SmartPM has released its 2026 State of Construction Scheduling report, finding widespread distrust in construction schedules among owners, general contractors, consultants and trade contractors.
The report analyzed more than 120,000 schedule files and included nearly 10,000 survey responses from construction professionals. Among its findings, only 2% of owners said they are very confident in the schedules they receive, while 24% of general contractors said their schedules accurately reflect field conditions. The report also found that projects without a recovery plan after falling behind schedule performed roughly 2.5 times worse than those that responded early.
According to SmartPM, organizations using advanced schedule analytics reduced project delays by as much as 60%. The report also found a significant gap between how teams rate the quality of their schedules and how those schedules perform in practice, underscoring the importance of identifying and addressing schedule issues before they affect project outcomes.
