HomebuilderONE adds AI-powered cost intelligence capability

TAMPA, Fla. - Nov. 25, 2025 - PRLog -- sa.global today announced a new AI-powered material cost intelligence capability within its HomebuilderONE platform, unveiled at the annual HomebuilderONE User Group conference in the United States. The event brought together leaders from production builders across the U.S. and Canada, where Thomas James Homes (TJH) shared how this capability has already helped identify and act on cost savings across their divisions during several months of internal use.

Construction materials can account for up to 45% of a home's total cost, meaning even a 10% reduction in purchase cost can increase a builder's net margin by more than four percentage points. Yet many builders still negotiate material pricing based on instinct, historic quotes, or periodic rebidding rather than real-time cost intelligence. Procurement in homebuilding has long depended on experience and relationships, and the industry has historically invested less in digital systems than other major sectors.

As the market becomes more data-driven, builders are increasingly seeking ways to pair their expertise with live, fact-based cost visibility. The new AI capability in HomebuilderONE addresses this gap by benchmarking internal purchase prices against live market data and surfacing savings opportunities down to the division, plan, elevation, and material level.

"Technology doesn't replace the expertise of a seasoned builder — but it gives them a data advantage they've never had," said Heather Hall, Managing Director, HomebuilderONE at sa.global. "Margins in homebuilding are won or lost long before a house goes vertical. With AI doing the analysis in the background, teams can rebid smarter, negotiate with certainty, and protect profitability even when prices shift week to week."

As an early adopter, Thomas James Homes evaluated purchase prices across regions and discovered cost discrepancies they had not anticipated. "We were preparing to rebid a major category in one division, assuming we were above market. AI showed we were already well under benchmark there — yet significantly over in another region we believed was priced correctly. That single insight changed our negotiation strategy and prevented unnecessary cost increases," said Derek Sifre, VP of Business Applications at TJH.

The AI capability enables builders to negotiate based on fact, validating or challenging supplier pricing across regions and divisions. By connecting live market benchmarks with internal purchase data, HomebuilderONE provides clarity on where money is being spent and where it can be saved.

Availability
The AI-powered cost intelligence capability is available now to select HomebuilderONE clients, with broader rollout beginning next month. Builders interested in a briefing or early access can request details at www.wearehomebuilderone.com.