Construction shifts to subscription software as Colorado probe and condo law changes reshape market

Colorado, September 23, 2025

News Summary

Contractors are increasingly adopting subscription-based construction software and hardware bundles to lower upfront costs, standardize processes, and keep pace with rapid technology advances. Subscription models convert capital expenses to predictable operational costs, support consistent software versions across crews, and boost productivity. At the same time, a Colorado regulatory probe found falsified lab data at hundreds of oil-and-gas locations, prompting corrective actions and scrutiny of third-party consultants. New Colorado legislation proposing a contractor warranty program and an Oregon bill to ease condo liability pressures could further influence builder risk, insurance and development decisions.

Construction pivots to subscription technology; Colorado probes falsified oil-and-gas lab data; Colorado and Oregon consider condo liability reforms

Summary

The construction sector is increasingly shifting to subscription-based models for software and hardware to cut costs, standardize operations, and keep pace with fast-moving technology. At the same time, a state agency in Colorado has found falsified environmental lab data at more than 400 oil-and-gas locations, prompting corrective actions by operators. Separately, new laws in Colorado and Oregon are under consideration to make condominium construction more viable by changing liability, warranty, and inspection rules.

Subscription shift in construction technology — why it matters now

Contractors are leveraging subscription models to cut technology adoption costs and remain ahead of the technology curve. Subscription-based models are an alternative to one-time purchases or perpetual licenses. Subscriptions bundle hardware and software, maintenance, protection plans, field-to-office integration and cellular connectivity into a single monthly payment or manageable payment, which reduces the upfront investment typically required for new technology by shifting cost from capital expense to monthly or annual operational costs.

The move toward subscriptions matches broader consumer trends in which people increasingly choose ongoing services for flexibility and convenience. In construction, software and hardware subscriptions offer advantages in cost, predictability, scalability and convenience. Subscriptions can help contractors standardize processes across their organizations and remain at the forefront of technology adoption. They can also help contractors attract new employees, addressing a longstanding recruitment challenge.

A market research estimate shows the scale of that shift: Global Market Insights valued the global construction software-as-a-service market at $13.3 billion in 2023. The same source projects that market to grow at a compound annual growth rate of over 10.8% between 2024 and 2032. Staying current with construction technology assets makes contractors more competitive on projects and in recruiting efforts.

Practical benefits cited by contractors include improved efficiency, accuracy, immediacy and data sharing for estimating, operations, equipment maintenance and financial management. Machine control is described as an existing technology that contractors need to integrate to avoid falling behind. Contractors relying on spreadsheets and paper-based processes find themselves at a disadvantage versus competitors using specialized software and integrated hardware.

Tiered subscription offerings allow companies to buy hardware outright or bring their own hardware and subscribe to chosen levels of software, protection plans and hardware services. Subscriptions provide technology assurance by helping contractors stay current with fast-evolving innovations, including machine learning, predictive analytics, enhanced user interfaces, and improved data processing and reporting capabilities. Contractors with subscriptions receive upgraded capabilities automatically at no additional cost, making it easier to keep all employees and equipment operating on the same updated technology version.

A Colorado-based civil contractor reported that adopting subscription services allowed the company to do more work in less time with greater accuracy while keeping indirect expenses the same or lower. Under the subscription model, the contractor said jobsites are more efficient and productive, and the company can do more with a smaller crew. The contractor reported that five years ago it was able to run seven jobs daily, and today it can run 15 jobs daily after adopting subscriptions. The contractor also reported every operator is now running on the same platform after subscription adoption.

Colorado oil-and-gas lab data probe

The Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) announced the issue after identifying that two environmental consultants submitted falsified laboratory data reports. ECMC said those two consultants submitted falsified laboratory data reports. The agency said the data manipulation affected soil, groundwater, and inorganic and organic contaminant data for 404 oil and gas locations in Weld County.

The two environmental consultants named by the agency are Eagle Environmental Consulting, INC. and Tasman Geosciences. One operator that hired an implicated consultant was identified in public filings. A neighborhood environmental group that has opposed a nearby project for several years is using the state investigation as part of its ongoing campaign. The group is raising public awareness ahead of local permitting hearings for a well site that would be the drilling site closest to a nearby reservoir.

The agency issued a Notice of Alleged Violation to seven operators, including the operator that has been a focus of local opposition. Some operators issued public statements that they are reviewing the notices and cooperating with regulators. One consultant named in the announcement said it discovered altered data associated with a single client in August 2024, self-reported the finding to the state, and attributes the issue to a single former employee. That consultant said it took immediate action to investigate and has implemented corrective measures and legal action against the former employee. Another consultant did not respond to inquiries by the time of this report.

State-level condo liability reforms in Colorado and Oregon

New legislation in Colorado was sent to the governor for signature after passage at the close of the legislative session. The legislation seeks to incentivize builders to build multifamily housing by making construction defect liability insurance more attractive through lower premiums and by creating an optional warranty program contractors can opt into. The warranty program would cover defects at no cost to the homeowner for a minimum of one year for work quality and materials, two years for plumbing and electrical work, and six years for major structural components.

The Colorado law would require a third-party inspection during construction that will result in a certificate of occupancy and would provide various remedies if a defect is discovered. Industry representatives said they are hopeful but uncertain the bill goes far enough to revive the condo market, citing concerns about vague defect definitions and inspection costs. Architects and engineers are expected to benefit from a more robust Certificate of Review requirement that changes how design professionals are named in lawsuits, and proponents say better warranties and third-party inspections will give homeowners a better path to corrections before lawsuits.

In Oregon, related legislation seeks to shorten the timeframe for lawsuits and reduce liability for developers and builders as a way to encourage new condo development. A bill passed the Oregon House with bipartisan support and was awaiting further action in a Senate committee at the time of this report.

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Key features at a glance

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

Additional Resources

• Denver7: To Catch a Contractor — Colorado customers raise concerns about lack of protections
• Wikipedia: Consumer protection
• Equipment World: Colorado contractor turned a passion into a $10 million business
• Google Search: construction subscription software
• CBS News Colorado: Officials say contractors falsified data at over 400 oil-and-gas sites
• Encyclopedia Britannica: environmental monitoring
• Engineering News-Record: Aiming to jumpstart condo construction — Colorado measure provides incentives for builders
• Google Scholar: construction defect law Colorado
• MileHighCRE: 5 trends shaping Colorado’s construction workforce in 2025
• Google News: Colorado construction workforce 2025

Author: Construction CA News

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