Event Recap:

Insights on the Top Issues Impacting Construction Firms from the ASA Chicago Roundtables

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ShapeConnect and ASA host construction industry leaders to discuss the ever-evolving challenges and opportunities shaping the construction landscape.

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First and foremost, ShapeConnect would like to thank each and everyone who was able to attend its most recent seminar outlining what construction companies can do to stay competitive. Being informed of ever-evolving technological developments and innovations is the best way to stay ahead of the game and optimize your small and mid-size business (SMB).

For those unable to attend, ShapeConnect has you covered. The Association of Subcontractors and Affiliates (ASA) teamed up with ShapeConnect to co-host an event, bringing together industry leaders and giving them the chance to discuss the ever-evolving challenges and opportunities shaping the construction landscape.

Built around insights from ShapeConnect and ASA’s annual benchmarking survey, the event featured expert roundtables and keynote speaker Craig Castelli discussing industry challenges, technology adoption, and business valuation.

Here are a few key takeaways from the event:

• Strong Need for Integrated Technology:
  • Companies need to move beyond siloed tools toward integrated, cloud-based systems to improve efficiency and insights.
• Strategic AI Adoption is Critical:
  • Business leaders should think about embedding AI agents into workflows, rather than relying on simple chat-based tools.
• Sturdy Customer Journey Mapping & CRM (Yvonne Petterson, ShapeConnect and Jason Roach, FollowUp CRM):
  • Most attendees were unfamiliar with the concept of a customer journey until it was explained, yet nearly all expressed strong interest once they understood how it applies to their business.
• Data-Driven Decision Making (Jaime Staley, Willow CFO):
  • Accurate job costing and data visualization are integral to profitability and scaling.
• Key Drivers of Business Value (Craig Castelli, Caber Hill):
  • Leadership strength & succession planning
    • Revenue diversification
    • Modern, integrated technology infrastructure
    • Strong brand and market positioning
    • Healthy culture and employee retention

The overall message: Data-driven, technology-enabled companies will define the future of construction. Those continuing to rely on fragmented systems, limited visibility, and outdated processes risk falling behind not just operationally, but in overall business value.

If you are a construction subcontractor or GC looking to modernize your operations with the right software and AI, book a meeting with ShapeConnect here.