Digital joining forces for Bouwend Nederland

Together with us, Bouwend Nederland has developed a solution that improves cooperation between construction companies. By making smart use of existing Microsoft 365 licensing configuration within Azure Entra ID, construction companies can now collaborate more effectively in complex construction projects at no extra cost. This practical example shows how digital transformation also provides concrete benefits in the traditional construction sector.

The unifying force behind Dutch construction

Bouwend Nederland is the trade association for construction and infrastructure companies in the Netherlands. With more than 4,300 affiliated companies, the organization represents the vast majority of the Dutch construction sector. The members range from small independent construction companies to large internationally operating construction companies. Bouwend Nederland represents the interests of the sector, stimulates innovation and supports its members in their daily business operations.

Digital collaboration as a foundation for complex construction projects

The construction sector is known for its complex partnerships. For large construction projects, various construction companies often form temporary combinations — so-called construction combinations. However, this cooperation was hampered by the variety of IT systems and facilities at the various members of Bouwend Nederland.

While many members use Microsoft 365, there were also companies that used other solutions. There was no clear way to work together on complex construction projects. Each building combination needed a digital collaborative environment in which information, documents and communication could be effectively shared and managed.

Looking for a collaborative digital workspace

Bouwend Nederland was faced with a challenging task: proving that with Microsoft 365, a collaborative environment could easily be created with a shared governance policy. This environment had to meet specific requirements

• Construction companies had to be able to log in with their existing accounts
• The environment had to offer space for its own identity within a building combination
• There had to be a blueprint that could be used for all building combinations.
• The solution had to be cost-efficient by reusing existing licenses

Building a digital blueprint together

We took a practical approach that consisted of several phases:

Workshops: First, we organized a series of workshops where we determined the basis of the blueprint together with architects from various construction companies. This focused on three core themes: safety, governance and license sharing. These workshops provided support and input from various perspectives.

Implementation: After defining the requirements, we rolled out the blueprint on a demo environment. This concrete implementation enabled us to identify technical stumbling blocks and solve them immediately. This was a crucial step in proving that the concept works in practice.

Technical realization: For the technical realization, we used Microsoft Entra ID, PowerShell, PowerShell DSC, Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365. By combining these technologies, we were able to build an integrated solution that met all the requirements.

Practical test: The demo environment gave construction companies the opportunity to test the user experience and provide feedback. This practical test was essential to ensure that the solution was not only technically correct, but also in line with the users' daily work processes.

Throughout the project, we worked closely with a team of architects from various construction companies. As cloud consultants, we facilitated the workshops, provided the technical design and finally presented the results to the Bouwend Nederland working group.

A solid result for efficient collaboration

By cleverly reusing existing Microsoft licenses, construction companies can now work together in a shared environment at no additional cost for new licenses. This significantly lowers the threshold for digital collaboration.

The new collaborative environment combines the best of both worlds: construction companies maintain their own identity within building combinations, while still benefiting from a shared workspace with uniform governance

The developed blueprint now offers Bouwend Nederland the opportunity to offer this solution to all their members. This ensures a standardized approach to digital collaboration in the sector.

What really made the difference in this project was that we didn't get stuck in theoretical conversations about technology. Based on our expertise in Microsoft 365 and Azure, we created a practical demo environment where construction companies could experience for themselves how their future workplace would function. This hands-on aspect provided much more understanding and involvement in decision-making than a technical story alone could have done.
Albert-Jan Schot, CTO Blis Digital

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