Technology is no longer a back-office issue for A&E firms. It is becoming one of the clearest differences between firms that operate with confidence and those that are constantly reacting. Many firms still manage projects, staffing, billing, reporting, and profitability through a patchwork of spreadsheets, accounting tools, disconnected systems, and manual processes. That approach may feel familiar, but it increasingly limits visibility, slows decisions, creates risk, and makes growth harder to manage.

In this webinar, Steven Burns, FAIA, will explore what it means to become a tech-forward A&E firm. Drawing on his experience as an architect, software entrepreneur, former BQE executive, and consultant to design firms, Steven will show how integrated systems, clean data, consistent workflows, and strong adoption practices can create meaningful competitive advantage. 

The session will also examine why AI readiness depends on operational readiness. Before firms can benefit from AI agents, automation, forecasting, and intelligent recommendations, they need reliable data and connected systems. Attendees will learn how to reduce dependence on spreadsheets, prioritize technology investments, manage software transitions in practical phases, and build a stronger digital foundation.

The result is a firm that can make faster decisions, manage risk earlier, serve clients better, and scale with greater confidence. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Appreciate why technology modernization is now a strategic priority, not merely an administrative or accounting decision.
2. Identify the risks of relying on spreadsheets, disconnected systems, and manual workflows to manage project performance, staffing, billing, and profitability.
3. Recognize the characteristics of a tech-forward firm, including integrated systems, clean data, consistent processes, role-based dashboards, and firm-wide adoption.
4. Discover why AI readiness depends on the quality and structure of a firm’s underlying business data.

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