Stop wondering, start asking Meet Dot. Buildots’ AI assistant

For extremely busy construction managers, each day presents new obstacles that require immediate decisions. Making the right choices can be easier said than done, given the sheer quantity of trades, activities and deadlines to keep track of.

At Buildots, we want to give users quick and easy access to the right data at the right time, so they can always make the right decisions. That’s why we created Dot – a generative AI assistant for construction managers.

Dot quickly and accurately fetches the information you need, revealing critical insights hidden in your data. Just ask it a question, and you’ll get a response – whether it’s a case of simple data retrieval or complex analysis. Want more detail? You can ask as many follow-up questions as you need. It’s like talking to a colleague who always has the answer and is always available. 

Trent Nichols, VP, National BIM Director at JE Dunn says, “Very rarely am I wowed by the functionality that software vendors add… With Buildots, not only can you track progress, but you also have this AI assistant that allows you to ask questions about your project progress and dive into it. It’s a no-brainer!”

Watch this video to see Dot in action

What can I use it for?

Dot provides factual, objective data analysis that makes your life easier. It even knows how to present its responses in an Excel-ready format, so you can easily share answers and save time on reporting. 

Dot is designed to handle a variety of queries. Let’s explore a few of these in detail.

Progress percentage

Understanding how your project is progressing is crucial to managing it effectively. Whether it’s a specific trade, activity, or area, Dot can tell you its exact progress percentage and compare it to the planned progress set out in your schedule. 

Task completion

Sometimes, you just need to know whether something is finished or not. Whether you’re verifying that the next activity in the sequence can begin or corroborating reports from trades, Dot has you covered.

Example questions you might ask:

• Which floors have finished kitchen installation?
• Has the mechanical trade finished on floor four?

Trade-specific questions

Dot can tell you exactly what specific trades are up to. Want more detailed information? Simply ask it a follow-up. Dot lets you clarify details and dig deeper.

Start and end dates

The average construction project has a lot of moving parts, but sometimes all you need to know is one specific start or end date. Don’t worry. Dot can find that information in seconds, saving you the time it takes to dig through your data.

Example questions you might ask:

• When did sprinkler pipework installation start on level eight?
• When did ductwork finish in building two? 

Complex questions with multiple criteria

Dot’s capabilities go far beyond simple data retrieval. It can also help with complex analysis that involves multiple variables, revealing critical insights in your data.

Under the hood

Dot is an alternative way to navigate Buildots, complementing the platform’s rich graphical user interface. It’s also the first tool in the construction domain to offer a high level of AI-driven, natural language interaction for accessing structured progress data, transforming detailed data sets into clear insights. It’s powered by a secure version of OpenAI’s GPT 4o (Buildots’ proprietary computer vision AI is a separate model and is the foundation of our platform).

Shani Gal is VP of Product at Buildots and one of the masterminds behind Dot. She explains its value like this, “Dot offers a completely new way to interact with your existing Buildots data. Though the dashboards and reports in the platform contain a wealth of information, retrieving multi-condition queries that cross-reference data points could previously be time-consuming. Dot makes it effortless. You can get the insights you need via a simple conversation.”

Towards a performance-driven future

Dot makes it easier for Buildots’ users to adopt Performance-Driven Construction Management (PDCM) by simplifying access objective data and insights. 

This framework – developed by Buildots – focuses on moving away from subjective reporting and reactive problem-solving. Created alongside construction industry leaders, PDCM uses in-depth data and insights to create a performance-focused culture. This approach enables project teams to anticipate delays, optimize processes, solve problems proactively and steer projects toward success. 

Want to be one of the first to experience a live demo of Dot? Register for our upcoming webinar on Wednesday, December 5th (8am PST, 11am EST, 4pm GMT). See you there!