Introduction
In this episode, host Jacob Edmond breaks down his takeaways from IWF 2026 in Atlanta, covering the wave of software consolidation reshaping the millwork industry alongside a surprising surge of grassroots innovation happening at the same time. From the acquisitions reshaping Microvellum, EMOS, and Cabinet Vision to the rise of AI tools putting software development directly into shop owners hands, Jacob shares what he saw on the show floor, who is disrupting the market, and why this moment feels different from anything the industry has seen before. Whether you run a shop, specify software, or just want to know where millwork technology is headed next, this episode is packed with insight straight from the ground.
What You’ll Learn
- Why IWF 2026 in Atlanta felt like the industry’s biggest and busiest show since before the pandemic.
- How Innergy, Hexagon, and Cyncly have become the big three through acquisitions of Microvellum, Cabinet Vision, AlphaCam, and now EMOS.
- Why software consolidation is spurring more innovation instead of shutting it down.
- What Production Mirror and Millwork Suite are doing differently as new entrants in the ERP and AI estimating space.
- Why Mozaik’s grassroots, community driven user base has fueled its rapid adoption among smaller and residential shops.
- Why some shop owners are turning to alternatives like SWOOD because of uncertainty around the big software acquisitions.
- How AI tools are letting individual shop owners and consultants build their own custom software without hiring developers.
- What Grainwork and PAC-OS represent as examples of solo built, AI powered tools entering the market.
- How shop owners are using AI to analyze years of engineering and finance data to make better business decisions.
- Why Jacob believes this moment is reshaping who gets to build software for the millwork industry, and what risks come with it.
Where to Learn More
Grainwork: https://grainwork.io/
Phill Anton Consulting: https://www.phillanton.com/
Production Mirror: https://productionmirror.com/
Millwork Suite: https://www.millworksuite.com/
AWI National (2026 Annual Convention): https://awinet.org/mc-events/2026-awi-annual-convention/
CMA (Cabinet Makers Association): https://www.cabinetmakers.org/
IWF West: https://iwfwest.com/
Final Thoughts
IWF 2026 showed two trends unfolding side by side. The big software players are consolidating into a handful of dominant ecosystems, while individual shop owners and consultants are using AI to build their own solutions faster and cheaper than ever before. Jacob’s biggest takeaway is that this tension, between roll ups at the top and grassroots innovation on the ground, is what will define where millwork technology goes next.
