Eliminating subcontractor data chasing to boost field productivity

The Challenge

Baker Construction found that managing vital project communications over email chains was slowing down project velocity. Project managers spent hours receiving RFIs, manually recreating them inside their internal systems, routing them to architects, and executing the process in reverse. This administrative bottleneck made it difficult to verify if subcontractors in the field were working from current project plans.

The Solution

Baker Construction utilized Procore Connect to securely link its primary corporate database with the independent Procore accounts of its core specialty contractors. This established an automated, real-time bridge that pushes closed RFIs, submittals, and drawing updates across accounts, providing immediate field visibility.

The Results

• Removed manual email data entry by automatically syncing RFIs and submittals across corporate accounts
• Slashed superintendent administrative tracking time by instantly validating subcontractor plan access from the office
• Promoted field alignment by making up-to-date drawings instantly accessible to trade crews without requiring superintendents to manually verify plan revisions
• Reduced operational risk by maintaining an immutable digital paper trail with automatic timestamps

Driving regional growth through trade collaboration

For Baker Construction, a prominent general contractor operating out of Spokane, Washington, managing project velocity relies on the strength of its trade partnerships—none more foundational than its 25+ year history with Mandere Construction. On complex technical builds, keeping information flowing smoothly among project owners, architects, and specialty contractors across state borders was historically a labor-intensive construction project management challenge.

"We used to see an overwhelming amount of emails flying back and forth," states Breanna Bagwell Pesta, Assistant Project Manager at Baker Construction. "When a subcontractor needed an RFI or submittal sent to an architect or engineer, everything had to go through email. It made tracking drawing revisions and keeping information unified on multi-family and commercial builds highly complicated."

This communication disconnect created duplicate administrative work for Baker's project management team. They had to act as data couriers—taking files generated by subcontractors, manually re-entering them into Baker's database, routing them for approvals, and then reversing the steps once an answer was secured.

The cross-account productivity breakthrough

To help minimize this operational friction, Baker Construction integrated its platform with its specialty contractors using Procore Connect. Rather than forcing trade partners onto Baker’s Procore account, Procore Connect allows independent accounts to push data seamlessly across corporate boundaries in real time.

"Procore Connect allows information to be transferred directly across distinct accounts," Bagwell Pesta explains. "Instead of running every question down the chain and back up the chain, we allow separate parties to communicate directly. On current and future projects, updates are transferred immediately, wiping out the typical lag time."

This cross-account bridge instantly resolved the email bottlenecks that used to slow down the project lifecycle. When a submittal or RFI is resolved, it synchronizes across accounts automatically, saving multiple steps for the project management team.

Unlocking field efficiency and trusted execution

The ripple effect of this connected workflow has transformed field execution for Baker’s site superintendents. With plan updates mirroring across accounts, superintendents no longer need to spend valuable time out on the jobsite auditing subcontractor drawings.

"There is an immense layer of field efficiency that kicks in," notes Bagwell Pesta. "Our superintendents don’t have to double- or triple-check that our specialty contractors are working off the right plans. Because they are integrated via Procore Connect, we know those current plans are instantly available to their field staff."

This digital trust has directly fueled Baker Construction's ability to scale operations. By deploying an integrated platform that removes operational friction for trade partners, Baker has expanded its execution capacity, securing an impressive 200% increase in contract business volume with long-time subcontractor partner, Mandere Construction. Looking to the future, Baker is excited to continue expanding this cross-account network. 

"Procore Connect is helping with that amazingly," Bagwell Pesta concludes. "Being able to connect our two accounts together and see that information in real time has been really great."