AI Automations: Reclaiming 70% of an Architect's Time

Let's talk about the elephant in the room — most architects spend more time managing submittals and RFIs than actually designing. Studies show it can eat up nearly 70% of a workweek. That's wild.

You didn't become an architect to be a professional file sorter. But that's what happens when every correction, comparison, and clarification lands back in your inbox. It's not bad design — it's bad efficiency.

Where the time goes

Every submittal needs to be checked. Every RFI needs an answer. And every answer requires comparing specs, drawings, and code sections by hand.

Multiply that by hundreds of sheets and dozens of projects, and it's no wonder everyone's tired.

The typical week breakdown

Here's what a typical week looks like for many architects:

• 30% — Actual design work (the fun part)
• 25% — Submittal reviews and comparisons
• 20% — RFI responses and research
• 15% — Coordination meetings about submittals/RFIs
• 10% — Everything else

Notice a pattern? More than half the week disappears into document management.

How AI helps you get that time back

AI automations handle the kind of work humans were never meant to do at scale — the tedious, detail-heavy stuff that drains focus.

Instant comparisons

Instead of manually checking whether a submittal matches the spec:

• AI reads both documents
• Flags any discrepancies automatically
• Highlights sections that need your attention
• Suggests responses based on project standards

Time saved per submittal: 45-90 minutes → 5-10 minutes

Smart RFI responses

When an RFI comes in, AI can:

• Search your project documents instantly
• Find relevant code sections
• Draft a response with proper citations
• Pull in precedent from similar past decisions

Time saved per RFI: 60-120 minutes → 10-15 minutes

Proactive conflict detection

Even better? AI can catch issues before they become RFIs:

• Compares drawings to specs during design
• Flags potential conflicts early
• Suggests resolutions based on code
• Learns your firm's preferences over time

The real question

If you got most of that time back, what would you do with it?

• More design work?
• Better coordination?
• Actually mentoring junior staff?
• Maybe even an early Friday for once?

That's the whole point of automation at Ichi. It's not replacing you — it's helping you spend your time where it actually matters: building great things, not drowning in documents.

Real stories from real architects

San Luis Obispo Building Department

Mike Loew, Chief Building Official, saw email response times drop from 2 hours to 15 minutes after implementing AI tools. His team could finally focus on actually helping people instead of hunting through codes.

"When you can use a tool like Ichi – where you could take what would require 2 hours to answer an email, and now it only takes 15 minutes – it allows you to really focus on the customer."

West Coast Code Consultants

Donald Zhao's team cut plan review time by 50% using AI assistance. Junior reviewers could work independently with confidence, and senior staff could focus on complex edge cases.

Getting started

The best part? You don't need to overhaul your entire workflow to see benefits.

Start small:

1. Try AI for one task — Like RFI responses or submittal comparisons
2. Measure the time savings — You'll be surprised how much it adds up
3. Expand gradually — Add more automations as your team gets comfortable
4. Share learnings — Let AI build on your firm's collective knowledge

The bottom line

AI for architects isn't about replacement—it's partnership. AI in construction tools like Ichi act as intelligent assistants, handling the tedious work while you focus on design, creativity, and problem-solving.

The AI does the grunt work. You do the architecture.

When architects, engineers, and plan checkers use AI for construction to automate RFIs, submittals, and code research, they reclaim hundreds of hours per year. That's hundreds of hours for better design, better client relationships, and better work-life balance.

Because at the end of the day, cities don't need better file managers. They need better architects. And better architects need better tools.

---

Ready to reclaim your time? Explore Ichi's automation tools and see how AI can help your firm work smarter, not harder.