April 8, 2025
A few years ago, a large general contractor completed a high-profile mixed-use project without major issues—delivered on time, on budget, and seemingly in the clear. But during the warranty phase, a leak led the facilities team to open a wall, revealing a critical omission: no firestopping. What began as a localized issue quickly became a nightmare. The building owner feared the entire structure had the same problem and demanded every wall be opened, corrected, and refinished—at the GC’s expense.
Fortunately, the project team had documented construction progress thoroughly. Thousands of well-organized site photos allowed them to prove that firestopping had been correctly installed in most units. Instead of opening every wall, the team isolated the issue to just a few. That documentation likely saved them millions in rework costs and protected them from extended liability.
This scenario isn’t an outlier—it’s a warning.
Why Documentation Alone Isn’t Enough
In today’s construction landscape, proper documentation isn’t just helpful—it’s a defensive strategy. Whether it’s a missed detail or a subcontractor error, having verifiable records can be the difference between a minor correction and a financially devastating rework order.
But documentation only works if it’s complete, timely, and accessible. That’s where automation comes in.
The Shift Toward Automated Progress Tracking
More contractors are adopting automated tools to capture daily site conditions—via mounted cameras, drones, or 360° image capture. These technologies offer reliable, time-stamped visuals that teams can reference throughout the project and long after handover.
This shift is reducing the burden on field staff while improving the quality of records. It’s not just about efficiency—it’s about protecting margins and ensuring accountability.
Why Submittal Log Automation Is the Next Frontier
While photo capture is gaining traction, many teams still handle spec review and submittal logs manually. That leaves room for human error, omissions, and delays—each of which can trigger downstream issues and rework.
Tools like Anyset Specs automate submittal log creation by scanning spec sections and intelligently extracting all required product data and QA/QC deliverables. This ensures scope clarity and documentation readiness before work even begins.
Automating this step eliminates hours of manual review and spreadsheet work, while surfacing critical items early enough to influence procurement, schedule, and risk planning.
Proactive Closeout Starts on Day One
The same applies to closeout. With Anyset Closeout, project teams can begin tracking turnover deliverables from day one, rather than scrambling at the end. Requirements are pulled directly from specs and organized into a trackable, living log—so nothing slips through the cracks.
Instead of waiting for issues to arise, contractors can now plan for handover with the same rigor they apply to safety or schedule.
Build Defensibly. Deliver Confidently.
The contractor in our opening story was lucky—they had the documentation to reduce the fallout. But luck isn’t a strategy.
Automated tools like Anyset Specs and Anyset Closeout help contractors build defensibly, reduce avoidable rework, and ensure they’re ready to deliver when the project wraps. Because in construction, the best way to handle mistakes… is to prevent them in the first place.