Naturally we work for our 144 clients. In addition, we have intensive contact with organizations that, like us, know the construction sector inside and out, and we contribute to collaboration and digitalization.
Since our foundation, we have been involved in various organizations in construction and IT. Acceleration and digitization of construction requires cooperation. That is why we consciously look for partners who complement us.
The Ketenstandaard Foundation (Dutch for Chain Standards) maintains various standards for construction. STABU2 and NL/SfB are important to Utopis Specifications and our clients use ETIM and DICO to classify and distribute product data. Our roots lie in the development of STABU and so the contacts between both organizations can be called warm.
Many of Utopis’ clients have a RAW specification service. RAW is maintained by the C.R.O.W., the knowledge institute for ground, road and hydraulic engineering in The Netherlands.
Together with CSN Group, part of Interstellar, we ensure that Utopis remains up and running. Our data and that of our 144 clients are safe in the data centers of Interxion (Amsterdam) and Previder (Twente). Both CSN Group and Interxion are ISO 27001 and ISO 22301 certified.
Together with Ketenstandaard and KOMO we maintain the search portal Bouwspex.nl. The online portal, formerly known as Bestekservices.nl, is successful in distributing construction specifications. The index contains references to product specifications, system solutions, specification texts and certificates from almost all suppliers in the construction industry.
Utopis is a member of the BNB, the Professional Association for Dutch Building Specification Experts, and FBS, an interest group for manufacturers of building materials. We helped set up both associations and we are still closely involved.
Bernd works at ZeeBoer as a backend developer. Curious how he experiences this? You can read that below.
“When I started here in 2014 I had completed my studies in Germany. I still had quite a bit to learn in the field of software. In the first six months I invested a lot in this and I made the work my own and I specialized in C#. The challenge in the job is to make sure that the systems work so that my colleagues can continue to build.
The nice thing about working at ZeeBoer is that we work in a small team. It is immediately visible what you do and contribute and is also appreciated for it. As a specialist I get a lot of confidence that I am doing the right things, which I find very pleasant. The work is very varied. Sometimes I make a small adjustment of the system based on a customer’s wishes. But I also think about which solutions we can best apply. The decisions I make must also work well in the long term. Due to increasing automation, business processes must be permanently supported and optimized where possible. To make ZeeBoer as a whole even more efficient. In order to be able to optimally help our customers now, but also in the future.
I work a lot with the two project leaders. For example, we look together at what a realistic estimate is for an assignment from a customer. I discuss what I run into with my colleagues, but I also involve my network. By sharing bottlenecks and looking for different solutions, we are building the future of ZeeBoer together.
Sometimes I find it difficult that there are few colleagues to spar with professionally. That is why I am pleased that we are expanding. I like to share my knowledge and always say: two know more than one.
I am most proud of having been able to make our product information management system (PIM) Utopis® into a usable system. There is up to 20 times more speed and it is stable. The functionalities have also been greatly expanded.”
