Automate Construction Workflows with Production-Grade Code
Production-grade code provides faster processing, lower error rates, and predictable operational costs for construction workflows. You gain full ownership of the logic connecting critical field operations to back-office financial systems.
Syntora helps construction companies replace inefficient manual or low-code workflows with custom-built, production-grade code. This approach provides faster processing and lower error rates by connecting critical field operations to back-office systems with fully owned logic. Syntora designs and builds custom automation systems, focusing on robust architecture and predictable operational costs.
This approach is for business-critical processes like daily report submission, RFI tracking, or subcontractor invoice approval where a single failure can delay a project. The scope is defined by the number of systems to connect and the complexity of the business logic, not by user counts or task volumes.
Syntora would approach these challenges by designing and building custom automation systems. We have experience building similar document processing pipelines using Claude API for financial documents, and the same robust pattern applies to construction documents like invoices or daily field reports. A typical engagement for this complexity might range from 6 to 12 weeks, requiring access to API documentation and relevant business stakeholders from your team.
What Problem Does This Solve?
Many construction firms first try point-and-click automation platforms to connect their tools. These platforms work for simple notifications, but they fail when faced with the volume and complexity of construction data. They charge per task, and a single daily report workflow that reads a file, extracts data, looks up a project code, and writes to two systems can consume 4-5 tasks per report. For a company with 20 active job sites, this quickly becomes over 2,000 tasks per month for one process.
A common failure scenario involves syncing daily logs from a field application like Raken to an accounting system. An electrical subcontractor with 15 crews tried this. Their workflow needed to pull each log, look up the corresponding job number in a Google Sheet, and create a daily entry in their ERP. The Google Sheets lookup step would frequently time out under load, halting the entire workflow. There was no automatic retry logic, so a project manager had to manually re-run failed jobs every morning.
These visual builders cannot handle custom error handling, complex branching logic (e.g., different approval paths for change orders over $10,000), or direct database connections. Their fundamental model is not designed for the mission-critical data integrity required in construction finance and project management.
How Would Syntora Approach This?
Syntora would start an engagement by conducting a discovery phase to map your existing workflows and identify the primary systems involved, such as Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud, or Viewpoint Vista. We would then design and build custom clients using Python with the `httpx` library to connect to these APIs. This approach allows us to manage data flow for RFIs, submittals, and daily reports, pulling information from multiple sources concurrently without creating performance bottlenecks.
The core business logic would be developed as a standalone FastAPI application. For processes that currently rely on manual lookups, we would implement a small Supabase database table to cache project data, enabling faster data retrieval for items like job codes. When document processing is required, we would integrate the Claude API to extract structured data from PDF documents such as invoices or change orders, specifically addressing the complex layouts often found in construction paperwork. This entire logic would be self-contained, testable, and version-controlled.
This application would be deployed on AWS Lambda, utilizing a serverless compute service. This architecture is designed to minimize operational costs, as you would only pay for the execution time of the code. Typical hosting costs for processing thousands of data points or documents per month with this architecture are often modest compared to per-task platform fees. We would implement structured logging with `structlog`, creating a detailed and searchable audit trail for every workflow execution.
For operational visibility, we would configure CloudWatch alarms to detect specific error patterns. For instance, if an integrated API like Procore consistently fails to respond, an alert could be sent to a designated Slack channel, providing the exact request ID and error message. This system would be designed for resilience and to provide immediate, actionable information should an issue arise.
What Are the Key Benefits?
Process Reports in 5 Seconds, Not 8 Minutes
Our custom document pipeline reduces manual data entry for a daily field report from eight minutes to five seconds, freeing up project coordinators for higher-value work.
Pay for Compute Time, Not Task Counts
An AWS Lambda-based system typically costs less than $30 per month to run, versus hundreds or thousands for a visual builder charging per task on high-volume construction data.
You Own the Code That Runs Your Operations
We deliver the complete Python source code to your company's GitHub repository. You have full ownership and control, with no vendor lock-in or recurring license fees.
Get Alerts That Pinpoint the Exact Failure
Instead of a generic 'workflow failed' email, you get a Slack alert with a transaction ID and a structured log showing exactly which API call failed and why.
Connect Procore Directly to Viewpoint
We build direct, resilient integrations between industry-specific platforms. Go beyond surface-level connections and sync deep financial and project data reliably.
What Does the Process Look Like?
Workflow & API Audit (Week 1)
You provide read-only API credentials for your core systems. We map the end-to-end data flow and identify any gaps. You receive a detailed sequence diagram outlining the proposed automation.
Core Logic Development (Week 2)
We write the Python application that orchestrates the workflow. You receive an invitation to a private GitHub repository where you can track all code commits and progress in real time.
Deployment & Staging (Week 3)
We deploy the system to AWS and connect it to staging versions of your applications for end-to-end testing. You receive access to a dashboard to monitor test runs and validate outputs.
Launch & Handoff (Week 4)
After your final approval, we switch the system to your live production environment. We monitor performance for 30 days and then hand over the complete documentation and system runbook.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a custom construction workflow cost?
- Pricing is a fixed, one-time fee based on project scope. Key factors include the number of systems being integrated, the complexity of the business logic, and whether PDF document processing is required. We provide a firm quote after a 45-minute discovery call where we map out the specific workflow. To discuss your project, book a call at cal.com/syntora/discover.
- What happens if the Procore API is down when a workflow runs?
- The system is built with resilience in mind. We implement an exponential backoff policy that automatically retries the API call up to five times over several minutes. If it still fails, the event is moved to a dead-letter queue for manual review, and a high-priority alert is sent to Slack. No data is ever lost due to a temporary third-party outage.
- How is this different from using Microsoft Power Automate?
- Power Automate is a platform that still operates within a licensing and connector limit framework. We build a standalone system that you own completely. There are no per-user fees, no premium connector surcharges, and no platform-imposed limits on execution speed or complexity. You pay only for the underlying cloud computing resources, which is significantly cheaper at scale.
- Can this system process PDF invoices from subcontractors?
- Yes. A common build is an accounts payable pipeline. An AI model using the Claude API can extract line items, PO numbers, and totals from unstructured PDF invoices with over 99% accuracy. It can then validate this data against your ERP system before flagging it for payment. This can reduce invoice processing time from days to minutes.
- We don't have an engineering team. Who maintains this long-term?
- The system is designed for low-maintenance operation. For clients without an internal technical team, Syntora offers an optional flat-rate monthly support plan. This covers all hosting costs, proactive monitoring, and a fixed number of hours for any changes or updates you may need. You can also cancel at any time with no penalty.
- What level of access to our systems do you require?
- We operate on the principle of least privilege. For the build, we require API keys with the minimum necessary permissions to perform the workflow's functions. For a system like Procore, this might mean read access to project data and write access only for creating RFI records. We never need admin-level access, and all credentials are stored securely.
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