Tech Adoption in Divisions 9–12: What Subs Are Really Doing in 2025

Finishes and specialty trades keep commercial projects moving, but they’re also the first to feel the squeeze when timelines shrink. Divisions 9 through 12 know this better than anyone. You’re juggling condensed schedules, unclear scopes, frequent change orders, and a constant stream of ITBs.

With pressure rising, tech adoption in these divisions is moving faster than many expected. Our 2025 Subcontractor Survey gives a clear view of what these trades are adopting, what they still resist, and where the biggest opportunities sit.

Here’s a grounded look at how Divisions 9–12 are approaching digital tools today.

Divisions 9–12 Are Among the Most Tech-Forward Groups

When we separated responses by CSI division, Divisions 9, 10, 11, and 12 stood out as some of the most open to new technology. Most respondents identified as early adopters or at least “open and willing.” Only Division 8 was more cautious.

These trades move at high volume and depend on clean coordination to keep pace. That naturally pushes them toward tools that help organize bids, tighten communication, and reduce manual work.

Association data backs this up. ABC Illinois emphasizes mobile tech, automation, and tools that reduce repetitive tasks. ASA Chicago highlights efficiency, clearer contract workflows, and reducing risk.

Finishes and specialty divisions feel those issues every day, so tech adoption tends to follow.

Bid Volume Drives the Need for Better Tools

Divisions 9–12 typically handle multiple scopes and move across many mid-size commercial jobs. Survey data showed that mid-sized subcontractors, especially in the 31–60 employee range, submit 16 to 30 bids each week. And many of those respondents came from finishes and specialties.

With volume that high, it’s no surprise these divisions want better systems. They’re tired of:

• Buried ITBs
• Repeated data entry
• Scope documents scattered across email
• PMs pricing different versions of the same job

These pain points showed up repeatedly in our survey and in industry association conversations.

When your margin depends on accuracy and quick turnaround, clutter is expensive.

Filtering and Scope Clarity Are the Top Challenges

Across all CSI divisions, filtering suitable projects was the top bidding challenge. But Divisions 9–12 ranked it even higher. They deal with ambiguous scopes more than most trades, especially in Div 9 and Div 10 where finishes and specialties often get partial plans or last-minute add-ons.

Survey results highlighted three consistent issues:

• Filtering bad-fit projects takes more time than estimating
• Scope clarity is inconsistent from GC to GC
• Prioritization becomes difficult when timelines are compressed

The open-ended responses made this clear. Many subs said they had the capacity to bid more work, but lacked a clean way to sort through chaos.

If you’re pricing drywall, flooring, specialties, or equipment, you’ve lived this problem.

Mid-Sized Firms Are Leading the Charge

The group adopting tech fastest across all divisions was the 11–30 employee segment. 94% call themselves early adopters. Most spend 3% or more of their annual budget on software.

Many of these firms sit inside Divisions 9–12. They’re large enough to feel the strain of volume but small enough to shift quickly when a better workflow shows up. They tend to adopt tools that help them:

• Organize ITBs
• Centralize estimating
• Standardize communication
• Reduce rework
• Train new PMs consistently

This aligns with modern association messaging that pushes “automation,” “mobile strategies,” and “reduced repetitive tasks.”

Larger Firms Are Open but Moving Slower

Firms with 61 or more employees are still open to new tools, but they slow down because change touches dozens of team members. They need clearer training and smoother rollout plans. Many still rely on PM-driven bidding instead of dedicated estimating teams, which makes tech adoption harder to centralize.

Divisions 9–12 feel this especially in:

• Multi-floor or multi-building jobs
• Rapid-fire addendums
• Jobsites where coordination gets chaotic

These firms want tech that helps them scale without adding complexity. If a tool requires heavy onboarding, it usually stalls.

Where Riffle Fits for Divisions 9–12

RiffleCM focuses on the workflows that Divisions 9–12 struggle with most: Bid organization, estimating clarity, internal coordination, and visibility.

Subs in these divisions don’t need an all-in-one GC platform. They need clean, practical tools that fit how finishes and specialty contractors operate:

• Quick sorting of ITBs
• Clear project scopes
• Simple collaboration between PMs and estimators
• Centralized tracking so nothing gets lost
• Fewer spreadsheets and repeat work
• A process that holds up even when timelines shrink

This is exactly where Riffle sits. A modern workflow that reduces noise and gives these trades a clearer picture of their pipeline and profitability from the first invite.

What This Means for Subcontractors

If you’re in Divisions 9 through 12, your team is already leaning into technology. The survey shows you’re among the most willing groups to adopt tools that simplify work and protect margin.

To make the most of that momentum:

• Give your team one place to organize ITBs
• Standardize estimating so scopes stay clean
• Reduce double entry and manual tracking
• Make sure PMs and estimators share the same view
• Focus on tools designed for subcontractors, not GCs

When work moves fast, clarity becomes your advantage.

Join the waitlist at rifflecm.com.

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