--- title: The next generation of contractors expects construction to work like an app — QuoteToMe description: The people entering the trades and the back office grew up with instant, mobile, intelligent software. They will not accept paper purchase orders, and they shouldn’t have to. url: https://quotetome.com/blog/next-generation-tech markdown_url: https://quotetome.com/blog/next-generation-tech.md image: https://quotetome.com/qtm/assets/site-aerial.png author: QuoteToMe published: June 2026 tag: The Future read_time: 4 min --- # The next generation of contractors expects construction to work like an app — QuoteToMe The people entering the trades and the back office grew up with instant, mobile, intelligent software. They will not accept paper purchase orders, and they shouldn’t have to. [Blog](/blog) / The Future # The next generation of contractors expects construction to work like an app The people entering the trades and the back office grew up with instant, mobile, intelligent software. They will not accept paper purchase orders, and they shouldn’t have to. John Chabluk | June 2026 | 4 min read The generation now entering construction has never known a world without smartphones, instant checkout, and software that anticipates what they need. They manage their money, their groceries, and their lives from a screen, in seconds. Then they show up to a jobsite and are handed a paper PO book. That disconnect is becoming a real problem for hiring, retention, and productivity. The expectation isn’t a nice-to-have anymore, it’s the baseline. Tools that feel a decade behind signal a company that’s a decade behind. > A new generation expects construction to work like the rest of their lives: mobile, instant, and intelligent. ## What “works like an app” actually means It’s not about flashy screens. It means the field can place an order from a phone in seconds. It means a quote request reaches every vendor at once. It means approvals happen with a tap, deliveries are confirmed with a photo, and the numbers reach accounting on their own. The technology does the tedious part so people can do the work. For the next generation, mobile-first ordering is the baseline, not a bonus. ## AI raises the bar again The newest entrants don’t just expect mobile, they expect intelligence. Software that levels competing quotes for them, flags a discrepancy automatically, and routes the right approval without being asked. AI-native procurement isn’t a gimmick to this generation; it’s simply how good software is supposed to behave. - AI Bid-Levelling that normalizes and compares quotes instantly - Automated four-way matching that flags problems before payment - Mobile ordering and receiving built for the field, not the desk - A system that connects to the tools the business already runs ## Modern tools are a recruiting advantage Contractors competing for scarce young talent have a lever most overlook: the daily experience of the job. A business where ordering, approving, and tracking spend feel effortless is simply a better place to work, and it shows in who applies and who stays. to onboard a new team member and start ordering AI-native quote leveling and workflow execution, built in 1 system from field requisition to job-coded invoice The modern age of construction contracting is already here. The contractors who give their teams tools that match the rest of their lives won’t just retain talent, they’ll gain the control, visibility, and confidence to outrun the ones who don’t. Sources & further reading Industry research informing this article. Figures are paraphrased from each publisher's findings. - 01[McKinsey & Company — _The Next Normal in Construction_](https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/the-next-normal-in-construction-how-disruption-is-reshaping-the-worlds-largest-ecosystem) (2020). How disruption and new entrants are reshaping the world's largest ecosystem. - 02[Deloitte — _Engineering & Construction Industry Outlook_](https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/engineering-and-construction.html) (annual). Yearly read on technology adoption, margins, and competitive pressure. - 03[KPMG — _Global Construction Survey_](https://kpmg.com/) (ongoing). Surveys owners and contractors on digital maturity and project performance. - 04[JBKnowledge — _Construction Technology Report_](https://jbknowledge.com/) (annual). Benchmark of software adoption and tech budgets across contractors. ### Gain control, visibility & confidence over your spend. See QuoteToMe on your own orders. Live in under an hour, no credit card to start. [Book a demo](/book-a-demo) Keep reading [Procurement7 procurement best practices that protect construction margins](/blog/procurement-best-practices)[Market TrendsA decade of rising materials prices, and what it did to your margin](/blog/material-pricing)