AEC's Perfect Storm: Tariffs, AI, & Inflation

In this episode of KP Unpacked, KP and Jeff break down a major theme from one of KP’s recent LinkedIn posts: the perfect storm brewing in the AEC industry. With inflation, tariffs, labor shortages, and rapid advancements in AI and robotics, how can firms stay ahead instead of being swept away?

KP shares his take on why change in AEC isn’t a matter of if—it’s a matter of when, and when is often existential. The conversation dives into how firms can rethink their business models, embrace disruption, and stop treating innovation as an afterthought.

Key takeaways include:

• Why inflation and tariffs are accelerating the need for AEC firms to evolve.
• How AI and robotics are shifting from digitization to true business transformation.
• Why labor shortages are forcing firms to rethink workforce strategies and automation.
• How traditional risk management in AEC leads to outsourcing accountability rather than solving problems.
• What firms can learn from startups and why niche specialization is the future.

Podcast companions are available HERE on our Substack. You can check out KP's latest book "Creating the Intangible Enterprise" HERE.

Sounds like you? Join the waitlist at https://kpreddy.co/

Check out one of our Catalyst conversation starters, AEC Needs More High-Agency Thinkers

Hope to see you there!