In Episode 3 of The Power of Construction, Eric Whobrey, ARCO Murray's VP of Innovation and Managing Partner joins hosts Sasha Reed and Kris Lengieza to explore the data gap and data maturity. How do we go beyond just adopting technology to start truly leveraging the data we collect to drive operational excellence? They unpack the underlying blockers—from disconnected tech stacks to operational inertia—and share how companies like ARCO Murray are moving beyond dashboards to drive field impact.
Key Topics Covered
What the "data gap" actually looks like in practice
From hours to 15 seconds: Real subcontractor rating system results
Why cultural change matters more than perfect data
AI as a processing tool: From invoices to unstructured data
How ARCO fills the gaps between departments
Guest Overview
AboutEric Whobrey – VP, Innovation and Managing Partner, ARCO Murray
Eric Whobrey is the VP of Innovation at ARCO and the Managing Partner at ARCO Ventures. He began his career in PR and advertising before transitioning into technical roles, effectively bridging sales, marketing, and technology. Eric’s entry into the construction industry came after a transformative conversation with an ARCO partner, igniting a passion for applying his expertise in operational effectiveness and innovation to the sector. Since joining ARCO in 2018, Eric has focused on making innovation a practical tool for optimizing business processes, rather than just a buzzword. He quickly advanced from manager to VP in just five years, demonstrating his leadership and impact on the company.
Episode Summary
<em>The Power of Construction Podcast</em>: Episode 3 - How Can We Bridge the Data Gap in Construction?
How Can We Bridge the Data Gap in Construction?
Transcript
Episode Description
Despite over $50 billion invested in construction technology between 2020 and 2022, industry productivity has not kept pace. Kris Lengieza and Sasha Reed discuss with Eric Whobrey, Vice President of Innovation at ARCO, the persistent “data gap” in construction. The conversation examines why technology alone is insufficient and how aligning culture, leadership, and data maturity is essential for translating innovation into measurable outcomes.
The Data Gap Explained
The construction industry generates vast amounts of data, yet most firms struggle to leverage it effectively. Only 13% of construction companies access daily jobsite insights, and fewer than half receive weekly data from administrative or supply sources. The challenge lies not in data availability but in the lack of standardization, integration, and actionable use for decision-making.
Guest Introduction: Eric Whobrey
Eric Whobrey, Vice President of Innovation and Managing Partner at ARCO Ventures, joined ARCO in 2018 with a background in marketing and technology. Leading a cross-functional innovation team, he focuses on addressing enterprise-level challenges, identifying inefficiencies, and delivering practical, scalable solutions driven by business value.
The Innovation Function at ARCO
ARCO’s entrepreneurial culture has enabled the creation of a dedicated innovation team to tackle complex, cross-departmental issues. Whobrey’s team collaborates across safety, legal, accounting, and field operations to enhance communication, eliminate data silos, and streamline processes.
Modernizing Subcontractor Evaluation
ARCO digitized its subcontractor rating process, transitioning from informal spreadsheets to a tool integrated with Procore. This allows real-time, consistent evaluations, improving transparency, decision-making, and administrative efficiency across projects.
Driving Cultural Change
ARCO’s innovation success is rooted in a culture that encourages experimentation and views failure as part of the iterative process. Structured communication, education, and leadership development foster proactive problem-solving throughout the organization.
Project Prioritization and Field Listening
The innovation team prioritizes initiatives based on leadership alignment, user feedback, and measurable impact. By engaging with field teams and observing job sites, they identify recurring issues and develop practical solutions tested in real-world settings.
The Foundation of Data Strategy
Standardized data input serves as the foundation for effective data use. Consistent data enables cross-system integration, better reporting, real-time feedback, and informed decision-making across teams.
AI and Data Processing
ARCO is exploring AI to process unstructured data, such as PDFs, drawings, and site photos, to extract actionable insights. Tools like DocumentCrunch and Trunk Tools facilitate scalable data processing, enhancing operational efficiency across departments.
Delivering Value to Owners
ARCO’s innovation efforts enhance client relationships by providing portfolio-level visibility and data-driven insights during early planning and development. This positions ARCO as a strategic partner beyond traditional construction services.
Looking Ahead
The future of construction will involve increased automation, off-site prefabrication, and tools enabling smaller teams to manage more projects efficiently. As AI and robotics advance, data-driven decision-making will be critical to industry success.
Rapid-Fire Q&A with Eric Whobrey
Book Recommendation:The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells Sources for New Ideas: Fiction, global news outlets, and podcasts like Hard Fork, Lex Fridman, and The Knowledge Project Advice to Younger Self: Focus on listening more Most Impactful Innovation: Artificial intelligence and unstructured data processing Industry Tagline: “A better way”
About The Power of Construction
The Power of Construction podcast dives into the intersection of construction and technology, delivering actionable ideas for industry leaders. Hosted by Kris Lengieza and Sasha Reed, it’s all about bridging innovation with practical solutions to boost productivity, address labor shortages, and embrace digital transformation. Whether you’re a longtime listener or just starting, this recap is a perfect entry point
Dominic Jackson drives global brand marketing initiatives that blend storytelling, performance, and platform strategy. With a background rooted in brand strategy and campaign execution, he leads multi-channel programs across podcasting, paid media, interactive reports, and digital content platforms.
Kris Lengieza is the Global Technology Evangelist at Procore Technologies. Kris brings a wealth of experience and passion to the intersection of construction and technology. Previously serving as the VP of Global Partnerships & Alliances, Kris oversaw a diverse ecosystem spanning channel, ISV, public, and association partnerships. His recognition as one of the Top 40 Construction Professionals Under 40 by ENR and BD&C underscores his impact in the industry.
Kris’ journey began with 15 years working in the construction field, where he embraced technology as an early adopter and strived to seamlessly integrate data across all construction solutions. As a futurist and construction tech evangelist, Kris now collaborates extensively with industry innovators, tech organizations, and construction companies. Together, they explore transformative technologies that promise to revolutionize our work processes. Kris has played a pivotal role in Procore’s product strategy, delivering industry and technology insights to improve how Procore’s solutions serve the industry.
With more than two decades of experience in construction and technology, Sasha Reed is a sought after speaker and facilitator. As Senior Director of Industry Transformation at Procore, she showcases today’s most innovative leaders, deploying human-centric approaches to solve complex business challenges in construction. Sasha invests in advancing construction through her involvement as co-founder of the Construction Progress Coalition, former board member of the National Building Museum, and past involvement with NIBS BIM Subcommittees. In 2023 she was honored with the Excellence in Technology Award from the US Minority Contractors Association.
She’s the co-host of Procore’s global Podcast, “The Power of Construction” and her co-founder journey with the Construction Progress coalition is told in the minidocumentary, “The Power of Standards” by The B1M.
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