Beyond Billable Hours: Rethinking Pricing for the AI Era

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how engineering work is performed, challenging the traditional business model built around billable hours. As firms become more efficient, the question is no longer whether productivity will increase, but whether firms can capture the value they create.

Based on the ACEC Research Institute’s groundbreaking study on value-based pricing, this session explores how engineering firms are beginning to rethink pricing strategies in response to changing technology, client expectations, and competitive pressures. Lead researcher Paul Chinowsky will present the study’s findings and engage engineering firm leaders in a discussion about the opportunities, challenges, and practical realities of moving beyond time-based billing. Topics will include where value-based pricing is gaining traction, barriers to adoption, client readiness, risk-sharing models, and the organizational changes needed to support new approaches. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how pricing may evolve over the next decade—and what their firms can do today to prepare.

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