AI Meets the Jobsite: The New Reality of Data Center Construction with Jessica Herrala

In this episode, Jessica Herrala, Vice President of North America at Buildots, shares how three decades in construction led her from some of the industry's largest contractors into the fast-moving world of construction technology. Jessica explains how Buildots is using AI-powered progress tracking to bring objective, real-time data to complex construction projects, helping contractors and data center developers replace guesswork with greater visibility, accountability, and confidence.

Jessica discusses how Buildots combines 3D models, project schedules, and site imagery to compare planned versus actual construction progress. By tracking activities and identifying potential delays earlier, the platform helps teams make better decisions before schedule problems become costly—an increasingly important capability as massive data center projects are built at unprecedented speed and scale.

The conversation explores how AI is changing the jobsite amid one of construction's greatest challenges: a shortage of skilled labor. Jessica explains that AI isn't about replacing people, but enabling teams to spend less time manually tracking progress and more time focused on safety, quality, planning, and delivering more with limited resources.

Looking ahead, Jessica believes technology and people must evolve together. She shares lessons on building high-performing teams, leading with authenticity, developing women in male-dominated industries, and embracing change with confidence. As AI transforms data center construction, the organizations that succeed will be those that combine objective data, adaptable leadership, and technology with deep industry expertise.

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