What do you do as a technical service provider, with 50 years of experience in designing, installing, and integrating systems, when you want to start applying AI in building control systems?
At the family-run company Hollander Techniek, it means: test and evaluate internally first—only then advise your clients.
Project leader Bjorn Vijge teamed up with VBoptimum to take on the challenge: how can AI be used to make climate systems smarter and more efficient? The outcome? Insight, impact, and most of all: innovation for the future.
A Clear AI Ambition
Bjorn, who has worked at Hollander Techniek for 25 years, has seen building management systems become increasingly important.
“We want to be frontrunners—not just in technology, but also in sustainability,” says Bjorn. “That’s why we set a clear ambition for our AI journey. Students from HAN University conducted research for us into predicting system failures using AI. That made me wonder: could this also be applied to buildings?”
That question led him to the table with Priva, developer of the ecoBuilding software.
In-House Testing
The guiding principle at Hollander Techniek is: We want to be able to check installations ourselves, without depending on third parties—even when collaborating with software partners.
“We wanted to implement the ecoBuilding technology in our own office building first, to gain insight,” Bjorn explains. “We have complex systems here, with heat pumps and even a hydrogen boiler.”
The initial conversations with Frank, team lead at VBoptimum, made a good impression on Bjorn.
“I remember Frank saying: ‘You might uncover some painful issues in your systems.’ I responded surprised: ‘But our installation was just recently renovated—how can that be?’ In the end, some very interesting findings came out!”
Gaining Hands-On Experience
Bjorn was eager to deeply understand the technology behind ecoBuilding. That’s why he and his colleagues worked directly with the building’s digital model. Together with Jorret Westerbaan, technical consultant at VBoptimum, the implementation evolved steadily.
“We wanted to know everything about the system. After overcoming a few challenges—both for us and for ecoBuilding—we built a unique model,” Bjorn reflects with satisfaction.
“For instance, we could investigate complaints about cold spots in the building; ecoBuilding made it easier to pinpoint them.”
A Fully Operational System
“It was crucial for us to build real confidence and knowledge,” says Bjorn. “We wanted to understand how it works, so we could properly implement it for our clients. And that confidence is now 100% there.”
He continues: “The system has been fully operational since January and is stable. We’re seeing great savings. ecoBuilding is now making adjustments that we would otherwise have had to do manually.”
Smooth Collaboration
For Bjorn, the partnership with VBoptimum feels like a true collaboration. He regularly speaks with Frank (team lead) and Frans (account manager), and of course with the technical specialists, Jorret and Maurice.
“We have great communication and speak the same language. That’s really valuable, especially since we plan to introduce VBoptimum to our technical staff soon. They’re young, driven, and curious—it’s a great learning opportunity for them.”
VBoptimum and Hollander Techniek continuously exchange knowledge. Bjorn adds:
“I really appreciate that VBoptimum—and Priva as well—are open to that. We all learn together about ecoBuilding and the digital model.”
GACS: A Ticking Clock
Bjorn sees many opportunities to help Hollander Techniek clients—businesses with office spaces, but also larger organizations in healthcare.
“The market is asking for this kind of system. Ideally, people want it yesterday!” Bjorn laughs. “Especially with the upcoming GACS legislation in 2026. Companies that reach a certain energy consumption threshold will be required to comply with GACS regulations, including integrated building management systems. Software like ecoBuilding—which enables active, automated monitoring, control, and optimization—will be essential.”
For Bjorn, the conclusion is clear:
“If you want to be ready for the future, you can’t ignore VBoptimum and ecoBuilding.”
Are you a technical service provider looking to do more for your clients? Or are you simply curious what VBoptimum’s approach could mean for your building?
Let’s talk! We’d love to share more.
