The data center surge remains the single most powerful driver of industrial spending worldwide as it enters the back half of 2026.

When people talk about artificial intelligence (AI) in construction, they jump straight to the shiny stuff: the robots, the automation, the blueprint-reading software, and the latest pitch that makes it sound like the trades have been standing still while everyone else has discovered the future.

ServiceTitan and Ramp have partnered to streamline contractor spending, reduce manual work and improve cost visibility.

ServiceTitan has released its The Update: 2026 State of AI in the Trades Report, its second report examining the adoption and impact of artificial intelligence across the trades.

Commercial contractors are prioritizing profitability, cash flow and AI adoption as they navigate evolving cost pressures and field-service challenges.

If you step into most contractors’ offices and ask how they decide what technology to buy (or more and more these days with AI and various low/no code platforms), you will get some version of the same answer.

The McNeeley View: As we self-perceived small guys whine about competing for talent, let’s pause the pity party for a moment. 

Artificial intelligence (AI)is no longer a topic reserved for technology conferences and trade press speculation.

As digital infrastructure becomes more powerful, more compact and more essential to everyday business operations, data center cooling has become one of the most important disciplines in facility engineering.

A nationwide review of every commercial insurance filing since the first forms appeared finds 4,078 filed form adoptions across 49 states and the District of Columbia.