What We Learned at Procore Groundbreak 2025: 5 Takeaways for Construction Leaders
Each year, Procore Groundbreak brings together thousands of builders, risk managers, and technology innovators to explore what’s next for construction.
The 2025 conference made one thing clear: the future of construction is built on connection.
Across every panel and product demo, one theme kept surfacing. Contractors are finding new ways to align their teams, connect their data, and simplify compliance. The result is an industry that is moving faster, communicating better, and relying on shared visibility like never before.
Here are five key insights from this year’s Groundbreak event that show how construction leaders are adapting to this new era of collaboration and accountability.
1. Collaboration is becoming a competitive advantage
Collaboration is quickly becoming the defining factor in project success. Contractors who connect their field, finance, and risk teams around a shared set of tools are seeing fewer delays and stronger owner confidence.
When compliance data and schedules live in different systems, small mistakes grow fast. Integrated workflows change that. With connected systems, everyone has access to the same information. Decisions are made faster, and risk is managed earlier in the process.
Groundbreak conversations confirmed what many construction leaders already know. Collaboration is not just cultural; it is operational. The companies that master it will continue to outpace those who do not.
2. AI is shifting from promise to practical results
Artificial intelligence dominated discussions again this year, but with a more grounded focus. Instead of predictions about the future, attention turned to real results such as faster document reviews, better safety analysis, and smarter scheduling.
Contractors are starting small. Many are using AI to automate repetitive administrative work and reduce the time spent verifying compliance or reconciling documents. This focus on efficiency, not hype, is driving meaningful progress.
The takeaway for construction leaders is simple. The value of AI is not in speculation about what it might do someday, but in how it makes everyday work faster and more consistent right now.
3. Risk management is becoming everyone’s responsibility
Risk management is no longer confined to the accounting or safety departments. At Groundbreak, industry leaders described risk and compliance as shared responsibilities across entire organizations.
Controllers, project managers, and superintendents now have access to clearer, real-time risk data. With that visibility, they can make more informed decisions that prevent issues rather than reacting after they occur.
This shift is being accelerated by integrated technology. Tools like Billy’s integration with Procore connect compliance tracking directly to project workflows, giving teams instant insight into coverage status without switching platforms. And with Procore Pay now linking payments to verified compliance, financial and operational data are finally speaking the same language.
When compliance visibility is shared across systems, not just departments, accountability improves across the board. That connected workflow is quickly becoming the new standard for risk management in construction.
4. Integration is defining the next generation of construction technology
A clear message from the expo floor was that contractors do not want another tool. They want their tools to work together.
Integrations between project management, compliance, and accounting systems are helping companies see a more complete picture of their projects. When platforms share data automatically, teams save hours of manual entry, reduce errors, and maintain stronger audit trails.
This connected approach is creating a new level of clarity. As more platforms open their APIs and deepen their integrations, seamless workflows will become one of the most powerful levers for efficiency and risk reduction.
5. Compliance is becoming a mark of professionalism
Compliance has evolved from a back-office requirement to a reflection of how a company operates. Owners, insurers, and partners now evaluate contractors not just on whether they meet requirements, but on how they manage them.
A well-organized compliance process communicates reliability. Contractors who maintain accurate certificates, track renewals, and communicate proactively are earning reputations for professionalism that directly affect their ability to win work.
At Groundbreak, many industry voices reinforced that compliance is not just about avoiding risk. It is about demonstrating competence, integrity, and consistency across every project.
Where the industry is headed next
Procore Groundbreak 2025 painted a clear picture of an industry moving toward greater transparency and integration. The construction leaders who connect their data, embrace shared accountability, and treat compliance as a strategic function will continue to set the pace in 2026.
At Billy, we see this transformation every day. Contractors are tired of chasing paperwork and managing compliance in spreadsheets. They want clarity, automation, and confidence that their projects are protected from start to finish.
Billy was built to make that possible. By simplifying certificate management, vendor documentation, and insurance tracking, Billy helps contractors stay audit-ready and pay-ready while focusing on what they do best: building.
Want to see how it works? Schedule a demo to explore how Billy can simplify compliance across every project.
The next chapter of construction will belong to companies that work with greater visibility and trust. Billy is proud to help build that future.
The conversations and images from Groundbreak 2025 captured an industry on the move – builders connecting, learning, and shaping what’s next. And the story isn’t over. Next year’s #GBK26 will take place in Orlando, Florida, where the focus on connection, innovation, and compliance will continue to grow.
