A new project management platform built entirely around artificial intelligence has launched in the UK construction sector, targeting small and medium-sized contractors that have traditionally been priced out of enterprise project technology.
Construction AI was developed by Steve McKenna, a Chartered Builder with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. Despite having no background in software development, McKenna used AI tools to design and build the platform, working through natural language collaboration to produce what is now a full production SaaS application.
The system includes more than 700,000 lines of code and integrates over 60 AI-driven tools across 22 modules covering areas such as drawings management, tender analysis, cost control, contract administration and programme tracking.
Addressing a persistent technology gap
The platform is aimed at the vast majority of construction firms in the UK, many of which employ fewer than 20 people. While large contractors have adopted enterprise project management systems, smaller firms often continue to manage projects through spreadsheets, messaging platforms and paper-based documentation due to the high cost of existing software.
Enterprise platforms can cost between £10,000 and £50,000 per year, placing them beyond the reach of many subcontractors and specialist contractors. Construction AI aims to close that gap by offering a system built specifically for smaller organisations.
AI embedded across project workflows
Unlike traditional construction software that adds AI features onto existing systems, the platform has been designed with AI integrated into core workflows.
Key capabilities include semantic search across project data, AI-generated construction programmes and risk assessments, and automated drawing management using optical character recognition. The platform is also trained on UK construction standards, including contract structures, CDM regulations and industry best practice.
Each organisation operates on its own isolated database and storage environment, ensuring that AI tools analyse only the contractor’s project data rather than a shared dataset.
A new approach to building software
The development process itself reflects a broader shift in how technology can be created. Instead of a traditional software development lifecycle involving multiple teams and extended build cycles, the platform emerged through collaboration between a domain expert and AI systems capable of translating operational requirements into technical architecture.
This raises wider questions for the construction technology sector, where industry professionals with deep operational knowledge may increasingly play a direct role in building digital tools tailored to real project workflows.
Accessible pricing model
To make the system accessible to smaller firms, Construction AI is offering a founding member lifetime licence for two users priced at £2,000, positioning the platform well below typical enterprise software costs.
By combining sector expertise with AI-driven development, the platform represents an attempt to democratise project technology within an industry where digital transformation has historically favoured the largest contractors.
