From admin work to proposals, AI is reshaping architecture and engineering. Most practices now expect AI shape how they work, with a growing share already using it to optimise workflows and drive efficiency.
Moving into 2027, the questions isn’t whether AI will change A&E, but where it lands first and whether firms are ready.
The Numbers Behind the Shift
In Total Synergy’s 2026 benchmark reports, 85% of architecture firms and 72% of engineering firms selected AI and automation as a top trend shaping their industry, pointing to efficiency, profitability and cutting through admin.
Other surveys reveal the same results. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) 2026 AI Survey found that 74% of practices now use AI across a number of their projects. In Australia, the Association of Consulting Architects (ACA) found 70% AI adoption across its Pulse Check survey of 270 practices. Additionally, 60% of engineering and construction respondents in the McKinsey Global Survey on the state of AI expect their firms to increase AI investment in the next year.
The direction is clear: AI uptake, adoption and investment is on the rise in architecture and engineering.
Firms across Australia are particularly keen on AI. A global survey of architects, engineers, planners and digital officers commissioned by Arup shows that 32% of Australian A&E professionals are using AI daily, and 85% using it weekly. 73% of respondents in Australia also see AI as an opportunity, compared with 60% of the global cohort.
The First Changes Are Landing in Admin
While top use cases for AI in architecture and engineering include design work, digital twins, and experimentation or R&D, the impact emerging technology can have on admin work is a key point of interest for firms.
In the 2025 Architecture and Engineering Industry Benchmark Report, firms were most interested in AI-driven design tools. In 2026, that interest has broadened to admin, productivity and business intelligence.
Similarly, among ACA survey respondents, written communications (76%) and marketing or proposals (56%) are the main uses of AI. The need to reduce admin time across architecture is real: one in three architecture firms say their teams spend less than half their time on design work.
What Firms on the Ground Are Saying
When we put the question to a panel of customers, the mood was cautious curiosity. Firms aren’t resisting AI, but they aren’t rushing in either.
Joanne Brill, Finance and Strategy Lead at Tzannes, said information security is the biggest concern, so the firm is approaching AI with care. Luke Sheehy, Managing Director at DC Partnership, sees AI as a secondary consultant that takes on repetitive, work so teams can focus on more valuable work.
“If you can park the repetitive, standardised work, the team can then focus on better things. The important but boring stuff is being taken over by AI gods, and I see real benefit in that.” – Luke Sheehy, Managing Director, DC Partnership
Architects and engineers are most commonly exploring AI for proposal and report drafting, with technical staff the first to dig into it more deeply. But outputs aren’t yet consistently reliable, and firms need to see more use cases before AI becomes a regular part of this work.
Basic data summarisation, such as pulling out key insights or consolidating project information, is also something a number of our customers are keen on.
What’s Holding Firms Back
Three things come up repeatedly.
Security. Jeames Hanley, CTO at FK, told us that cybersecurity is the number one challenge for A&E firms in 2026. Client data and intellectual property are sensitive assets.
Skills. Firms still report uneven AI confidence across their teams, making learning and development critical for increased AI adoption and ROI.
Data. Many firms’ foundations are patchy. With data spread across systems, AI outputs, especially around data summarisation or project information, can be hit or miss.
“I love Excel, but equally dislike it because you get 10 different versions of stuff. You’re managing a client list over here and I’m trying to use a shiny new tool. Let’s just all get into one area.” —Jeames Hanley, Chief Technology Officer, FK
Is Your Firm AI Ready? Start With the Foundations
AI is only as useful as the data behind it. A few questions show how ready your firm is:
Can you see utilisation across your team today?
Do you know your realisation rate?
Is resourcing planned in one place, not in meetings and spreadsheets?
Data from our benchmark reports suggests many firms can’t answer yes to those questions:
- Only 25% of architecture firms and 49% of engineering firms track utilisation consistently
- 42% of architecture firms and 46% of engineering firms don’t track realisation rate at all
- 56% of architecture firms manage resourcing manually or with no formal process, and 59% of engineering firms use manual planning
The challenge isn’t awareness of AI, it’s structured implementation. Without real-time, connected data and a single source of truth, AI tools have limited material to work with.
Getting the foundations right means consistent time tracking, connected financials and resourcing, clear processes, and a team that knows how to use new tools safely. Firms that do this will be better placed to use AI across multiple workflows, because it will have clean, current data to work with.
What Firms Can Do Now
- Write a simple AI policy that covers what data can and can’t go into AI tools
- Allocate time for training, so adoption doesn’t depend on a few enthusiasts
- Fix the basics first: consistent time tracking, connected finances and one view of resourcing
Coming Soon to Total Synergy
Implementing different AI systems can be a headache, especially if you want to analyse projects. It often means another tool to buy, connect, secure and train your team on before you see any value.
That’s why we’re building AI into Total Synergy. Launching in November, our AI capability will let you start analysing your projects, without adding another system to set up and manage.
Ask questions about your project financials, like revenue, WIP and budgets, in plain English and get answers in seconds, without building a report. Integrated directly into the system you already use. To learn more, book a demo to see how a connected platform works today.
About Total Synergy (Australia)
Total Synergy is an Australian software company based in North Sydney, NSW, helping architecture and engineering practices across Australia improve project visibility, resourcing, and profitability with project management and practice management software.
