The volume of documents that construction companies handle might make it challenging to process and keep track of them all. Inaccurate project paperwork has caused a construction delay, according to a recent poll, which also revealed that a third of construction experts thought it was difficult to obtain documents when finishing a project.
Sarah Buchner is well aware of this. She started Trunk Tools, a firm that offers automated tools for organizing unstructured construction data, after working as a carpenter for a while.
“I grew up in a poor environment in a small village in Austria and started working as a carpenter at age 12,” Buchner stated. “After many years in carpentry, I switched over to the general contractor side and worked my way up from superintendent to project manager to group leader. My PhD research made me realize that I could have a greater impact on my field by developing disruptive construction technology, and this inspired me to move across the world to Silicon Valley to attend Stanford and get my MBA.”
With an interface akin to a chatbot, Trunk Tools’ platform can answer inquiries concerning files such as spreadsheets, PDFs, drawings, designs, and tables.In an effort to identify possible project problems and uncover insights, Trunk Tools can also “link” planned building operations with accompanying paperwork.
According to Buchner, “Traditional construction software, like Procore, is centered around documenting workflows and storing data within a predefined system,” “In contrast, we’re introducing a paradigm shift where Q&A and AI enable construction teams to interact with information using natural language.”
According to Buchner, there were 3.6 million pages of documentation for a single customer’s $500 million high-rise residence in New York City. Workers in the construction business are known to detest paperwork, which is not unexpected considering the time it takes to go through such large file folders.
In a poll, data analytics firm Dodge Data and construction accounting software vendor Viewpoint found that 47% of contractors were satisfied with spreadsheets and only 28% felt comfortable with paper-based processes. According to the research, 79% of respondents were amenable to using construction management software.
“The 3.6 million pages, if printed and stacked, would be three times the height of the building itself,” Buchner stated. “It would take a human 50 years to read — it takes Trunk Tools seconds to structure and give insights.”
Competing with companies such as Briq, Join, and PlanRadar, Trunk Tools holds a position in the construction software market, which is estimated to be valued at $7.5 billion by 2032.
With thousands of users and a “double digit” number of customers in the construction business, Trunk Tools seems to be holding its own, nevertheless. The company’s goal, according to Buchner, is a 4x revenue-to-burn rate ratio.
“If printed and stacked, the 3.6 million pages would be 3x the height of the building itself,” Buchner stated. “It would take a human 50 years to read — it takes Trunk Tools seconds to structure and give insights.”
Competing with companies such as Briq, Join, and PlanRadar, Trunk Tools holds a position in the construction software market, which is estimated to be valued at $7.5 billion by 2032.
With thousands of users and a “double digit” number of customers in the construction business, Trunk Tools seems to be holding its own, nevertheless. The company’s goal, according to Buchner, is a 4x revenue to burn rate ratio.
Trunk Tools competes in the construction software market, which is projected to be worth $7.5 billion by 2032, against firms including Briq, Join, and PlanRadar.
Despite having thousands of users and a “double digit” number of construction industry clients, Trunk Tools appears to be surviving. Buchner states that a 4x revenue to burn rate ratio is the company’s objective.Said Buchner. “Slipped timelines and rework can completely crush the razor-thin margins of construction projects, and Trunk Tools can alleviate both.”
