More Artificial Intelligence is heading to the scaffolding sector, with SMART Scaffolder set to launch a new AI-powered reporting system at ScaffEx26 next month.
The new technology, called SMART Forms, introduces AI voice reporting to a range of site-based inspections and reports, allowing users to complete digital forms by speaking naturally into a mobile device.
According to SMART Scaffolder, the system records conversations, converts speech into text and automatically matches information to the correct fields within the selected form.
The company will demonstrate the technology during ScaffEx26 in September, giving contractors and visitors their first opportunity to see the system in operation.
Site reporting remains one of the most time-consuming administrative tasks for many scaffolding businesses.
Inspection records, toolbox talks, vehicle checks and safety reports often require information to be entered manually, usually through a mobile phone or tablet while working in challenging site conditions.
SMART Scaffolder believes voice recognition can help reduce the amount of time spent typing while improving the quality of information captured on site.
Users can describe what they have seen or completed in their own words, while every report remains fully editable before submission.
The technology is currently available across several workflows, including anchor and tie testing, harness and lanyard inspections, vehicle inspections, toolbox talks, site audits, incident reports, theft and loss reports, and PPE acceptance forms.
Support for scaffold inspections, scaffold handovers and scaffold variations is expected to follow in 2027.
The launch also introduces an AI-assisted form conversion service designed to help contractors digitise existing paperwork.
Companies can submit paper forms, PDFs or Word documents to SMART Scaffolder’s technical team, which will convert them into digital workflows for use within the SMART Forms platform.
SMART Scaffolder says many standard forms can be converted and deployed within days.
The reporting tools form part of the wider SMART Scaffolder ecosystem, which includes estimating, compliance, inspection, handover and site management software.
Developed by CADS, SMART Scaffolder was originally created in partnership with Lyndon Scaffolding in 2016, now part of BRAND Access Solutions.
CADS has also worked with NASC on the development of TG20:21 and TG30:24 guidance, giving the company a long-standing connection with the scaffolding sector.
