: Takeoff Assistant has saved more than 13,113 hours—described as more than six years of work—relative to an industry average takeoff time of 90 minutes. Using an assumed industry rate of $50 per hour, the company calculates that the time savings represent roughly $655,650 in avoided labor cost.
How the tools work and what they do
The Blu suite includes several AI-assisted features that are being highlighted as the core of the platform update:
- Blu: Takeoff Assistant — automatic plan scaling, auto-naming of pages, precise area capture, hands-free perimeter measurement, and new point add/point edit tools to tweak areas without restarting work.
- Blu: Estimate Generator — initial capability to generate kitchen and bath renovation estimates using local labor and material data and supplier catalogs, including integration with partner price lists.
- Blu: Estimate Reviewer — automated auditing of estimates for missed items and improvement suggestions, with the ability to produce a task checklist that users can mark complete as they address items.
- Blu: Recipe/Assembly Assistant — feature listed among Blu offerings to support assembly-level estimating workflows.
The Estimate Generator pulls pricing from supplier catalogs and will expand beyond kitchen and bath work to whole-house builds and common renovations in coming months. The Estimate Reviewer can incorporate project details such as room types and energy ratings to refine recommendations and produce insurance, compliance and task suggestions for users to action.
Platform additions beyond AI
The platform update also includes several operational features intended to reduce administrative friction: digital signatures for online approvals, enhanced client selection tools to speed homeowner decisions, updated timesheets that let crews record time by project category in a mobile app, and automatic workorder generation to tie labor hours to project costs.
Workforce context: technology as a response to worker shortages
The home construction industry faces an ongoing labor shortage that industry analyses say will require hundreds of thousands of new workers to meet demand. The Blueprint for Upskilling the Homebuilding Workforce report cited in the announcement calls for stronger communication, broader use of technology and robust apprenticeship programs to expand and upskill the workforce and notes the sector may need an estimated 439,000 net new workers in 2025. Buildxact positions its Blu tools as aligning with those pillars by automating repetitive work, accelerating learning through tech and freeing skilled tradespeople to do hands-on construction.
Claims about productivity and accessibility
The company states that automating repetitive estimating and administrative tasks can increase throughput without adding headcount, potentially helping builders complete projects faster and more accurately. The platform is described as intended to be accessible to smaller builders as well as larger firms, offering a customizable pricing structure, unlimited users and included training and support across plans so full teams can adopt the tools without per-user costs.
Additional notes and materials
The launch materials reference white papers titled AI-Powered Efficiency: A Solution to Workforce Constraints and How to Outperform in an Era of LBM Sales Growth, suggesting further reading on labor impacts and business strategy. The company also outlined plans to continue expanding Blu features and pricing options over the coming months.
What this means for builders and industry observers
For builders and remodelers, the announcement highlights a growing focus on using AI to reduce time on routine takeoffs, improve estimate accuracy and streamline client coordination. For workforce planners, the tools are framed as complementary to upskilling efforts by reducing manual, error-prone tasks and making hands-on work more attractive. Independent evaluation will be required to verify claimed time and cost savings in diverse field conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blu and what does it do?
Blu is an AI-powered assistant added to the Buildxact platform that includes takeoff automation, estimate generation, estimate review and recipe/assembly support to speed estimating and reduce administrative work.
How much time and money has Blu reportedly saved so far?
According to reported usage data, Blu: Takeoff Assistant has saved more than 13,113 hours, which the company equates to roughly $655,650 in labor at an assumed $50 per hour, based on more than 8,740 takeoffs completed since June 2025.
Which tasks does the AI automate?
Key automated tasks include plan scaling and page naming, area and perimeter measurement for takeoffs, drafting of material and labor items for estimates using local pricing data, and automated review checks that highlight missing items and compliance considerations.
How does this relate to the broader labor shortage?
The tools are presented as a way to maximize productivity of existing staff by reducing repetitive estimating work, enabling crews to spend more time on hands-on construction while administrative tasks are automated.
Is the platform intended for small builders?
The platform update is described as designed for small-to-medium custom home builders, contractors and dealers, with a pricing approach that includes unlimited users and training to support wider adoption across teams.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | What it does | Immediate benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Blu: Takeoff Assistant | Automatic plan scaling, auto page naming, perimeter measurement, point add/edit | Faster takeoffs and fewer restarts |
| Blu: Estimate Generator | Generates estimates using local labor data and supplier catalogs (kitchen and bath initially) | Saves estimator time and speeds quote delivery |
| Blu: Estimate Reviewer | Audits estimates, suggests missed items and creates task checklists | Improves estimate completeness and compliance |
| Blu: Recipe/Assembly Assistant | Supports assembly-level estimating and material breakdowns | More accurate itemization and repeatable assemblies |
| Digital signatures & client selections | Online approvals and homeowner decision tools | Faster approvals and clearer homeowner communication |
| Timesheets & Onsite app | Record crew hours by item, auto-generate workorders | Tie labor to cost and project for better job costing |
| Pricing approach | Customizable plans with unlimited users and support | Enable whole-team access without per-user fees |
| Supplier catalog integration | Pull pricing from dealer catalogs for estimates | More accurate material pricing and 24/7 ordering capability |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- LBM Journal: Buildxact launches AI-driven solutions for builders
- Wikipedia: Artificial intelligence
- The Australian Financial Review: Big names back next big hope in property tech
- Google Search: AI in construction
- Buildxact (official site)
- Wikipedia: Construction
- LBM Journal (home)
- Google Scholar: construction estimating software
- The Australian Financial Review (home)
- Encyclopedia Britannica: construction labor shortage
Author: Construction NY News
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