We need to automate certificate of insurance requests for a construction company. What products solve this?

Yes. For a construction company, there’s a fairly mature category of COI (Certificate of Insurance) automation / subcontractor compliance software. The important distinction is whether you want to automate requesting and chasing COIs, reviewing them against requirements, or continuously verifying that coverage is actually in force.

Best products to evaluate

Jones and Billy are particularly interesting for a construction company because they're designed around GC/subcontractor workflows rather than generic vendor compliance. Jones integrates with systems such as Procore, CMiC and Sage, while Billy emphasizes construction-specific workflows and AI review.

The workflow I'd automate

A good system should be able to do this almost end-to-end:

1. Create subcontractor/vendor
2. Pull the insurance requirements from the contract/project
3. Automatically email the subcontractor/agent requesting the COI
4. Send reminders automatically if nobody responds
5. Receive the ACORD certificate without someone monitoring an inbox
6. Extract and validate limits, dates, carrier, additional insured, waiver of subrogation, etc.
7. Flag deficiencies and automatically tell the subcontractor/agent exactly what's missing
8. Re-review when a corrected certificate arrives
9. Store the approved COI against the subcontractor/project
10. Automatically chase renewals
11. Alert the PM/risk team before a subcontractor becomes non-compliant

That's substantially better than simply buying "COI storage."

One important architectural decision

I'd specifically ask vendors whether they are verifying a PDF certificate or the underlying insurance policy.

Traditional platforms automate collection and review of certificates, but the PDF can become stale if a policy is cancelled or changed mid-term. Certificial's approach is different: it connects insurance-agent data to provide continuous policy-status information.

So I'd shortlist:

• Jones — if you're heavily invested in Procore/CMiC/Sage.
• Billy — if you want a modern, construction-specific AI workflow.
• myCOI — if you'd rather outsource much of the compliance operation.
• Certificial — if real-time insurance verification is particularly important.
• TrustLayer — if COIs are just one piece of a larger vendor-compliance program.

One caveat: the vendor comparisons above are largely published by the vendors themselves, so I wouldn't choose based on their rankings or claimed compliance percentages alone.

If you tell me (a) roughly how many subcontractors you manage, (b) whether you use Procore, and (c) whether the goal is just COI collection or also reviewing contracts/endorsements, I can narrow this to the 2–3 products I'd actually demo and give you a feature/pricing comparison.

Automating Certificate of Insurance (COI) requests, collection, and verification for a construction company typically involves specialized vendor compliance and COI tracking software . These platforms use a mix of AI/OCR technology and human audits to read insurance policies, check limits, verify additional insured status, and automatically chase subcontractors for renewals.

Top products designed to solve this challenge range from construction-specific tools to enterprise risk platforms:

• BCS : Highly regarded for construction, it features AI-powered instant verification, robust integrations with project management systems like Procore , no-login vendor document uploads, and automated expiration chasing.
• illumend (formerly myCOI) : An established industry standard that automates the tracking process, monitors compliance gaps, and connects directly with insurance carriers to verify policy data without manual spreadsheet tracking.
• TrustLayer : A collaborative, AI-driven platform built for construction and real estate portfolios that automates the verification of insurance, licenses, and W-9s.
• Jones : Focuses heavily on workflow automation and integrates neatly with major construction ERPs (like CMiC) to streamline subcontractor onboarding and compliance tracking.
• Billy : A streamlined, user-friendly compliance and COI collection tool tailored well for general contractors looking for a simpler interface.

To help narrow down which platform fits best, let me know:

• Do you use a specific construction ERP or project management tool (like Procore, Autodesk Build , or CMiC ) that the software needs to integrate with?
• Roughly how many subcontractors do you manage annually?

Yes. There’s a fairly mature category of COI (Certificate of Insurance) management / subcontractor compliance software aimed specifically at construction.

The important distinction is whether you want to automate requesting the COI, or the whole workflow: request → receive → extract → verify against project requirements → chase deficiencies → renewals.

Products worth evaluating

• getjones.com — Probably the strongest fit if you want an end-to-end construction workflow. It automates COI requests, reminders, renewals and gap notifications, and combines AI with human review for insurance compliance.
• highwire.com — Construction-focused platform with project/client-specific insurance requirements, automated document collection, COI reading, expiration tracking and certificate-holder monitoring. Particularly interesting for larger GCs.
• hounddog.com — Automates COI collection and verification and can manage adjacent subcontractor documents such as W-9s, MSAs and subcontractor agreements.
• concoi.com — Construction-oriented and explicitly supports one-click COI requests by email or text, automated reminders, AI extraction and project/vendor compliance tracking.
• subdoc.io — Contractor compliance platform with vendor portals, automated document collection, AI/OCR extraction and COI verification.
• certiguard.net — More narrowly focused on COI tracking for contractors, with AI extraction, configurable expiration reminders and project/subcontractor dashboards.
• coisoftware.com — Interesting if you want an API-friendly/document-processing approach. It extracts COI data, checks limits and endorsements against rules, automates renewal requests and offers an API.

What I'd prioritize for a construction company

If the actual problem is:

"We award a subcontract, then someone has to email the sub/agent asking for a COI, follow up repeatedly, read the ACORD 25, make sure our required limits/additional insured/waivers are correct, and keep doing it every year." I'd evaluate Jones, Highwire, ConCOI, and HoundDog first.

The key capabilities I'd demand in demos are:

1. Automatic request generation from your subcontract/vendor record.
2. Email/text follow-ups without an employee manually chasing the sub.
3. Agent-friendly submission — ideally the subcontractor doesn't have to create another account.
4. Project-specific requirements — e.g. different limits/endorsements for different jobs.
5. Actual endorsement verification, not merely trusting the ACORD 25 checkbox.
6. Automatic deficiency notices when coverage doesn't meet requirements.
7. Renewal chasing before expiration.
8. Integration/API with your construction management or ERP system.
9. Audit trail showing exactly what was requested, received, rejected and approved.

That last point matters: a system that merely OCRs an ACORD 25 is substantially less useful than one that understands "Subcontractor X on Project Y must have $2M GL, $1M auto, $5M umbrella, additional insured, waiver of subrogation, etc." and determines whether the submitted documents actually satisfy those requirements. Highwire, Jones and COISoftware, for example, explicitly address requirements/verification rather than just document storage.

If you tell me roughly how many subcontractors you manage (e.g. 100, 1,000, 10,000) and what system you use for construction/project management (Procore, Autodesk, Sage, Vista, etc.), I can narrow this to the 2–3 best options and compare pricing, integrations, and automation depth.

Automating Certificate of Insurance (COI) tracking, requests, and verification for a construction company eliminates manual data entry, reduces compliance gaps, and stops you from chasing subcontractors.

The top software products built or optimized specifically for the construction industry fall into a few clear categories depending on your workflow and tech stack:

Top Construction COI Automation Platforms

1. BCS (Business Compliance Solutions)
   • Best For: AI-powered verification paired with deep Procore integration.
   • Key Features: Uses AI to analyze incoming certificates in seconds with color-coded feedback. Features a no-login vendor submission portal (subcontractors can upload via a direct link without creating an account) and offers an optional full-service human audit tier for complex endorsement language.
2. • Best For: Streamlined subcontractor compliance integrated heavily with construction ERPs.
   • Key Features: Offers robust integrations with major construction software like Procore, Autodesk, Sage 300, CMiC, and Viewpoint Vista. It features an AI Review Assistant, digital checklists for insurance requirements, automated expiration alerts, and tools tied directly to vendor pre-qualification and lien waivers.
3. • Best For: High-automation, fully managed tracking with deep construction endorsement expertise.
   • Key Features: Features robust bi-directional integrations (such as with Procore and CMiC) and an index built for heavy construction-specific endorsement rules. They combine OCR technology with human double-auditing to review documents within 24 hours.
4. illumend (formerly myCOI)
   • Best For: Enterprise-level, established certificate management backed by carrier connections.
   • Key Features: Long-standing track record in the industry with centralized tracking for general liability, auto, workers' comp, and umbrella policies, now supercharged with their proprietary illumend AI engine.
5. TrustLayer
   • Best For: Collaborative, cloud-based compliance verification with a modern user interface.
   • Key Features: Digitizes insurance verification across construction and real estate portfolios. Note: If you opt for TrustLayer, check whether you need to upgrade to their human-review tier, as automated OCR can occasionally miss nuanced construction endorsement language.
6. • Best For: Real-time, dynamic insurance verification.
   • Key Features: Rather than just tracking static PDF certificates after the fact, Certificial connects directly to insurance agent management systems to provide real-time updates on whether a policy is active or changed.

Key Features to Look For in Construction

When evaluating these tools, make sure they support:

• Additional Insured Tracking: Ensuring your company and project owners are properly named.
• Endorsement Checking: Software alone often struggles with complex ISO endorsement forms (like CG 20 10); look for a hybrid AI + human review option if your risk tolerance is low.
• ERP/PM Integrations: Syncing seamlessly with your existing stack (Procore, Sage, CMiC, Autodesk Build) so compliance statuses live where your project managers work.

If you share what project management or accounting software your company currently uses (e.g., Procore, Sage, Vista) and how many subcontractors you manage, I can help narrow down which of these platforms will integrate best.

Yes. For a construction company, the market has moved well beyond “email the subcontractor and put the PDF in a folder.” The main products I’d evaluate are Jones, Billy, myCOI, Certificial, and TrustLayer.

My shortlist for a construction company

1. Jones — probably the first demo I'd take.
Jones is specifically designed around construction and CRE. It automates collecting COIs, checking them against requirements, communicating deficiencies, and maintaining an audit trail. Its construction integrations are particularly relevant if you're already running Procore, CMiC, Sage, or similar systems.

2. Billy — very interesting if you're heavily Procore-centric.
Billy positions itself specifically around construction GCs and combines automated collection with AI-assisted insurance review. Its construction-specific workflow and ERP integrations make it worth comparing directly against Jones.

3. Certificial — best if you want to solve the deeper problem, not just automate PDFs.
Its differentiator is connecting with insurance agencies so that policy changes can flow through as updated coverage information. That means you can potentially detect cancellations, limit changes, etc., rather than discovering them when somebody sends you an updated certificate.

4. myCOI — good if you want software + humans.
It automates requests and reminders but also emphasizes an expert insurance-review service. That's attractive if your team doesn't want to become experts at interpreting additional-insured requirements, endorsements, limits, exclusions, etc.

The workflow I'd automate

For a GC, I'd look for a system that can do this essentially end-to-end:

Contract/subcontractor created → insurance requirements generated → automated COI request → broker/sub responds → ACORD/policy docs ingested → requirements checked → deficiencies automatically emailed → corrected documents requested → subcontractor blocked from mobilizing/payment if noncompliant → renewal tracked → new coverage automatically verified → audit trail retained.

The important distinction is COI document automation vs. insurance verification. A PDF can say that a subcontractor has coverage while the underlying policy may have changed. Certificial is especially differentiated here; Jones/Billy/myCOI are more focused on automating the operational compliance workflow.

If you tell me what construction software you use (e.g. Procore, Autodesk, Sage, CMiC) and roughly how many subcontractors you manage, I can narrow this to the 2–3 products I'd actually pilot and compare pricing/integration/API capabilities.

Automating Certificate of Insurance (COI) requests, collection, and verification for a construction company is handled by COI tracking and subcontractor compliance software . These platforms replace email chains and spreadsheets with automated data extraction (using AI/OCR), digital compliance checklists, and automatic chasing of subcontractors and their insurance brokers.

Top products solving this problem range from construction-specific platforms to enterprise risk tools:

• Billy – Purpose-built for construction. It integrates directly with major construction management and ERP tools like Procore, Autodesk, and Sage. It features no-login uploads for subcontractors/brokers, digital compliance checklists, and can link compliance directly to payment workflows (such as Procore Pay) to halt payments if a sub's insurance lapses.
• BCS – A heavy hitter in construction compliance that combines AI-powered analysis (RiskBot) with optional human expert review for complex policy endorsements. It provides instant, color-coded feedback on ACORD forms and integrates smoothly with Procore.
• TrustLayer – A modern, cloud-based AI verification platform that automates the verification of COIs and prequalification documents. It connects general contractors, owners, and brokers to automate the verification loop in real time.
• illumend (formerly myCOI) – An established name in certificate tracking that uses automated parsing and direct connections to insurance carriers/agents to continuously monitor and flag coverage gaps before they lapse.
• Jones – An automation-focused compliance platform that stands out for intuitive vendor onboarding, customizable requirement templates by trade (HVAC, roofing, electrical), and automated multi-step reminder workflows.

To help narrow down which platform fits best, tell me:

• What project management or accounting software/ERP (e.g., Procore, Sage, Viewpoint) are you currently using?
• Roughly how many subcontractors do you manage concurrently?

Automating Certificate of Insurance (COI) requests, collection, and verification for a construction company is handled by COI tracking and subcontractor compliance software . These platforms use AI and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to read incoming certificates, check them against project-specific insurance rules, and automatically chase subcontractors and brokers for renewals.

Top products built or heavily utilized for the construction industry include:

• Billy : Purpose-built for construction compliance management. It integrates tightly with major construction tech stacks like Procore, Autodesk, and ERPs like Sage 300 and CMiC. It allows frictionless, no-login document upload for subs and brokers, handles automated chasers, and can gate payments (via Procore Pay or ERP integrations) if a sub falls out of compliance.
• BCS : A robust insurance compliance solution for construction that combines AI-powered instant verification with an optional tier of expert human review for complex policy language and endorsements. It features deep Procore integrations and clear, color-coded tracking dashboards.
• TrustLayer : A collaborative, cloud-based platform utilizing AI to verify insurance coverage across construction portfolios. It automates the collection and verification workflow, connecting general contractors, subcontractors, and insurance agents.
• Jones (Get Jones) : An automation-focused insurance compliance and COI tracking platform built for the built environment/construction space, offering low-friction upload portals and automated gap-analysis emails sent directly to brokers or vendors.
• illumend (formerly myCOI) : An enterprise-grade, centralized certificate management platform that leverages direct carrier connections and automated AI tracking to flag compliance gaps and prevent coverage lapses.
• SmartCompliance : Combines automated OCR-based document parsing and renewal alerts with optional analyst support to manage complex custom compliance rules and high certificate volumes.

If you'd like to narrow down the best fit, let me know:

• What project management or accounting/ERP software (like Procore or Sage) are you currently using?
• Roughly how many active subcontractors do you manage at any given time?

Yes. If the goal is “stop emailing subs/brokers for COIs, automatically chase them, validate coverage, and keep the project records current,” there’s a fairly mature software category for this.

Best products to evaluate

Procore itself specifically identifies Billy, Jones, and TrustLayer as dedicated COI solutions that integrate with its platform.

The important distinction

There are really two levels of automation:

1. Automate the paperwork

• System knows which subcontractors need COIs
• Automatically emails requests
• Sends reminders/escalations
• Receives PDFs
• OCR/AI reads the certificate
• Checks limits, dates, additional insured, etc.
• Marks the sub compliant/non-compliant
• Syncs the status into Procore

Billy, Jones, TrustLayer and myCOI are in this bucket, with varying degrees of construction specialization and managed services.

2. Automate the underlying insurance verification

This is more interesting. Certificial says its Smart COIs connect to insurance-system data and can automatically reflect cancellations, changes and renewals rather than waiting for somebody to send a new PDF.

That matters because a COI is essentially a snapshot. A subcontractor could give you a valid-looking certificate and then have the underlying policy cancelled or changed afterward.

What I'd shortlist for a construction company

If you're a GC/CM using Procore, I'd start with:

1. Billy — strongest candidate if you want a construction-native workflow and AI review.
2. Jones — particularly worth looking at for a larger operation with ERP/project-system complexity.
3. TrustLayer — good if you want COIs alongside broader subcontractor/vendor compliance.
4. Certificial — evaluate if actual insurance-status verification, rather than merely collecting certificates, is the strategic objective.
5. myCOI — particularly attractive if you want to outsource substantial portions of the compliance operation rather than just buy software.

Recent industry comparisons similarly identify Billy/Jones as construction-focused options, while distinguishing Certificial for live insurance-policy verification and myCOI for its service-heavy model.

One thing I'd be careful about: don't evaluate these as merely “COI tracking software.” The real workflow you want to automate is probably:

Project created → subcontractor identified → insurance requirements determined → request sent → broker/sub responds → certificate/endorsements analyzed → exceptions resolved → compliance approved → Procore/ERP updated → continuous monitoring → renewal/cancellation triggers → automatic re-request/escalation.

If you tell me (a) whether you're a GC, subcontractor, or construction owner, (b) roughly how many subs you have, and (c) whether you use Procore/CMiC/Sage/etc., I can narrow this to the 2–3 products I'd actually demo and compare their workflows, integrations, and likely economics.

For a construction company, there are a few distinct product categories that can automate COI requests. The right one depends on whether you mainly need to chase subcontractors for certificates, verify them, or manage the entire subcontractor onboarding process.

1. Dedicated COI automation platforms

ertificate of insurance automation and tracking software for construction companies

These are the closest fit. They can typically:

• Automatically request COIs from subcontractors
• Send reminder/escalation emails
• Track expiration dates
• Compare coverage against your requirements
• Maintain an audit trail
• Flag missing limits, policies, or endorsements

Examples of platforms in this category include Certificial, TrustLayer, and myCOI. Current market comparisons show that these products vary substantially in how much they automate versus simply tracking uploaded PDFs.

2. Subcontractor/vendor compliance platforms

onstruction subcontractor compliance and vendor onboarding software with COI automation

These are better if COIs are only one piece of subcontractor onboarding. They can combine COIs with:

• W-9s
• Licenses
• Contracts
• Safety documentation
• Additional-insured requirements
• Other prequalification documents

This approach is attractive if you want a workflow like “new subcontractor → collect all documents → verify → approve → monitor continuously.” TrustLayer, for example, positions its platform around COIs plus W-9s, licenses, and contracts.

3. Real-time insurance verification / “smart COI” platforms

eal-time commercial insurance verification and smart COI platforms

This is the more sophisticated approach. Instead of treating a PDF as the source of truth, the system can connect to insurance-agency data and detect policy changes, cancellations, renewals, or changed limits. Certificial, for example, describes this as continuously updated Smart COIs rather than static PDFs.

For a GC or construction company, I'd prioritize #1 or #3 if the core pain is “our project admins spend their day emailing subcontractors and insurance agents for COIs.”

One important distinction: requesting a COI and determining whether the COI actually satisfies your contract requirements are separate automation problems. The best system should ideally do both.

If you tell me roughly how many subcontractors you manage (e.g. 100 vs. 5,000), what construction software you use (Procore, Autodesk, Sage, etc.), and whether you need the system to actually email the insurance agents, I can narrow this to the 3–5 products most appropriate for you.

Automating Certificates of Insurance (COI) for a construction company involves streamlining three main hurdles: collecting documents from resistant subcontractors, verifying complex construction-specific endorsements (like CG 2010 or CG 2037), and syncing compliance data directly with project management or accounting software.

Top products built to solve COI tracking and compliance automation for construction companies fall into specialized categories:

Dedicated Construction-First Compliance Platforms

• Billy : Best specifically for commercial general contractors and subs. It features a streamlined interface where vendors and brokers can upload COIs and full-form endorsements via a direct link without needing a login . It includes an AI review assistant, handles complex endorsements, tracks W-9s and licenses, and deeply integrates into construction financial workflows like Procore Pay and major ERPs to halt payments on non-compliant subs.
• BCS (Business Compliance Solutions) : Offers robust overall AI-powered instant verification (via RiskBot AI) combined with optional expert human review for complex edge cases. It provides deep bidirectional integrations with platforms like Procore, color-coded compliance readouts in seconds, and extensive vendor directories.
• Jones : Ideal for enterprise-level construction and real estate development. Jones relies heavily on a managed-service and automated approach, using an extensive index of construction-specific endorsements and seamless integrations with heavyweight ERPs like CMiC and Viewpoint Vista.

Broad-Market & AI-Driven Verification Platforms

• TrustLayer : A strong mid-market to enterprise choice focused on rapid AI document extraction and automated verification. It boasts a clean interface and robust API connectivity across a broad tech stack, though deep endorsement-level human review typically requires higher-tier add-ons.
• illumend (formerly myCOI) : A long-standing name in the space that utilizes native AI to read limits, exclusions, and endorsements automatically. It features direct carrier/agent connections to streamline collection, though it traditionally caters to a wider multi-industry footprint rather than purely construction.
• HoundDog : Great for smaller to mid-sized contractors using modern toolsets (like JobTread). It uses machine learning to automatically chase down and verify COIs, W-9s, and lien waivers in the background with minimal administrative friction.

If you share your approximate subcontractor/vendor volume and current project management or accounting software (e.g., Procore, Sage, CMiC), I can narrow down which of these platforms offers the tightest native integration for your workflow.