Efficient management of information flows

Solutions in PIM and BIM

Managing product information efficiently within a company remains a challenge. No matter how carefully the information for website, documentation folders, consulting tools and product information is stored in a variety of databases, things regularly go wrong in every company. How do you prevent someone from using version three of a specification when there is already a sixth version in circulation?

Peter Veldhuizen, general manager of ZeeBoer, knows the problem like no other. In fact, to solve the problem once and for all, ZeeBoer developed the digital specification service back in the nineties and the PIM system was added in 2000. This created a total cloud software package - specifically tailored to the construction industry - that allows products and assets to be managed efficiently and effectively.

Continuous updating

"Until the beginning of this century, we were mainly specification writers," Veldhuizen says. "Specification specifications not only had to be written well, they had to be constantly updated. To ensure that everyone would only use the latest version, we developed Utopis Platform, a Product Information Management System, or 'PIM' for short. With this tool, information flows can be neatly categorized and securely stored in the cloud. The user specifies how the information should be organized. By article, product, project or system? For trade, marketing, sales or consultancy? You can go either way with our PIM. The data is also continuously updated."

From PIM to BIM

An important feature of the software is the BIM interface, which allows easy linking to the many software packages circulating in the BIM landscape. Veldhuizen: "In this case, the manufacturer can include its product range and solutions in the BIM software, making it available to all fellow users. It is also linkable to ETIM such as Revit and Archicad."

Intensive counseling

Currently, some 120 brands - from all construction sectors - are using the software. Thanks to the software products, the document management system within these companies runs smoothly and significantly easier. "It may seem like a big step," Veldhuizen understands, "but ZeeBoer takes care of the construction, implementation and tailoring to the specific target group. This is followed by an extensive explanation for everyone who will be working with the software. We learn how to enter specifications, products and pictures. As a result, everyone soon learns that PIM is not a supertanker, but rather a practical and extremely user-friendly system. Anyone who wants to work with it can work with it. Sharing and distributing knowledge and expertise suddenly becomes very easy. What's more, it can be done very quickly. Only six months to a year is allowed for the complete installation of PIM."