Reducing Change Orders with AI

Change orders are modifications to the original construction contract, typically caused by:

• Design errors discovered during construction
• Coordination conflicts between disciplines
• Building code violations requiring field fixes
• Specification vs drawing contradictions
• Missing or unclear information in documents

Change orders are expensive—they often include markup, delay costs, and rework. Industry research shows that 5-15% of project cost is lost to rework caused by errors and change orders.

The cost of fixing issues before construction is typically 1/10th the cost of fixing them during construction. AI plan checking helps teams:

• Protect project margins by preventing costly change orders
• Reduce rework costs by catching errors early
• Avoid schedule delays from field changes
• Maintain client relationships by delivering on budget

1. Run AI Plan Check During Design: Catch issues in design development, not during construction.
2. Review AI Findings Before Bidding: Fix coordination and code issues before contractors price the work.
3. Use AI for Pre-Construction Review: Final check before construction starts to catch any remaining issues.
4. Address High-Severity Issues First: Focus on critical issues that would definitely cause change orders.
5. Track Change Order Causes: Use AI findings to identify patterns and improve document quality.