Data center construction projects are some of the most complex and high-stakes builds in the world – where even minor delays or missteps can have major business consequences. In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Mona Weisberg, Mission Critical Executive at Buildots, to explore how their AI-powered platform is redefining project visibility, predictability, and efficiency.
From 360° helmet-mounted cameras that capture details on site, to actionable analytics that help teams cut delays and reduce rework, Mona shares how Buildots helps data center developers and colocation providers meet today’s aggressive timelines and scale smarter for the future.
Read on to learn why transforming raw site data into real-time insights is becoming essential for anyone building the next generation of digital infrastructure.
JSA: Tell us about Buildots and your role within the company.
Mona: At Buildots, we’re transforming how construction projects are managed. Our AI progress tracking platform uses 360° helmet-mounted cameras to capture site activity during routine walkthroughs. That visual data is automatically compared against the BIM model and schedule, creating a detailed, objective view of what’s happening on-site. By turning this raw site data into actionable insights through powerful analytics, Buildots gives project teams complete visibility and control, helping them reduce delays, spot inefficiencies, and make informed decisions that keep projects on track.
I focus on the mission critical sector. Data centers, and the inherent ecosystems are high-stakes environments where operational readiness directly impacts business continuity and bottom lines. In my role, I work closely with owners, developers, and tenants. Ultimately, I see my job as helping clients turn complexity into clarity, bringing predictability, accountability, and efficiency to some of the most demanding construction projects.
JSA: How does Buildots support the unique challenges of the data center and colocation sector?
Mona: Data center projects include dense, highly coordinated systems that must be installed with precision. Tracking the installation and position of these accurately is impossible with the human eye, which is why we often see errors and delays emerging. Buildots changes this. By using 360° site capture and BIM-based validation, we track each and every element back to the project’s BIM, allowing us to catch mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installation and other issues early.
Another thing we’re noticing is that data center construction timelines are becoming more aggressive. Our clients know that, with tight timelines, driving efficiency is a must. Buildots gives them the data to spot delays before they happen by monitoring trades’ weekly progress against the schedule and flagging anything that falls behind.
Lastly, many of our data center clients appreciate that Buildots creates a full visual audit trail for quality and compliance (across single or multiple sites), while also giving stakeholders the ability to monitor progress without stepping on-site. It’s about enabling clear communication and bringing everyone onto the same page.
JSA: What kinds of efficiencies or insights can data center developers expect when using Buildots’ AI platform?
Mona: Data center developers using Buildots gain a powerful edge in both efficiency and visibility. Automating progress tracking drives major time savings in reporting and issue detection, while ensuring that mechanical, electrical, plumbing and critical infrastructure work is done right the first time.
Users also get granular performance data across zones and subcontractors, revealing bottlenecks and productivity trends. Armed with this data, we’ve been able to show that projects using Buildots can cut delays by up to 50%.
But let’s zoom out for a second. Clients are starting to look ‘beyond the project’ and using Buildots at the portfolio level. This means generating project data to create benchmarks, refine processes and make continuous improvement a reality across multiple sites.
JSA: Can you share an example or use case where Buildots significantly improved a construction project’s timeline or budget?
Mona: Because of other NDA restrictions, right now I can only give you an example via Intel; which is actually more complex than a data center. Intel is currently building a series of semiconductor fabs across Europe, the Middle East and North America. Each fab alone represents one of the industry’s most complex construction projects, involving thousands of activities and spanning a total build size of about 2.5 million sqft (230k sqm). Intel’s fundamental challenges are managing this scale while preventing delays and prioritizing quality control.
Buildots’ AI platform helped tackle these issues by automatically detecting installation deviations and providing predictive insights, enabling Intel to proactively address risks before they escalated. As a result, Intel achieved a 4.3% reduction in rework costs and avoided approximately four weeks of delays per fab. The platform also flagged over 1,100 model updates per site, ensuring construction models remained accurate and reliable for both execution and future maintenance. By comparing performance data across multiple fab sites, Buildots enabled Intel to optimize workflows and replicate best practices at scale.
Buildots will be able to utilize and implement similar methodologies across data center portfolios.
JSA: As more colocation and hyperscale providers look to scale quickly, how does Buildots fit into a long-term digital infrastructure growth strategy?
Mona: As colocation and hyperscale providers race to scale their digital infrastructure, Buildots offers a foundational layer of control, visibility, and optimization that supports long-term growth. The platform transforms construction sites into data-rich environments by automating progress tracking through 360° imagery and AI-powered model comparison. This ensures precise execution at every stage, crucial for projects with high technical complexity and tight delivery timelines. By reducing rework, flagging delays early, and enabling remote oversight, Buildots helps teams deliver faster and more reliably, which directly supports aggressive expansion goals.
Over time, Buildots’ ability to benchmark performance across multiple sites and standardize execution plays a critical role in operationalizing scalability, making it easier to roll out repeatable, high-quality builds in diverse geographies. For developers managing dozens of concurrent projects, this kind of insight-driven construction process becomes a key pillar of their digital infrastructure strategy.
