Doka, a global leader in formwork and scaffolding solutions, has implemented an AI-driven system to automate the tracking of returned rental materials across its yards.
The tool, AI Counting & Identification, reduces manual labour and improves inventory accuracy, addressing a longstanding industry challenge.
How It Works
Previously, returned materials, such as beams, props, and scaffolding components, were counted and logged manually—a time-consuming process prone to errors.
Now, workers photograph items using a mobile device, and the AI identifies the product, suggests a count, and records the data with a 98% accuracy rate. Over 10,000 users have processed more than one million items since the rollout.
The system, developed with Microsoft’s support, is tailored to construction environments, recognising worn or dirty equipment more effectively than generic apps or RFID alternatives.
CEO Robert Hauser said the system speeds up operations and improves inventory transparency, helping build trust with clients.
While currently limited to Doka’s yards, pilot feedback from bauma 2025 suggests potential for on-site use, particularly for large projects. The company is also testing Statistical Return Planning, an AI tool that predicts material returns to optimise stock levels.
Broader Digital Shift
The AI rollout aligns with Doka’s upcoming Doka 360 platform, which integrates sensor data from formwork and concrete to provide real-time project insights. The platform launches in July 2025, initially for partners in Germany and the U.S.
Doka’s move reflects the construction sector’s gradual adoption of AI to mitigate labour-intensive tasks through scalability and on-site adaptability, which remain hurdles industry-wide.
