Lumber Acquires BuilderFax and Adds Digital Credential Wallet to AI Workforce Platform

San Francisco Bay Area, August 22, 2025

News Summary

Lumber has acquired BuilderFax and integrated its digital credential wallet into Lumber’s AI-driven workforce management platform. The combined product securely stores certifications, licenses and training records, enabling craftworkers to share credentials from a digital wallet while Lumber’s AI automates credential checks across time tracking, payroll, safety and project systems. The integration aims to replace paper records, speed on-site verification, reduce administrative friction for contractors that run many jobs, and surface missing certifications before shifts start. Early adopters report improved accuracy, standardized time-entry rules, and potential for gamified safety recognition tied to payroll and scheduling.

Lumber Acquires BuilderFax and Adds Digital Credential Wallet to Its AI Workforce Platform

Lumber completed the acquisition of BuilderFax in May and has folded BuilderFax’s digital credential wallet into Lumber’s AI-driven workforce management suite. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The combined tools aim to simplify on-site time tracking, safety compliance and credential verification for craftworkers and specialty contractors.

Top takeaways

The acquisition links BuilderFax’s secure storage for certifications, training cards, licenses and memberships with Lumber’s all-in-one workforce platform, which already handles payroll, time tracking, safety compliance, field productivity, and employee recognition. Lumber’s AI, powered by a large language model and integrated with contractors’ construction management and ERP systems, now has direct access to workers’ verified credentials to better match compliance and pay processes to field activity.

What the integration includes

BuilderFax, founded in 2023 by a long-time construction executive, captures and organizes worker credentials by type and favorites, stores training records and qualifications, and enables secure sharing from a digital wallet. The integration means those credentials flow into Lumber’s platform so that recorded time, safety workflows and compliance checks use verified, up-to-date documentation rather than paper cards and manual checks.

Why this matters for contractors

For trade contractors who handle more than 20 jobs a year, the credential process is often repetitive and paper-based. The combined solution reduces the administrative burden of collecting, verifying and re-sharing certification records across projects and general contractors. Lumber’s AI can emphasize safety compliance and surface missing credentials before they stop a worker from being assigned to a task or getting paid.

Field feedback and use cases

Users in the field report that connecting credential management to time and job systems helps break down project silos and clarifies daily workflows. One contractor dispatcher described how teams identified themselves, learned to enter time consistently and used the platform to pause and analyze production routines rather than just speed through them. That contractor is also exploring integration of a local safety recognition program with the platform to gamify safety rewards.

Technical and strategic context

Lumber’s platform uses a large language model to surface key workflow nudges, such as safety messages tied to pay stubs or alerts when credentials are about to expire. The company positions the integration as a response to a broader industry need to develop, certify and retain skilled tradespeople and to strengthen career pathways for craftspeople. Industry observers see this transaction as one of several strategic alliances in the modern construction-technology landscape where startups combine specialized tools to deliver broader, integrated project controls.

Security, verification and workflow impact

BuilderFax’s wallet stores credentials securely and allows selective sharing, which reduces reliance on paper certification cards and manual verification at jobsites. Tying that wallet to payroll and compliance functions helps prevent situations where workers are barred from tasks or lose pay due to missing paperwork. The combined product aims to route recorded time and other field workflows into a compliance loop so projects can move forward without administrative delays.

Background

Both Lumber and BuilderFax were founded in 2023. BuilderFax was created by an industry veteran with decades of construction executive experience. Lumber began as a tool for specialty contractors to manage craftworkers and expanded into a broader workforce management platform. The acquisition follows a market trend toward platform consolidation, where digital credentialing, time tracking, payroll and safety workflows are being joined to reduce friction on jobsites.

What’s next

The acquisition is expected to roll out as a deeper integration between BuilderFax’s credential wallet and Lumber’s AI suite. Contractors and subcontractors should watch for updates on product availability, integration timelines and options for combining local safety-reward programs with the platform’s gamification features. Because the deal’s financial terms were not disclosed, cost and licensing changes for customers have not been published.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Key features at a glance

Feature	What it does	Primary benefit
Digital Credential Wallet	Stores certifications, training cards, licenses and memberships and allows secure sharing	Reduces paper handling and speeds verification across projects
Time Tracking & Clocking	Records job hours and links entries to compliance and payroll	Ensures accurate pay and verifies that qualified workers are assigned
AI Workflow Nudges	Uses a large language model to surface safety reminders and missing credentials	Improves safety adherence and lowers the risk of stopped work
ERP & CM Integration	Deep-stack connection to construction management and enterprise systems	Aligns field activity with back-office compliance and payroll
Rewards & Gamification	Offers safety recognition and incentive tracking that can link to local programs	Boosts worker engagement and reinforces safe behavior

Note: The acquisition closed in May; specific financial terms were not made public. Both companies launched in 2023 and the integrated product is intended to be rolled out into contractor operations over coming months.

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