The 2025 AEC Inspire Report from Unanet shows that architecture, engineering and construction companies that are more advanced regarding technology integration, training and processes “win more bids, deliver more projects on time, accelerate cash flow and more frequently report positive indicators of organizational growth and profitability,” according to For Construction Pros. The report is based on a survey of more than 300 senior-level AEC industry executives.
Eighty-three percent of those surveyed said their company is somewhat or very tech-mature, and 55% said they use artificial intelligence in some capacity. Sixty-seven percent said projects are delivered on or ahead of time; 63% said projects are delivered on or under budget; and 70% report net profit rates exceeding 10%.
Companies that identify as technologically advanced win 55% of their bids compared with 49% among less advanced companies. Additionally, 47% of respondents have poor adoption rates for their business development tools, and 20% do not have a customer relationship system.
Among the three industries surveyed, construction showed the most overall business optimism with 35% of respondents in construction categorizing their business outlook as “very optimistic.” Sixty-three percent of construction companies identify economic uncertainty as their top business challenge compared with 47% of architecture firms and 44% of engineering firms.
The report found construction companies are five times more likely to generate at least $250,000 in revenue per employee compared with architecture and engineering firms. Additionally, about 50% of construction companies said they are satisfied with their resource management tools compared with architecture (26%) and engineering (18%).
