'Groundbreaking concrete digitization step in construction industry'

A group of 130 initiators in the design, construction and engineering sectors launched the ILS Configurator May 9 at the Bouwhuis in Zoetermeer. "A next, crucial step in digital collaboration in the built environment. Because with this handy online tool, every party in the construction chain can easily and uniformly compile an Information Delivery Specification (ILS) containing the desired building information. Even parties that have little experience with this," says Martijn Carlier, Manager Aanjagen Digitalisering at organizer digiGO BIMloket.

Now that the ILS Configurator is ready to be used in the industry, it's just getting started. According to early initiators Jeffrey Truijens and Niels Groot, this tool was built in such a way that all kinds of data links will be possible in the near future. Niels: "We see the ILS Configurator as the starting point of the digital workflow. To realize that, various extensions and new functionalities are needed." Jeffrey: "Data-driven work is still developing enormously. We take that development into account by choosing advanced technology. It has become a sustainable, future-oriented and scalable tool."

So this launch is a first step for further development of the tool. Martijn Carlier: "If more people start using the tool now, the ILS Configurator can be further improved into a new, pioneering method for everyone in the construction, design and engineering sector. This is why we are calling on development participants and stakeholders during the launch party and, of course, afterwards: keep contributing. Moreover, we ask everyone in the sector who has ever dealt with an ILS to try out this tool. Because this is the only way to discover what it actually delivers. So get going with that ILS Configurator!"

The reason for developing the ILS Configurator is that for many, preparing ILS is still a time-consuming, complicated and error-prone process. Carlier: "At best, this is done via complicated and endless Excel files. With the ILS Configurator, that is a thing of the past. The great thing is that now all parties in the chain can participate, even those who are not leaders in digitization. The ILS Configurator removes barriers and promotes dialogue between clients and contractors about the information they need from each other for a project." Jeffrey Truijens: "Construction is a classically project-oriented industry. Scaling up a good idea is often seen as an illusion because every project is different. We are now showing the opposite; that project-transcending change is indeed possible - with blood sweat and tears, trust and enthusiasm, we now have a working tool."

In addition to the large group of 130 industry professionals, the development is supported by the ERDF program REACT EU. The main objective of this fund is to ensure that Europe becomes more sustainable, digital and resilient. The co-funding for the ILS Configurator project is completed by representatives from all directions of the built environment, Bouwend Nederland, SPIE, Koninklijke NLingenieurs, Techniek Nederland, Gemeente Rotterdam, Aedes, NVTB, BNA and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. 

You can read more about an ILS and the ILS Configurator
In a series of articles: click here

Get started right away?
Then read more on the user page for the ILS Configurator: click here

You can read more about digiGO on the digigo.nu website: click here