Building Smarter: How AI and Emerging Tech Are Changing the Audit for Construction Companies
As construction companies continue to embrace AI, smart sensors, drones, and cloud-based project management platforms, these innovations are reshaping not just operations—but the audit process as well.
AI in Construction
Technology adoption can create competitive advantages, but it also introduces new risks. For example, AI-powered tools may be estimating project progress, driving billing, or forecasting material needs. Drones are being used to track assets, and smart building systems generate massive volumes of operational data. These advancements make business more efficient—but they also require a new level of scrutiny when it comes to financial reporting and internal controls.
Modern Tools Require Modern Audit Thinking
Traditionally, audits have relied on human-driven systems, physical inspections, and paper trails. Today, much of the financial activity in construction and real estate is being supported—or even fully driven—by automated platforms. That changes the nature of audit evidence and raises new questions: How reliable is the data? Are internal controls still effective when systems are AI-driven? What happens when a key platform update alters financial outcomes?
Where Your Audit Needs to Go Deeper
Here are a few areas where your next audit may need closer attention:
Revenue recognition on long-term contracts, especially when progress is calculated using AI or automated schedules.
Internal controls over cloud-based platforms that handle job costing, approvals, and reporting.
Asset verification using drones or digital twins—how is this information validated?
ESG reporting data tied to smart building systems and sustainability metrics.
Cybersecurity protections surrounding sensitive operational and financial data.
An Audit That Keeps Up With Innovation
An audit firm that understands these new tools can provide more than just a clean opinion. They can help you identify where controls need to be strengthened, ensure your technology aligns with current accounting standards, and reduce the risk of compliance issues down the line.
More importantly, your audit should reflect where your business is going—not where it’s been. That means having a partner who speaks the language of both construction and technology, and who can tailor procedures to match your systems, workflows, and reporting goals.
At CSH, we specialize in helping construction companies prepare for what’s next. As your operations evolve, so does our audit approach—ensuring you stay ahead of risk, not behind it.
