Written by Jim Miller, Founder of Bellalu AI
Adoption is rising, but the numbers depend on how you count
The most rigorous figure comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. Its figures place construction at 15.2% of businesses using AI across the three surveys that ended September 6, 2026.1 A single two-week window, September 7 to 20, came in at 17.2%, so the result shifts with the timeframe you pick.2 Industry surveys report higher numbers. Houzz's 2026 research shows a 20-point climb in a year, with 52% of construction firms now relying on AI day to day.3 Another outlook, from AGC and Sage, counts 61% of firms as either using AI already or set to spend more on it, compared with 44% the year before.4
| Share of construction firms using AI, latest figures |
|---|
| Census: construction businesses using AI |
| 15.2% |
| Houzz: construction firms using AI |
| 52% |
| AGC and Sage: using or expanding AI |
| 61% |
| Bar length is proportional to each value, scale 0% to 61% |
Figures show potential opportunity, not guaranteed results.
Where the phone fits in
Most of the call-specific evidence comes from home-service trades like plumbing and HVAC, which face the same phone problem as many construction firms. Invoca's July 2026 benchmark found that 52% of callers to home services businesses speak with a person.5 Other benchmarks disagree on how many calls go unanswered. Invoca's 2026 figures across all industries show 44% unanswered.6 One software vendor analyzed 130,175 calls from 45 home services contractors over seven months and found 74.1% went unanswered.7 Those measures differ, but they all point to a lot of calls ringing out.
The clearest case in the sources is a Toronto HVAC and plumbing contractor, documented by an AI vendor in August 2026. Its voice agent handled routine calls, offered open slots pulled from the dispatch system, and confirmed the appointment on the call.8 The write-up says 63% of inbound calls were completed by the voice agent without a handoff, and first-contact bookings rose from 41% to 67%.8 Sameday, another vendor, publishes booking rates of 87% to 90% for AI-handled calls at California locations, against 28% to 46% for manually handled calls.9 Treat both as vendor data, not independent proof.
What the call flow looks like
In practice, the setup has a few parts. The agent qualifies the caller and books eligible appointments on your calendar, while emergencies are prioritized and routed to the on-call tech.11 It should also know its limits. One AI receptionist vendor says the agent quotes a price, start date or permit answer only when you have loaded that answer into its knowledge. Everything else becomes a note for the project manager and an offer to book a visit.10
Caveats before you buy anything
The Census data shows that construction firms use AI, but it does not show what they use it for. One analysis notes there is no Census table that breaks out phone or estimating use, so anyone claiming a specific use is pointing to a different source.2 On the customer side, a Housecall Pro survey of more than 1,000 homeowners found 53% were comfortable with AI handling the first call or chat, though the source I found does not give the survey date.12
What to do this week
- Count your calls for a week: how many ring out, how many come after hours, and how many arrive while your crew is on a job.
- Write down the questions a caller must answer before you can book: service area, job type, and whether it is an emergency.
- Decide what the AI may quote and what must go to a person, including pricing and permit questions.
- Keep a clear path to a human for anything complex, and check how bookings land in your calendar or dispatch system.
If you want an outside look at where your calls are going and which of them could be booked without a person, talk with Bellalu about an AI Business Audit at https://www.getbellalu.com/audit. We will walk through your current call handling with you, and you decide what happens next.
Sources
- Start Business by State, AI Use by Industry (2026): Construction Is Growing Fastest
- WorkTime Alliance, How Many US Contractors Really Use AI? The Census Number, and What to Do With It
- Construction and Owners (Houzz press release), Houzz Report: AI Adoption in Construction Reaches 41%
- OfficeTwo, Construction AI Statistics 2026: Adoption, Investment and Industry Trends
- Leads4Build, State of AI in Home Services 2026: Adoption & Costs, Statistics
- Botphonic, Best AI Booking Software for Home Services
- NextPhone, AI Receptionist 2026: Solve the 62% Missed Call Problem
- Builts AI, Home Services Dispatch and Voice AI Agent Case Study
- Sameday, How AI customer service improves home service bookings
- FieldCamp, 10 Best AI Receptionists for Construction Companies (2026)
- Retell AI, Contractor Answering Service: The 2026 Guide
- Chatham Oaks, AI Tools for Contractors, Plumbers & HVAC Pros 2026