Clicks and mortar! Builders reveal they have now turned to AI to help run their businesses and measure materials needed

Published: 14:17, 6 April 2026 | Updated: 14:18, 6 April 2026 Builders and fellow tradespeople are now adding AI to their toolbox and are using the technology to help run their businesses, measure materials and even generate invoices. New research has found that 76 per cent of tradespeople are using AI every day in some aspect of their business. Builders are increasingly relying on new digital tools, with 35 per cent saying they would find it difficult to do their job without them. In fact, builders (73 per cent), electricians (71 per cent) and plumbers (63 per cent) who ran their own (58 per cent) businesses were more likely to use AI tools every day than administrative staff. The profession that uses AI the most is engineers, with 91 per cent saying they used it daily. Hairdressers and beauty suppliers also reported high usage (71 per cent). The most common uses of AI in the workplace were for record keeping (23 per cent) and chasing payments (17 per cent). Nearly a third of builders said they were using it for calculating the costs of materials, while 43 per cent of electricians used digital tools to message customers. Builders were also the most frequent users of the technology, with one in five admitting to using AI platforms more than five times a day.  Builders and other tradespeople are incresingly using AI tools to help run their businesses The data by Sage found also found 43 per cent of tradespeople were using digital tools to simplify record keeping, invoicing and file taxes, reducing the burden of invoicing and late payments,  Others used the technology for project inspiration (27 per cent) and assessing problems (25 per cent). Stuart Bogazzi, who runs Oak Sure Construction in Croydon, South London, said: 'AI has made my life much easier - I'd say I use it on four days out of five. 'Digital tools are really helpful for working out calculations. I'll enter the measurements of a space and it will tell me how much concrete I need, and where I can buy it cheapest. It has helped me find suppliers I would never have found otherwise. 'I also use Sage digital tools for 90 per cent of my accountancy. I keep track of all of my book-keeping and taxes in their Sole Trader mobile app, and then I use the Payments Agent tool to generate invoices and chase late payments. 'The software has saved me money as well as time. I used to spend around three hours a week doing admin and now that's down to about 20 minutes - and I can spend the rest of the time with my family. 'Technology is moving so fast and I know a lot of people are worried about how AI will impact their jobs in the future, but for sole traders like me, digital tools can also be used to make your business far more profitable and efficient.' Senior Vice President for Small Business, Lisa Ewens, at Sage, said: 'Technology is transforming how tradespeople operate behind the scenes, and our research shows that many sole traders are embracing new digital tools. 'For many these tools are becoming as much an essential for keeping businesses running as a spirit level or a chisel - with sole traders relying on them to communicate with their customers, generate quotes, issue invoices and make payments. 'AI tools such as Sage Payments Agent can add another layer of speed and efficiency - removing the burden of chasing invoices, automating reminders and follow-ups so sole traders can get paid faster and more efficiently.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.