Ordering materials is one of the most time-consuming (and risk-prone) parts of construction projects. Delays don’t usually happen because materials don’t exist — they happen because the process of requesting, approving, ordering, and tracking materials is slow and manual.
Today, a new generation of AI-powered procurement and purchasing tools is helping construction companies reduce admin time, speed up ordering, and gain better cost control.
In this article, we look at the types of AI tools currently available, what they do, and how they help construction teams order materials more efficiently.
Where AI helps most in construction procurement
AI and automation tools are particularly effective in areas where procurement teams deal with:
• repetitive tasks (purchase orders, approvals, invoice matching)
• unstructured documents (PDF quotes, delivery slips, invoices)
• supplier comparisons and quote reviews
• forecasting material demand and inventory needs
Instead of replacing procurement teams, these tools remove manual work so teams can focus on higher-value decisions.
AI tools built specifically for construction material ordering
Field Materials AI
Field Materials AI is designed specifically for construction procurement workflows. It uses AI to automate the processing of purchase orders, delivery slips, invoices, and inventory records, reducing the need for manual data entry.
How it helps:
• Faster creation and processing of purchase orders
• Automated matching of deliveries and invoices
• Less time spent re-entering supplier paperwork
This is especially useful for teams managing high volumes of supplier documents across multiple projects.
LiveCosts
LiveCosts provides digital purchase order workflows tailored for construction projects. It supports PO creation, approvals, delivery tracking, and invoice processing, helping keep procurement moving without bottlenecks.
How it helps:
• Standardised purchasing workflows
• Clear approval processes
• Better visibility of committed costs
StructShare
StructShare focuses on materials purchasing and supplier invoice workflows and is commonly used alongside Procore. It helps automate purchasing steps and synchronise purchasing data with project financials.
How it helps:
• Faster purchasing tied directly to projects
• Reduced duplicate data entry
• Improved accuracy between purchasing and job costing
AI tools for supplier comparison and quote management
Autodesk BuildingConnected
Autodesk BuildingConnected is widely used for bid and supplier management. While not strictly a purchasing tool, it significantly reduces time spent collecting and comparing supplier quotes.
How it helps:
• Standardised bid requests
• Easier “apples-to-apples” quote comparisons
• Faster decision-making when selecting suppliers
Enterprise AI procurement platforms (useful at scale)
For larger construction companies, enterprise procurement platforms can bring structure and consistency across multiple sites, teams, and spend categories.
SAP Ariba
SAP Ariba includes “guided buying” features supported by AI, helping users select compliant suppliers and follow approved purchasing processes.
Coupa
Coupa positions itself as an AI-native spend management platform, using AI to provide insights, recommendations, and automation across the source-to-pay lifecycle.
Ivalua
Ivalua offers a procurement platform with a generative AI assistant designed to help teams with research, analysis, and summarisation of procurement data and documentation.
Inventory prediction and demand forecasting tools
Ordering materials faster also means ordering earlier and more accurately. Inventory forecasting tools help teams anticipate demand and reduce last-minute purchasing.
Netstock
Netstock provides inventory forecasting and demand planning tools aimed at helping businesses maintain optimal stock levels and avoid shortages.
Unleashed
Unleashed offers demand planning and forecasting tools to support smarter purchasing decisions and improved cash flow management.
How to choose the right AI procurement tool
When evaluating AI procurement tools for construction, consider the following questions:
• Does it integrate with our existing systems (ERP, accounting, project management)?
• Can it handle real supplier documents like PDFs and emailed invoices?
• Does it reduce manual data entry?
• Can we start small and scale over time?
• Does it match how our teams already work on site and in the office?
Final thoughts
AI procurement tools are already helping construction companies:
• reduce time spent on ordering materials
• minimise errors from manual data entry
• speed up approvals and supplier comparisons
• improve visibility into costs and inventory
The biggest benefits often come from removing friction, not changing how teams work entirely. For many contractors, even small improvements in procurement workflows can translate into fewer delays and better project outcomes.
