This spring, the Versatile team traveled to four major industry events, representing some of the broadest cross-sections of construction and steel that exist. Ironworkers and union trainers. Equipment manufacturers and technology companies. Structural engineers and erectors. Project managers deep in the middle of complex jobs.
Different audiences. Different cities. But a lot of the same conversations.
Here's what we heard.
IMPACT is not a typical construction conference. It's where the ironworking community including union business managers, apprentice trainers, and journeymen ironworkers, all come together to talk about the work, the workforce, and what the trade needs to stay strong.
We came in with our platform. We left genuinely energized.
The conversations at our booth went deeper than we expected. Business managers understood immediately how production visibility translates to better contract documentation and stronger project records. Most all, not all, apprentice trainers saw a tool that gives new ironworkers a clearer picture of the job from day one. The ironworkers themselves were direct and practical. Most interestingly, they asked good questions and gave honest feedback, which is exactly what we want.
What stood out most was how quickly the IMPACT community connected Versatile's value to their world. This isn't an organization that embraces new technology just because it's new. They care about what actually helps the trade. The reception we got told us we're building something that resonates with the people doing the work — not just the people managing it.
We left Las Vegas with a lot of follow-up to do and a real appreciation for what this community represents.
The week was a series of conversations with partners and customers across both sides of that world. Equipment teams thinking about where technology fits into the machines and workflows they're already selling. Technology companies working through similar problems in adjacent spaces. A few existing customers who happened to be there and wanted to catch up in person.
That kind of unstructured time: hallway conversations, dinners, quick meetings in between sessions. It's this unstructured in-person opportunity where the most useful things get said. People are more candid at ConExpo than they are on a formal sales call. We came away with a clearer picture of the broader market and a few conversations worth continuing.
NASCC: The Steel Conference is where the structural steel industry goes to talk craft and business at the same time. Engineers, fabricators,
We had a booth this year, and the response was strong. Genuinely strong.
The interest coming into the booth was consistent across different types of visitors. Engineers were drawn to the documentation and record-keeping story, the ability to pull up a 4D model and show exactly what was installed on any given date, tied directly to production data, without any manual input. Erectors connected with the sequencing and visibility angle. Project managers wanted to talk about onboarding and the time it takes to get a new team member up to speed on a job.
We've been busy following up since we got back. The pipeline from Atlanta is real, and the conversations have continued well beyond the show floor. NASCC confirmed something we already believed: the steel community is ready for this kind of visibility, and they're asking the right questions about how to get there.
Our VP of Sales, Niko Suvorov, joined a panel on AI in construction technology. He covered how AI-driven data collection is changing the way erectors manage production, document progress, and communicate with owners and GCs — and why the shift matters now, not five years from now.
The room asked great questions. Not softballs. Real questions about implementation, accuracy, and what happens when the data shows something the team doesn't want to see. That kind of engagement tells you the audience is paying attention and thinking seriously about the topic.
After the panel, the booth traffic picked up noticeably. People came with specific questions based on what Niko had covered — which is exactly what a good panel appearance is supposed to do. The conversations were more advanced than a typical booth introduction because the audience had already been primed on the concepts.
SEAA is always a productive week. This year it was especially good.
See You on the Road
Four events, four very different audiences, and a consistent theme: the construction industry is paying attention. The questions are getting sharper. The interest is real.
We'll be back out there later this year. If you want to connect at an upcoming event, or if you missed us this spring and want to see the platform, reach out. We're always happy to show what we're building.
Contact us to set up a demo → versatile.ai/contact