Movers & Shakers Interview with Wyatt Jenkins, Chief Product Officer, Procore Technologies
Read our Movers & Shakers interview between Anirudh Bhaskaran, Industry Principal, Energy & Environment, Frost & Sullivan and Wyatt Jenkins, Chief Product Officer, Procore Technologies. The insightful conversation delves into understanding some of the key challenges prevailing in the construction industry, AI-driven innovation, cybersecurity measures, BIM and digital twin, the criticality of sustainability and how Procore is positioned to capitalise on the growth opportunities and lead the transformation in the construction industry.
This discussion took place during Procore’s GROUNDBREAK 2024 event, held on November 20-21 in the Colorado Convention Centre, Denver. Anirudh Bhaskaran had the privilege of interviewing Wyatt Jenkins, exploring the key challenges, ongoing innovations and future transformations shaping the construction industry.
Anirudh Bhaskaran: What are the industry’s biggest challenges facing the adoption of digital construction management, and how is Procore addressing these challenges for its customers?
Wyatt Jenkins: The labour shortage remains the construction industry’s most pressing challenge, and it is a multifaceted issue. Beyond the scarcity of field labour, one critical aspect is the loss of institutional knowledge as experienced builders retire. These seasoned professionals—such as superintendents who have overseen the construction of numerous data centres—carry invaluable expertise about successes, failures, and best practices. Unfortunately, when they leave the workforce, much of this critical knowledge is left with them.
This creates a scenario where the next generation of project managers or superintendents, often less experienced, must navigate projects without the benefit of that hard-earned wisdom. The result is inefficiency and the potential to repeat past mistakes.
At Procore, we recognize this dual challenge: addressing both the shortage of labour on the ground and the experience gap caused by retiring professionals. That is why we have made capturing, retaining, and sharing institutional knowledge a cornerstone of our platform.
Procore’s vision centres on data-driven solutions, enabling teams to document lessons learned, track project changes, and store key insights within the platform. By embedding this knowledge directly into workflows, we ensure that it is accessible to the next generation of builders, regardless of their level of experience. This means new project managers or superintendents can rely on data rather than solely on the availability of a veteran mentor.
Through Procore, construction teams can build smarter and more efficiently, leveraging the collective intelligence of past projects to tackle future challenges with confidence. It is about empowering the industry to adapt and thrive, despite the ongoing labour shortage.
Anirudh Bhaskaran: I am aware that Procore has already integrated Generative AI within its portfolio through Procore Copilot AI. What do you think is the natural progression of AI that you aim to use in your portfolio in the next 3 to 5 years?
Wyatt Jenkins: At Procore, we have been working with AI for nearly a decade now, applying various forms of artificial intelligence across our platform. For example, we have been using computer vision for several years in use cases like flying drones around construction sites to capture images, or analyzing drawings to extract data needed for takeoff estimations. This technology has been a core part of how we improve project workflows and gather insights.
We have also implemented predictive analytics, which is another form of AI. For instance, when document controllers upload new documents, we can automatically classify them based on patterns seen in prior documents. We have built insight cards that pop up with predictive suggestions, such as flagging documents that are 20% longer than those in previous projects, prompting the team to investigate why that is happening. This is all powered by predictive analytics, where past data is analyzed by algorithms to inform future predictions, making operations more proactive and efficient.
Another area we have focused on is Natural Language Processing (NLP), where we have been able to process large volumes of text to summarize content and help users quickly find the information they need—saving time and improving efficiency across the board.
However, what is changing the game now is Large Language Models (LLMs) and generative AI. There is no future roadmap at Procore that doesn’t include LLMs and agent-based architectures. These AI agents will play a huge role in the future of construction management. For instance, within Procore, users can now use Procore Copilot, which leverages LLMs to explore construction documents and respond to questions. You can ask Copilot specific questions—like “Can this pipe support the weight?”—and it will pull the relevant information from the specifications, helping workers make real-time decisions on the job site.
The impact of LLMs in construction is huge. Right now, teams on job sites spend a lot of time searching for answers to specific questions, such as design specifications or material requirements. With LLMs, construction professionals can simply ask a question and get an immediate, accurate response from the data. This is a perfect example of how LLMs can supercharge Q&A within the construction framework—making complex data instantly accessible and actionable.
To put it into perspective, I once ran a search engine for Shutterstock, where we had 60 engineers building complex ranking algorithms just to serve the right images when a user searched for them. Today, with the power of LLMs, one engineer could accomplish the same task in an afternoon. What once required a massive engineering effort now takes just a fraction of the time and resources.
In construction, the application of LLMs will be particularly impactful because they can be tailored to specific project types, trades, and companies. The focus here is on specialized use cases—not just generative AI, which can be cool but not transformative. The way LLMs will revolutionize construction is by making specialized knowledge easily accessible, automating tasks, and allowing teams to make better decisions faster.
At Procore, we believe that these AI advancements will be a game-changer for construction—unlocking efficiencies, improving project outcomes, and driving the industry toward a more connected and intelligent future. We are excited to continue exploring the potential of LLMs and generative AI, helping our customers build smarter and more effectively.
Anirudh Bhaskaran: What other emerging technologies (AR/VR, digital twin, reality capture etc.) do you see having the biggest impact on digital construction management in the next five years, and how is Procore positioned to integrate these technologies within its portfolio?
Wyatt Jenkins: We are making significant investments in BIM right now. We have a range of exciting new BIM partnerships that we will be announcing soon. We are working closely with some of the world’s leading builders and owners, and we are addressing their critical BIM needs at scale.
When we talk about BIM, there are a couple of key aspects we are focused on. First, there’s BIM in the field—a crucial part of the equation. BIM in the field allows teams to compare the real-world construction environment to the digital model, identifying discrepancies between what is supposed to happen and what is happening. One example is our use of augmented reality (AR) to overlay the BIM model onto the physical construction site, enabling workers to make assessments in real time. This is a powerful tool for enhancing accuracy and efficiency on the job site, and we are committed to continuing to develop a robust field-first BIM solution for our customers.
But BIM is not just about the model itself—it is about the data inside the model. For us, BIM represents the richest source of data in a construction project. Every asset, every component, and the full history of each item are stored within the model. When we talk about creating a digital twin, that is exactly what we are referring to a digital replica of the building that contains not only the model but also all of the critical data about every asset in the building. This includes installation dates, maintenance history, replacement parts, and more. The goal is to provide owners and facility managers with comprehensive, real-time access to every piece of information about their building, from construction to long-term operations.
We have already begun working on this with various partners, and we are continuing to collaborate with the best in the industry to make digital twins a reality. Digital twins are not just about visualizing a building; they are about providing owners with rich, actionable data that tells the full story of each asset. For instance, when an owner looks at an air handling unit in the digital twin, they should have access to the model data along with the full history of that asset—such as when it was installed, any maintenance events, parts replacements, or issues encountered during construction. This historical data adds tremendous value to the digital twin, enabling better long-term management and decision-making.
Ultimately, we see digital twins as an essential output that helps owners and facility managers understand their buildings at a deeper level. By combining the model data with asset history, Procore aims to provide the most complete, accurate, and useful picture of a building’s life cycle. We are excited about the role we will play in enabling digital twins and supporting the next generation of data-driven construction and building management.
Anirudh Bhaskaran: How is Procore defending itself and its customers from the impending and sophisticated cyber-attacks that are growing in numbers day by day?
Wyatt Jenkins: At Procore, we take cybersecurity very seriously, and we have built a large, dedicated security team to ensure the protection of our platform and the data of our customers. We are committed to adhering to the highest global compliance standards because we work with governments and organizations worldwide that require stringent security protocols.
One of the key steps we are taking to enhance our security posture is our focus on FedRAMP compliance, which is a critical certification for cloud services used by the U.S. Federal Government. We recently announced our entry into the FedRAMP marketplace, and this is just one example of how we’re expanding our security capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our customers. We are excited to bring more secure, compliant solutions to the construction industry.
To ensure data security across different regions, we have implemented a zone strategy that provides highly secure and localized environments for our customers. Our platform is built within a secure global zone, and we are launching regional zones to better serve the needs of our customers in various parts of the world. For example, we have already launched a UK zone where all data is stored and processed within the UK, ensuring full compliance with local data protection laws. Similarly, we are launching zones in Australia and other regions to support our global customer base.
Additionally, we are rolling out secure zones for FedRAMP, ensuring that we meet the rigorous security requirements for U.S. government agencies. These secure zones help meet the security and compliance needs of our customers across different regions and industries.
With our robust zone infrastructure, we are creating flexible and secure environments that cater to the specific needs of our diverse customer base, whether they are working on a construction project in the U.S., Europe, or Asia. This enables us to offer tailored, secure solutions while maintaining the highest standards of data privacy and protection.
At Procore, our commitment to security is unwavering, and we will continue to invest in and evolve our security practices to ensure our platform remains a trusted, secure tool for construction professionals around the world.
Anirudh Bhaskaran: Sustainability is becoming a critical priority in the construction industry as we face increasing environmental challenges. What specific features does Procore have to help its customers and partners reduce their environmental impact through technology? For example, are there features in development to track carbon emissions, optimize material usage, or promote energy efficiency on job sites? How does Procore envision its platform contributing to more sustainable construction practices over the long term?
Wyatt Jenkins: We are committed to supporting the construction industry’s growing focus on sustainability. One of the most significant features we have recently launched is Resource Management and material tracking. This new capability allows our customers to accurately track the materials they use on projects, including important data on the sustainability of those materials. By providing visibility into how materials are used and their environmental impact, we enable companies to make more informed choices and reduce their carbon footprint.
CO2 tracking is a key part of sustainability, but we also understand that the focus should extend beyond emissions to include material sourcing. The sustainability of the materials themselves is a critical factor, and our material tracking features are designed to give customers the insights they need to manage that effectively.
Looking ahead, we have discussed expanding our platform to support sustainability optimization, such as resource optimization and resource efficiency. While these features are not coming in the immediate future, they are part of our longer-term roadmap. In the meantime, many of our partner solutions already integrate with Procore to provide these kinds of optimization services, using our data to help drive sustainability efforts on projects.
For now, our focus is on ensuring that labour, equipment, and material tracking work seamlessly together and that these systems are fully integrated with project schedules. This allows us to provide data-driven recommendations to help teams optimize their resources and improve project efficiency, with sustainability at the core of the decision-making process.
Anirudh Bhaskaran: Can you share your vision for the construction management industry in the next decade and how Procore plans to lead that transformation?
Wyatt Jenkins: We see the future of the construction management industry centred around empowering builders with real-time data to make better decisions on-site. We believe that providing teams with immediate access to accurate, actionable information will be the biggest driver of efficiency in construction over the next decade. By putting data directly into the hands of those who are building, we can transform the way projects are managed, helping teams solve problems as they arise and make smarter, more informed decisions on the fly.
A key part of our vision is recognizing the unique nature of construction projects—each one is essentially the creation of a new team. Every time a project is initiated, it involves bringing together a group of people who may have never worked together before. Once the project ends, that team disbands, and a new one forms for the next project. Our challenge is how to capture the rich history of each project and ensure that the knowledge gained is not lost. By doing so, we can provide future teams with the collective lessons learned from thousands of previous projects—enabling them to avoid the same mistakes and be more successful from day one. This ability to leverage historical data and insights will be a powerful tool for driving construction forward.
Over the next decade, we also see the way people interact with software fundamentally changing. As we have seen with the rise of AI and voice-activated tools, the way workers interact with technology on-site will become more intuitive and efficient. We know that construction sites can be challenging environments—there are safety gear requirements, weather conditions, and limited time for complex interactions with software. That is why voice interaction and passive data collection will play a crucial role in the future. For example, imagine a scenario where a worker simply speaks a question, such as “Procore, give me a report on all submittals overdue by more than six days,” and the system instantly generates the relevant report. In addition, AI-powered tools will help predict trends, such as the propensity for incoming submittals to be delayed, eliminating the need for manual data analysis like pivot tables.
We are also investing heavily in passive data collection through partnerships with companies that use drones, robots, and 360-degree cameras to capture data automatically. By collecting data in real-time through these technologies, we will provide a complete view of the construction process without burdening the workers with additional tasks. This data will then be integrated into our platform, giving project teams valuable insights into what worked and what did not, ensuring that future teams have the tools they need to succeed without reinventing the wheel each time.
Ultimately, our vision for the next decade is where construction projects to become smarter, faster, and more efficient through the power of data, automation, and intuitive software. By connecting teams to the history of past projects, using advanced technology to improve the way we interact with software, and enabling more effective decision-making on-site, Procore is leading the way in shaping the future of construction management.
