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Leasing & Financing

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Technology Modernization with Flexible Financing

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Thanks for visiting our digital resource hub!

Technology continues to transform the AEC industry, driving investments in AI, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, and other digital initiatives. This quarter's resource hub explores the trends shaping these investments, shares reports from leading industry research, and highlights how financing solutions can help AEC firms invest in technology while preserving capital and financial flexibility.

Industry Insights

Featured Industry Insights

Technology Modernization Through Flexible Financing

As 84% of AEC firms plan to increase technology investments in 2026,1 spending across hardware, cloud, and cybersecurity continues to accelerate. 

Firms are under pressure to modernize while managing capital constraints. From device refreshes to infrastructure upgrades, leaders are rethinking how to keep pace with evolving technology demands—while also preparing for the next wave of AI-driven capabilities that are reshaping how technology delivers business value.

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Trending Tech Investments for AEC Firms

Firms are adopting advanced design and data tools to improve project accuracy, streamline workflows, and support better decision-making across the project lifecycle.

Assets: Autodesk (Revit, BIM 360), Bentley Systems, Procore, Trimble, Bluebeam

Cloud-based platforms are enabling real-time collaboration across project teams, improving access to project data, and reducing reliance on fragmented, on-premise systems.

Assets: Autodesk Construction Cloud, Procore, Microsoft 365, Oracle Aconex

Ongoing investment in infrastructure and security is critical to support performance, protect sensitive project data, and maintain business continuity across distributed teams and job sites.

Assets: Workstations, rugged laptops, servers, networking equipment, cybersecurity solutions, project management platforms, field data capture tools

Employees collaborating in the office sitting around a table.

Trending Tech Investments for AEC Firms

Firms are adopting advanced design and data tools to improve project accuracy, streamline workflows, and support better decision-making across the project lifecycle.

Assets: Autodesk (Revit, BIM 360), Bentley Systems, Procore, Trimble, Bluebeam

Cloud-based platforms are enabling real-time collaboration across project teams, improving access to project data, and reducing reliance on fragmented, on-premise systems.

Assets: Autodesk Construction Cloud, Procore, Microsoft 365, Oracle Aconex

Ongoing investment in infrastructure and security is critical to support performance, protect sensitive project data, and maintain business continuity across distributed teams and job sites.

Assets: Workstations, rugged laptops, servers, networking equipment, cybersecurity solutions, project management platforms, field data capture tools

Major technology manufacturers including Dell, Lenovo, and HP have warned of hardware price increases of 15–20% as memory shortages and component costs continue to rise.2 Financing can help firms lock in today's pricing and spread costs over the useful life of the technology.

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Benefits of Financing Technology & Software Investments

Financing can support modernization while preserving liquidity and financial flexibility. Increasingly, firms are using financing intentionally—not out of necessity, but to align costs with the useful life of technology assets and deploy cash where it can generate the greatest return.

Establish a Disciplined Refresh Cycle

Structuring hardware through a Fair Market Value (FMV) lease helps create a consistent refresh cycle, reducing large capital spikes while helping ensure access to current, supported technology.

Optimize Software Spend

Financing annual or multi-year software commitments can help firms convert significant upfront costs into predictable payments—improving cash flow management and budget alignment.

Enhance Financial Efficiency

A more predictable cost structure supports smoother cash flow, preserves working capital, and better aligns technology spend with business value—while offering potential accounting and tax advantages.

Strengthen Risk & Security Posture

Aging infrastructure increases operational and cyber risk. A financing-led approach helps firms keep security infrastructure current, strengthening data protection and supporting regulatory compliance.

Benefits of Financing Technology & Software Investments

Financing can support modernization while preserving liquidity and financial flexibility. Increasingly, firms are using financing intentionally—not out of necessity, but to align costs with the useful life of technology assets and deploy cash where it can generate the greatest return.

 

Two laptops with arrows, indicating a refresh cycle icon.

Establish a Disciplined Refresh Cycle

Structuring hardware through a Fair Market Value (FMV) lease helps create a consistent refresh cycle, reducing large capital spikes while helping ensure access to current, supported technology.

Cloud icon.

Optimize Software Spend

Financing annual or multi-year software commitments can help firms convert significant upfront costs into predictable payments—improving cash flow management and budget alignment.

Half pi chart with graphs showing increase.

Enhance Financial Efficiency

A more predictable cost structure supports smoother cash flow, preserves working capital, and better aligns technology spend with business value—while offering potential accounting and tax advantages.

Security and lock icon.

Strengthen Risk & Security Posture

Aging infrastructure increases operational and cyber risk. A financing-led approach helps firms keep security infrastructure current, strengthening data protection and supporting regulatory compliance.

Prioritizing Flexibility and Lifecycle Management

Fair Market Value (FMV) leasing offers an adaptable approach. It allows technology investments to evolve alongside business needs, without the constraints of traditional ownership models.

Business leaders are prioritizing strategic financing to enhance office design and space, helping ensure every investment drives maximum value and impact.

 

Pay For Use, Not Ownership

Use not ownership example

FMV Leasing Can Enable:

  • Budget Predictability with Fixed Payments
  • Timely Equipment Upgrades
  • Lower Obsolescence and Data Security Risks
  • Costs Aligned to Equipment’s Useful Life

Extending Flexibility to Software

While FMV leasing is designed for tangible assets, the same principles of flexibility and cash flow management can be applied to software. Financing subscriptions and renewals helps align costs with usage through predictable payments, reducing budget volatility, and preserving capital for other strategic initiatives.

First American’s FMV Refresh Program Highlights

Flexible End-of-Term Options

Refresh only what you need—return, purchase, or keep renting individual assets, while maintaining continuity with your software.

Built-In Transition Support

To support technology upgrades, existing clients who initiate a replacement lease can take advantage of a 90-day free rent period on their current leased assets, helping reduce the financial impact of overlapping lease commitments.

End-to-End Asset Management

First American can provide packing, shipping, and logistics, helping reduce internal burden and support a more streamlined refresh process. 

The First American Difference

Selecting the right financing provider plays an important role in how effectively an FMV strategy supports broader technology and financial objectives. 

With more than 30 years of experience serving sophisticated commercial borrowers, First American Equipment Finance is one of the top equipment finance companies in the nation.3 This experience, combined with deep industry knowledge, supports a clear understanding of the challenges AEC firms face, enabling leasing solutions that align with unique needs and long-term goals.

 

Strength & Stability

Ranked #12 among the largest bank-owned equipment leasing companies in the U.S.3

Proven Track Record

7,000 clients nationwide, including 250+ AEC firm clients.

Significant Financing Volume

$2.3B in equipment leases and loans funded in 2025.                                                       

Strength & Stability

Ranked #12 among the largest bank-owned equipment leasing companies in the U.S.3

Proven Track Record

7,000 clients nationwide, including 250+ AEC firm clients.

Significant Financing Volume

$2.3B in equipment leases and loans funded in 2025.     

Trusted by Leading AEC Firms

Check out our upcoming webinar on July 21st

Join First American and RBC Capital Markets economist, Gerard Cassidy for a complimentary, CPE-eligible economic forecast. In this session, Cassidy explores the resilience of the U.S. economy, the impact of interest rates and inflation, and key economic trends shaping the market. Backed by real-time data and historical context, this webinar will deliver timely insights for businesses and investors alike.

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Commercial Card Program

First American presents City National Bank's Visa® Commercial Card that allows businesses to customize their program to meet their specific needs. Used as a business credit card for everyday expenses or a purchasing card for travel and entertainment, this card program offers convenient buying power along with the ability to easily monitor and manage employee expenses online. 

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Interested in Learning More?

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Tap into the expertise of one of the country’s largest equipment finance companies.3 Tell me your business needs and we can start exploring funding options today.

1Bluebeam AEC Technology Outlook 2026

2Tech Radar, Experts warn PC prices could rise even more in 2026 as RAM costs set to soar higher 

3Monitor, 25 Monitor 100 (as at October 31, 2025)

All transactions are subject to credit approval. Eligibility for a particular service is subject to final determination by First American. Some restrictions may apply.