Construction professionals are feeling more positive about their companies’ efforts to embrace robotics, although levels of actual implementation have dipped, according to new research
The 2025 Equipment & Robotics Benchmarking Report from US-based analyst BuiltWorlds found that negative attitudes towards enterprise-wide robotics strategies have dropped considerably year-on-year, with “fair” evaluations falling by 14 percentage points – and not a single “poor” evaluation, down from 7.4% last year.
Meanwhile, professionals’ positive attitudes towards their companies’ robotics strategies are increasing. Evaluations considered “good” or better rose from 74% in 2024 to over 95% this year, including a near-10 percentage point jump in “excellent” evaluations.
“Contractors, owners, and tech providers alike are exploring how robotics for tasks like layout, drilling and/or material transport, when combined with connected equipment and data-driven decision-making, can create a more efficient, responsive, and scalable construction environment,” wrote Audrey Lynch, senior research analyst for BuiltWorlds as well as the report’s author.
“This shift reflects a broader industry movement toward intelligent, tech-enabled workflows that bridge field execution with digital planning and performance optimization.”
While sentiment rises, implementation dips
However, despite the uptick in positive sentiment, when looking at levels of actual tech implementation, specifically as it relates to robotics, the year-over-year numbers show slight regression.
Where 65% of respondents in 2024 reported employing at least some form of robotics or automated machinery, only 46% said the same in this year’s report.
BuiltWorlds said that while this seems to reflect falling interest in robotics, it may instead be a matter of growing discernment.
“A large section of last year’s reported robotics use came in the form of pilots,” said Lynch.
“This year we’ve seen a much smaller share of pilots but more repeated use on projects, suggesting more selective though serious implementation, albeit on smaller scales.”
The takeaway is that while widespread robotic adoption remains in its early stages, a growing commitment among a small share of contractors does signal the technology is slowly but surely transitioning from “future tech” to a truly modern day jobsite solution.
The Equipment & Robotics Benchmarking Report collected data from a wide range of contractors in the field, featuring a mix of general, specialty trade and subcontractors, ranging in revenue from $2m to over $5bn.
