Over the years, Groundbreak has become a must-attend event for anyone in construction management or tech adoption. Past editions have drawn thousands of attendees from dozens of countries, all keen to tap into emerging trends, learn from real-world use cases, and network with peers. Whether it’s the “Connecting Construction” theme, deep dives into AI, or hands-on workshops, Groundbreak is known for delivering both inspiration and practical tools for operators in our industry.

This year’s edition is shaping up to be exceptional — and we want to help you make the most of it. Below are some standout themes, planning tips, and recommendations to ensure you leave with insights you’ll actually use.

Key Themes at Groundbreak 2025

The 2025 agenda highlights several tech and strategic shifts that are shaping the future of Construction. Here’s a closer look at the themes to prioritize — especially if you care about AI, connected data, operational efficiency, and the evolving role of software in the built world.

1. AI, Machine Learning & Predictive Insights

Artificial intelligence continues to move from hype to practical deployment in construction. This year, Groundbreak features multiple tracks on applying AI to field workflows, financial forecasting, safety and quality monitoring, and risk prediction.

Why it matters: AI is no longer just a dashboard feature — it’s increasingly embedded into day-to-day workflows. For CEOs and technology leaders, this is a strategic inflection point: understanding where AI drives real operational value vs. where it’s still experimental.

🏗️  How to engage:

  • Attend sessions that showcase real use cases, not just product demos — look for talks led by GCs or developers, not only software vendors.
  • Bring a list of 2–3 workflows in your org that are still manual or bottlenecked; listen for AI applications that address those exact areas.

  • After each AI session, note any data prerequisites (e.g., structured jobsite data, unified financial records) that would be required to replicate success in your environment.

✨ Be sure to check out:

  • Concept to Cost: An Owner’s Guide to Predictive Preconstruction
  • AI in Construction: Driving Productivity and Smarter Decision-Making
  • Beyond Preconstruction: Reinventing the GC in the Age of AI
  • The Future of Decision Making: How Skanska’s AI Assistants Are Powering Safer, Smarter Jobsites

2. Connected Construction & Data Unification

Fragmented tools and siloed data continue to plague construction operations. Procore and its partners are doubling down on interoperability, open APIs, and modular architectures that allow platforms to talk to each other more seamlessly.

Why it matters: This is the foundation for building MCP-like layers — infrastructure that lets teams plug in AI agents, analytics, and automations across systems without rebuilding everything from scratch.

🏗️  How to engage:

  • Prioritize sessions and vendor booths that highlight API-driven workflows, data warehousing, or open integrations.
  • Ask vendors how their solutions handle real-time data sync, not just exports or one-way integrations.
  • Look for case studies involving multi-platform stacks – these often reveal how forward-thinking firms are creating unified operational layers.

✨  Be sure to check out:

  • From Fragmented to Unified: Building Connected Project Execution with Procore
  • Review, Guide, Assist: The Path to a Project with Zero Disputes
  • Unlocking Potential: How to Maximize Procore Value Through Integrations
  • Mastering Multiple Verticals: Implementing Procore Successfully Across Business Lines With Mastec

3. Innovation in Field Tech, Site Capture & Reality Modeling

Expect big moments in robotics, drones, AR/VR, and sensor networks. These tools are quickly moving from pilot programs to everyday use.

Why it matters: The companies that figure out how to operationalize these technologies — not just experiment with them — will gain a measurable edge in risk visibility, schedule adherence, and cost control.

🏗️  How to engage:

  • In the Expo Hall, prioritize vendors that offer integrations with Procore or data APIs, not just point solutions.
  • Ask how their tech fits into compliance workflows — for example, automated site documentation can feed into insurance verification.

  • Watch for sessions where field tech meets AI — this is where innovation is accelerating fastest.

✨  Be sure to check out:

  • Building in the Age of AI: The Future of Design, Decision-Making, Productivity and Workforce
  • Catching Risk Where It Starts: Field-Driven Change Meets Financial Control
  • Product Keynote: Building What’s Next with AI & Procore Helix

4. People, Culture, & Talent in Construction 

Groundbreak also focuses heavily on workforce development, safety culture, and organizational change.

Why it matters: Technology adoption in construction succeeds or fails based on people. Aligning innovation with culture is critical.

🏗️  How to engage:

  • Identify 1–2 leadership sessions focused on change management, workforce retention, or digital transformation culture.
  • Take notes on playbooks for adoption — how companies train, incentivize, and retain tech-enabled teams.

  • If you’re driving organizational change, consider bringing senior project managers or HR leaders to these sessions.

✨  Be sure to check out:

  • Powering Forward: Effective Change Management Planning
  • Procore for Your People: Resource Planning and Tracking, Onsite Productivity, and Keeping Your Workforce Safe
  • Stop Resource Chaos: Unify Labor, Equipment and Materials for Your Profit
  • Bridging the Gap: Academic and Trade Education Alignment For The Future of Construction
  • Future Innovators: How to Become a Technology Leader in Construction

How to Maximize Your Groundbreak Experience

With dozens of tracks, overlapping sessions, a bustling Expo Hall, and countless networking opportunities, a little planning goes a long way. Here’s how to get the most from your time in Houston:

1. Pre-Plan Your Agenda

Map out your must-see sessions early to avoid conflicts. Group sessions by theme (e.g., “AI & predictive analytics,” “field workflow automation,” “safety & quality”) and leave buffer time between sessions for walking, breaks, and hallway conversations.

2. Be Strategic in the Expo Hall

Review the vendor list and booth map ahead of time, and schedule dedicated Expo Hall blocks into your agenda. When visiting booths, come with a few key questions like, “How does this integrate with Procore?” or “What specific problems does this solve for my team?”=

3. Network Like a Pro

Browse community forums and LinkedIn groups before the event to connect with peers. Prepare a 30-second intro about who you are and what challenges you’re working on to spark conversations. Some of the best insights happen over coffee, meals, or at the Bash.

4. Capture, Curate & Act

Take structured notes and flag ideas worth revisiting. Spend 10–15 minutes at the end of each day to review what you learned and how to apply it post-conference. Book demos, send thank-you’s, and share takeaways with your team soon after you return.

5. Pace Yourself

Groundbreak is a marathon, not a sprint. Comfortable shoes, hydration, and small breaks will keep your energy high throughout the week.

Looking to Solve Insurance Compliance? Come See Us at Groundbreak

One of the biggest friction points we continue to hear across the industry is insurance compliance — keeping projects moving while navigating increasingly complex insurance requirements across thousands of subcontractors.

If you’re looking to streamline compliance, reduce administrative overhead, and de-risk your operations, make sure to stop by booth 300!

Our team will be on site to show how leading construction and real estate companies are using Jones to:

  • Automate COI collection and verification, reducing manual effort, mitigating project delays, and getting subcontractors paid on time.

  • Leverage AI and workflow automation to protect construction sites from insurance claims without drowning in manual paperwork.

  • Achieve measurable results — cutting weeks off onboarding timelines and improving compliance rates across portfolios.

📍 Visit us at Booth 300 to see a live demo, meet our team, and see why tens of thousands of construction projects trust Jones to solve insurance compliance at scale!

Final Thoughts

Groundbreak is more than “just another conference.” It’s where vision meets practicality. With thousands of industry leaders, cutting-edge technology, and opportunities to connect, it’s the place to discover what’s next for construction.

We can’t wait to see you in Houston. Come with curiosity, leave with purpose — and don’t forget to swing by the Jones Booth 300 to learn how to boost efficiency and mitigate insurance claims on your construction site!