How One Contractor Used AI to Automate Workflows and Save Hours Every Week
A 20-Person Design-Build Firm Running on AI
When Nathan Pepmiller joined Titus Contracting as IT and Technology Manager, he didn’t just migrate the company to new software. He rethought how a 20-person design-build firm could run when AI is doing the heavy lifting on the back end.
That rethinking led him to build a set of AI-powered tools on top of JobTread, initially just for his own team. Then other JobTread users started seeing the value. Now, Nathan runs it as its own venture, developing it alongside one collaborator: Claude.
“Just me and Claude.” — Nathan Pepmiller
Switching to JobTread for One Reason: AI Readiness
Nathan made the call to move Titus Contracting off their previous platform and onto JobTread specifically because of its open API that would allow his business to scale with AI.
“We wanted to be AI driven,” he explains. “We switched over because we wanted software that could move with us.”
Today, their stack includes:
All connected into a single, AI-powered workflow system.
“This allows us to quickly pull and update our data,” Nathan says.
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What AI-Assisted Workflows Look Like in Construction
For Titus, AI assistance isn’t abstract. It shows up in two concrete workflows that Nathan has built and uses daily.
1. Scope-to-Budget Automation
Instead of manually reformatting documents:
- Field teams submit scope details in Word.
- Claude converts them into structured CSV files.
- Files upload directly into JobTread budgets.
Result: Hours of manual formatting reduced to one prompt.
2. Automated Scheduling Assignments
Instead of manually updating schedules:
- AI reads job data fields.
- It applies predefined logic.
- It assigns tasks to the correct team members automatically.
Result: Multi-step scheduling becomes instant.
Both workflows share the same underlying logic: take something that requires manual, multi-step effort and reduce it to a message.
The Biggest Impact: Multitasking Without Burnout
The biggest shift isn’t just efficiency. It’s cognitive load.
Nathan says, “Administrative tasks […] can now be done by sending a message.”
Instead of juggling spreadsheets, emails, and updates, teams can:
- Focus on high-value work
- Reduce context switching
- Keep projects moving faster
How Contractors Can Start Using AI Today
“Ask. Just ask AI questions. The only way you will get comfortable with AI and learn how to work with it is by asking.”
Nathan’s tip for contractors who are curious but haven’t started yet is about as straightforward as it gets.
You don’t need:
- A technical background
- Custom-built systems
- Enterprise-level resources
You do need:
- Curiosity
- Clear workflows
- The right tools
The future of construction is about building smarter systems where AI handles the busywork, so you can focus on growing your business.
Disclaimer: The tips in this post are based on general AI prompting best practices. JobTread provides the AI Connector as a tool to connect your account to third-party AI platforms. We are not affiliated with, partnered with, or responsible for any AI platform or its outputs. Use of AI tools in connection with your JobTread account is at your own discretion, and we encourage you to review any AI-generated content before applying it to your business.
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Eric Fortenberry serves as Founder and CEO of JobTread, a construction estimating and project management software platform that has helped thousands of builders and contractors sell and manage billions in construction jobs.