Naturally we work for our 142 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 SalesFeed we developed Utopis Insights, a perfect way to map the business users of your online tools. SalesFeed is a Hilversum-based club of people with a passion for online returns. SalesFeed has been offering scalable services for recognizing your prospects, customers and other visitors for years.
We participate in Voortaan. Voortaan is Dutch for “onwards”. Together with other partners from the construction sector. This allows us to accelerate construction at the desired pace.
Onwards, as a developer you can quickly digitally shape neighborhoods and neighborhoods based on the available housing concepts in our libraries. Including insight into the performance of your plans based on advice from trusted consultancy firms.
Onwards, everyone in the chain can participate in this digital transformation.
Together with Interstellar, we ensure that Utopis remains up and running. Our data and that of our 142 clients are safe in the data centers of Interxion (Amsterdam) and Previder (Twente). Both Interstellar 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.
“Until 2014 I worked for one of our clients. Here I was responsible for managing product information and website. ZeeBoer provided our specification texts. When we were ready for a new website in 2005-2006, Utopis was introduced. One of my first achievements was entering all product information in Utopis. That was great: all product information in one database.”
Peter has a background in data and information systems: “After hotel school, I started studying business management in Utrecht, where I chose information systems as a study variant. I developed websites at an early age and set up databases for more efficient use of product information.”
Peter was also involved in the development of Utopis PIM on behalf of the client. He developed various ideas together with Reindert de Boer, Maarten Hopman and Jeroen Jongebloed. Ideas that make Utopia software that has been developed for and by the construction manufacturer.
“In 2014 Reindert de Boer asked why I didn’t work at ZeeBoer yet and I made the switch. I have never regretted this. The best thing about ZeeBoer is that we can think along with manufacturers because we employ structural engineers,” says Peter.
When Reindert and Margreet indicated in 2016 that they wanted to stop, I decided to take over the company. Colleague Antoon Siebert has been co-owner since 2018. “I’m still very happy with this as well.”
Jeroen works at ZeeBoer as a front-end developer. You can read his story below.
Jeroen was working as a warehouse employee in 2005 when he was asked if he knew anyone who wanted to work as a front-end developer at ZeeBoer. With a background in middle automation, that seemed interesting to him, so he applied and was hired. This was quite a big step. In the beginning he had to learn a lot and at ZeeBoer he was given plenty of room for this.
The way of working at ZeeBoer really appeals to Jeroen: “You get a lot of freedom here. Together with the project leaders, we discuss every two weeks what needs to be done and what the result should be. Then I can get to work. I get a lot of freedom. , I can put my ideas and own input into it. In between, we regularly visit each other to discuss progress and make adjustments.”
He made the appearance for at least 90% of the 120 customers. Besides design, he also picks up on other things. “If you have ideas about your career, this will be discussed openly. For example, training and courses can be followed if necessary.”
Jeroen thinks the atmosphere at ZeeBoer is very good, he always enjoys going to work. “There is a lot of mutual interest in each other. For example, we always inform about each other’s weekends. I myself like to make a trip on the Veluwe on my racing bike. At noon we have lunch together and Friday is French fries day with us.”
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.”
Just before the pandemic, Zsolt started studying Computer Science at the University of Debrecen. A broad study in which he learned both frontend and backend. He eventually specialized as a backend developer. And started looking for an employer in the area between Apeldoorn and Zwolle. He found the vacancy at ZeeBoer via LinkedIn. “When looking for a new job, I preferred a small organization, because I was looking for a position where I could learn many different technologies. Where I am not doing the same thing all day long, but have a lot of variety.”
After an initial conversation with Peter and Antoon, he had another technical conversation with Bernd. He could then get to work straight away. The first month was immediately challenging. Zsolt received a problem from Bernd to work on. “I am always determined to find a solution. By sparring together I succeed. I immediately learned a lot from it.”
Ultimately, Zsolt is happy with the choice to work at ZeeBoer. “It is exactly as I expected it in advance. The tasks vary. This allows me to gain knowledge about different technologies, such as JavaScript, C# and SQL. I also enjoy working in the team. They are friendly, and I feel accepted and welcome.”
