Boots on the Ground: Simple Construction AI for Contractors

Construction AI for contractors isn’t about adding more software to the jobsite. It’s about solving the real, everyday problems that cost crews time and money. At SCELTA, we call this approach Boots on the Ground: construction AI built directly from field experience, designed to give instant value with no burden.

David Mill speaking about Boots On The Ground construction AI at the AI Summit conference.

What Is Boots on the Ground Construction AI?

A SCELTA engineer getting feedback on SiteKick™ from a user on site.

Boots on the Ground construction AI is SCELTA's field-tested approach to artificial intelligence in construction. Instead of complex systems that crews won’t use, it provides simple construction AI tools that work like texting:

• A contractor asks a jobsite question.

• The AI searches drawings, code books, or project documents.

• The contractor gets the exact answer, plus the source page, in seconds.

This design philosophy ensures construction AI is built with contractors where work happens.

The Problem: Wasted Time and Costly Rework

The problem: wasted time preventing workers from building.

On a typical jobsite:

• Crews spend 18% of their time searching for basic information.

• Another 28% of time is spent fixing mistakes caused by missing or unclear details.

• These inefficiencies add up to thousands of dollars in lost productivity and months of delays.

Most construction technology platforms fail because they expect workers with dirty hands, on scaffolding, or in trenches to pull out tablets and dig through menus. Contractors fall back to the site binder, thousands of pages of drawings, specs, and manuals, because flipping paper is still faster than fighting with bad software.

The Solution: SiteKick™ — Simple Construction AI

SiteKick™ is simple.

SCELTA built SiteKick™ as a direct response to these realities. After working with 1,200 contractors and over $700 million in development projects, SCELTA saw that the answer wasn’t more features. It was simplicity.

SiteKick™ works like this:

1. Start a project and upload your documents.

2. Ask a plain-language question, just like sending a text.

3. Get the answer instantly — plus the exact section of the document highlighted.

Instead of rework and wasted time, SiteKick™ keeps crews moving with confidence.

Why This Matters for Contractors

David Mill on a construction site running through SiteKick™ with contractors.

Construction AI only matters if it works every day on the jobsite. That’s why SiteKick™ is built to evolve in three practical phases:

1. Text Documents – specs, manuals, binders, and codes.

2. Photos – fixtures, symbols, and field images.

3. Drawings – DWG, CAD, and BIM files.

By starting with the basics and expanding outward, SiteKick grows into a specific purpose technology (SPT), AI that is tuned to contractors’ needs, not generic use cases.

Key Takeaways

• Construction AI for contractors must be simple. If crews won’t use it, it doesn’t matter how advanced it is.

• SiteKick™ solves wasted time and rework. Ask a question, get an answer, keep building.

• Boots On The Ground is the difference. Real AI solutions come from being on site with trades, not behind a desk.

The Future of Simple Construction AI

The future of construction technology will be shaped by tools that contractors actually use. Boots On The Ground is about giving them better information, faster, so they can keep building, not searching for information. SiteKick™ is the first step toward a construction AI platform that grows smarter with every project and every trade.

Sign up for V1 of SiteKick™ waitlist here: https://www.sitekickbeta.scelta.ca/

Boots on the Ground is a practical approach to construction AI designed for contractors on jobsites. Instead of forcing crews to learn complex software, it provides simple construction AI tools that deliver instant value without burden. Platforms like SiteKick™ reduce wasted time, prevent rework, and keep crews building with confidence.