We have Matt Perrott, CEO of BuildPass In the Driver’s Seat. I met Matt at Sydney Build 2023 and have been slowly watching him grow BuildPass from strength to strength, and it was a pleasure to finally get a chance to do this with him.
Melbourne-based BuildPass is transforming construction site safety and compliance with an intelligent, AI-driven platform. Designed for construction teams, safety officers, and project managers, BuildPass automates incident reporting, compliance tracking, and risk assessment—reducing paperwork and improving efficiency.
What is your dream vehicle and why?
The 2025 Toyota LandCruiser 70 GXL Wagon. It honours its roots but with added modern comforts – timeless!
What is something you’re working on right now at the company?
Currently, BuildPass is focused on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its platform to enhance productivity and efficiency for construction professionals. In April 2024, Buildpass launched its first AI-driven tools, including:
- AI Image Tagger: Automates the tagging of images for better organisation and retrieval.
- AI Site Diary Summary: Summarises daily site activities, streamlining reporting processes.
- AI Checklist Assistant: Assists in creating and managing checklists to ensure compliance and safety.
These tools are designed to create significant time savings for users, benefiting on-site staff, contractors, and office teams alike.
What is something you’re most proud of at work?
Since launching in 2021, BuildPass has assisted over 80,000 Australian construction workers in enhancing site safety, compliance, and operational procedures.
The platform now serves over 500 customers and 200,00 users — reflecting on our growing impact and acceptance in the industry is something we are very proud of.
What is the hardest part about what you do?
Developing and integrating advanced technologies like AI into existing systems can be complex and resource-intensive. Additionally, ensuring that these technologies effectively address the diverse needs of users in the construction industry requires continuous innovation and user feedback.
We’re so grateful to our clients who continuously provide us with feedback, allowing us to build better integrations into our app.
Managers in the construction and safety space have a tough job too. What is your company doing to help make it easier for them?
Our industry faces significant challenges in ensuring compliance, maintaining safety standards, and managing extensive administrative tasks. BuildPass addresses these challenges by offering a suite of AI-powered tools and digital solutions designed to streamline processes and enhance efficiency:
- Digital Inductions: Facilitate efficient onboarding by allowing workers to complete site-specific inductions online, reducing the need for in-person sessions and ensuring all necessary information is captured and stored digitally.
- Daily Sign-Ons with Geofencing: Enable real-time tracking of personnel on-site through QR code sign-ons and geofencing technology, ensuring accurate attendance records and enhancing site security.
- Customisable Checklists and Safety Inspections: Provide tools to create tailored checklists for various inspection types, guiding workers through required tasks and ensuring high-quality inspections are conducted consistently.
- Incident Reporting: Utilise customisable templates to report and manage site incidents efficiently, ensuring all necessary information is captured and accessible for compliance and review purposes.
- AI Toolkit: Automate repetitive tasks such as checklist generation and defect management, allowing managers to focus on critical decision-making and oversight.
By integrating these features, BuildPass significantly reduces administrative burdens. We’re also enhancing compliance, fostering a safer working environment, and supporting Health and Safety managers in their roles.
What do you think is the biggest challenge currently facing the construction and safety industry?
In the construction space, I would say that adapting to new technologies is the biggest challenge we’re seeing. On top of that, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations and addressing the increasing importance of workplace mental health and well-being are some additional issues.
- Technology Adoption: AI, automation, and BIM improve safety but require better data integration, interoperability, and worker training.
- Regulatory Compliance: Evolving safety regulations in Australia (NCC updates on fire safety) and the U.S. (OSHA PPE standards) demand continuous adaptation.
AI is also poorly understood in the construction industry. Most field and office workers don’t realise how much time they could be saving on admin with AI support.
What do you think the construction and safety industry will look like 10 years from now?
The construction industry is now undergoing a significant transformation, leveraging advanced technologies to address longstanding challenges:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation
AI and automation are revolutionising construction by optimising workflows, enhancing decision-making, and mitigating labour shortages. For instance, AI-driven predictive analytics can forecast project delays, allowing for proactive adjustments. Automation, including the use of robotics, is streamlining repetitive tasks, increasing efficiency, and reducing reliance on manual labour. - Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Twins
BIM and digital twin technologies are enhancing project visualisation and coordination. These tools allow for real-time collaboration among stakeholders, improving accuracy in planning and reducing errors during construction.
Keen to learn more about BuildPass or Matt Perrott? Reach out to him directly on LinkedIn or visit the BuildPass website.
If you think you have what it takes to be interviewed for our next In the Driver’s Seat or if you have suggestions on who we should talk to, get in touch with us.
