40 Flemish construction SMEs to work with 360° camera for three months

The Flemish construction sector shows strong interest in digital technologies (360° camera, drones, photogrammetry, AI, laser scanning, etc.) to increase productivity. In recent years, these technologies have been widely demonstrated. However, surveys and random samples have shown that many contractors and installers ultimately did not proceed with an investment. Why? Digital solutions were too complex and required too much research. Which brand should I choose? Is this technology construction-site-proof? What software do I need? What if the device is damaged?
The 360° Camera Toolkit eliminates all these barriers. A 360-degree camera can capture an entire room within seconds, allowing for virtual site visits, site monitoring and automated measurements. 
Moreover, it can be integrated with other software. The Toolkit includes everything needed to get started straight away: a 360° camera, tripod, selfie stick, extra battery, chargers and a manual. A true plug & play solution, fully tailored to the contractors' working environment. The result? Just days after the call, the test quota was already reached. 
"We see that contractors and installers are definitely open to digitalisation but drop out as soon as it requires too much research. With the 360° Camera Toolkit, we make the step to digital site monitoring as easy as possible. This pilot project gives our construction companies the opportunity to experience 
for themselves how much time they can save and how much miscommunication they can avoid by digitally documenting their sites," says Sofie Oosterlinck, Chief Strategy Officer at Buildwise. 

Support from Flanders and Europe
The Flemish government and the European Commission are strongly committed to innovation, including in the construction sector. Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele emphasises the importance of this initiative: “The construction sector is one of the pillars on which our economy relies,” says Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele. “Flemish SME construction companies are incredibly agile and flexible. They adapt very quickly to any new challenge. From Flanders, we provide our SMEs with the right tools to work more efficiently and with a focus on the future. Digital technologies such as the 360° Camera Toolkit make a real difference by enabling smarter site monitoring and reducing failure costs. This is not an experiment, but a first step towards a more innovative construction landscape.” 

Alongside the test phase, work is underway to establish partnerships with resellers, so that similar products and services can be offered to Flemish construction companies in the future. In this way, the 
project not only supports contractors, but also opens new market opportunities for technology providers. 
In the coming months, participating contractors will be able to exchange experiences, allowing them to learn from each other as well. An evaluation will follow, with the aim of further accelerating the digital transformation of the Flemish construction sector. In September, a new group of construction companies will start working with the 360° Camera Toolkit.

This initiative is part of the ExperienceCenterBouw project. ExperienceCenterBouw is an important innovation project for the construction sector and, in addition to Buildwise’s own 
contribution, is financially supported by ERDF, the European Regional Development Fund (€838,829.70) and the Innovation and Enterprise Fund (€209,707.43). The total project cost is estimated at €2,097,074.26.