Why This Matters to Distributors: Estimating is one of the most labor-intensive and expertise-driven functions in building materials distribution. AI tools that automate material takeoffs and quoting could help distributors respond to customers faster, improve estimating accuracy and increase productivity as skilled labor becomes harder to find.
Higharc is expanding its artificial intelligence platform into the building materials distribution channel through a partnership with US LBM, marking the technology company’s first major move beyond homebuilders into the broader construction supply chain.
The companies announced on June 30 that US LBM, the nation’s largest privately held distributor of specialty building materials, will deploy Higharc’s new AI-powered estimating platform to automate material takeoffs and generate quantity estimates directly from residential building plans.
The partnership aims to streamline one of the industry’s most labor-intensive processes by reducing the time required to prepare material estimates while improving consistency and accuracy.
Higharc said its AI estimating platform converts two-dimensional floor plans into three-dimensional digital models that generate material takeoffs aligned with purchasable products. The system combines computer vision with construction-specific rules to identify materials and calculate quantities based on how homes are designed and built.
For distributors, estimating has traditionally depended on experienced personnel manually reviewing architectural drawings, identifying required materials, and preparing customer quotes. As labor shortages continue across construction and distribution, companies are increasingly evaluating AI tools that can automate portions of those workflows while allowing estimators to focus on more complex projects.
Jonathan Greene, US LBM’s chief digital and technology officer, said the platform enables the distributor to move beyond faster quoting by improving planning and customer collaboration.
“That unlocks not just fast, accurate quoting but smarter material planning, the ability to sell the whole home and real-time collaboration with our customers,” Greene said.
The agreement also expands Higharc’s role in the residential construction industry.
The Durham, North Carolina-based company has focused primarily on helping homebuilders automate design, estimating and construction planning. Builders use the platform to generate digital home models, construction documents, and material estimates from a single system.
CEO Marc Minor said the company’s next phase centers on connecting builders and suppliers through a common AI platform.
“Everything we’re building is in service of one outcome: to make homebuilding seamless so builders can build better homes more affordably,” Minor said.
The distribution partnership was announced alongside Higharc’s $95 million Series C financing round led by Insight Partners. The company said it will use the capital to expand AI product development and broaden its presence across the homebuilding supply chain.
The funding brings Higharc’s total capital raised to more than $170 million.
The announcement reflects a broader trend across wholesale distribution as companies deploy AI to automate estimating, quoting and other document-intensive workflows. Rather than replacing experienced employees, many distributors are using AI to accelerate repetitive tasks, improve accuracy, and shorten response times, allowing sales and estimating teams to handle greater workloads without sacrificing service levels.
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