Text: Koen Lauwereyns

Published by: Bouwkroniek (Bouwkroniek)

‍

As digitalization brings a new breeze to the construction sector, Conneqtr has managed to create quite a few strong gusts in recent years. The tech scale-up, which focuses on digitizing administrative and logistical processes on construction sites, has followed a remarkable trajectory. It’s no wonder that CEO Steven Everaert was called to the stage at the Belgian Construction Awards to receive both the Smart Solution Award and the Audience Award.

‍

“We had already built a solid foundation, but in 2025 we managed to convince other major players of the value of our solutions: Jan De Nul, BESIX, Equans, Proximus… we are indeed very proud of that. It’s not easy for companies of that size to entrust their critical processes to a relative newcomer. This is reflected in a significantly larger team and a revenue growth of more than 60%. That’s only possible because we not only have a strong product, but we also bring it to market the right way, including full onboarding and customer support. This year, we also achieved our ISO 27001 certification. In our sector, that is the ultimate proof of reliability and quality. So yes, I think 2025 can definitely be called a stellar year.”

‍

Could you have imagined it happening this fast? The construction sector isn’t exactly famous for quickly embracing new technologies.

‍

“When we filed our business plan with the notary, of course we hoped for a scenario like this. But honestly? Reality has exceeded the plan. For example, we never expected our products to be so functionally strong as they are today. The integrations with access control systems, and with our French and Dutch partners… it’s almost become ‘plug and play,’ something we didn’t think possible in the beginning. The rapid expansion of our ecosystem has also surprised us. We now have around 6,500 subcontractors actively using our platform. What gives me the most satisfaction is that our dependence on the ‘founding fathers’—the large contractors who helped start the company — has drastically decreased. Where they may have accounted for 80% of our revenue in the early days, that figure is now below 20%. We have successfully grown beyond that initial group and captured the market more broadly.”

‍

Digital maturity

‍

Does this mean that the construction sector’s digital maturity has grown more broadly over the past five years?

‍

“Absolutely. I could easily point to AI as the reason, but I want to put that into perspective. AI requires data, and data requires software structures to generate it. Over the past five years, the construction sector has primarily focused on laying those foundations. Five years ago, many companies hadn’t really made decisions about their ERP systems—they were patching things together or dissatisfied. Today, platforms like KPD or Microsoft 365 Business Central have truly established a foothold. The same goes for BIM. For a long time it was just a buzzword, but now companies are genuinely investing in specific tools. The same applies to our area: digitalization on the construction site itself. Blocks of software are emerging that make it possible to generate structured data. After ERP and BIM, Conneqtr is often the third key application on the site."

‍

Was a critical mass necessary to kick-start the system?

‍

"Exactly. You can’t train AI models with a SharePoint drive and a paper binder—you need structured data. The sector has now become accustomed to purchasing software as a solution to operational problems. Five years ago, that wasn’t automatic. On top of that, teams have been strengthened. In the past, an IT budget in a construction company was limited to some laptops, licenses, and keeping the server running. Now, we see the rise of the ‘digital officer,’ digital project managers, and even site managers who actively request tools. Budgets are shifting from pure infrastructure to process-improving software.

Compared to other industries I’ve worked in, construction is a conservative sector. It takes time to earn trust. The strange thing, however, is that even though the sector was virtually nowhere in terms of digitalization a few years ago, expectations were immediately sky-high. That makes it very difficult for a startup. You need a product that’s ready from day one and solves an urgent problem. If you don’t meet those expectations immediately, you don’t stand a chance, no matter how good your idea is. For us, that urgency existed—partly because of regulations around chain liability and check-in-at-work. These are pain points every company in the sector feels. Still, without the support of the sector federation and the major contractors, who gave us the benefit of the doubt in the beginning, we wouldn’t have made it. Credibility is everything in this world."

‍

‍

Zen and Smooth

You have two flagship products, Zen and Smooth. What’s the core idea behind them?

‍

“The common thread is efficiency for site management and transparency for the back office. With Zen, we focus on social compliance, safety, and smooth management of subcontractors. Think of ‘Check-in-at-work,’ chain liability, Limosa declarations for foreign workers, and safety certificates. These are hot topics, as regulations in this area are becoming increasingly strict. In the past, the site manager had to check, amid the chaos of concrete and cranes, whether every worker had the correct paperwork. Today, that’s simply impossible—especially when dealing with complex chains of subcontractors and foreign labor. Zen automates this process, relieving the site manager of this burden. They no longer need to be an expert in social legislation or exceptions; the system handles it for them. On top of that, we link it to access control, so you’re not only administratively compliant but also physically keeping the gate closed to anyone who shouldn’t be on site."

‍

And Smooth?

‍

“With Smooth, we digitize the material flow. Everyone knows the problem: crumpled delivery notes that get lost in the van or fall into the mud. Smooth ensures that suppliers can deliver digitally, or that notes are scanned and processed via AI. Here too, we take work off the site manager’s plate—no more manual data entry, no more endless approval workflows. In the back office, the system matches the data with the purchase order and invoice in the ERP system, resulting in huge time savings and full traceability."

‍

Can you illustrate that with a concrete example?

‍

“We often estimate a time savings of about one hour per day per site manager. That may sound like a lot, but on large sites in Brussels, they sometimes spent up to two hours per day just checking incoming crews, so it’s a realistic estimate. But the benefits go beyond time. It’s also about avoiding fines and legal costs. If your paperwork isn’t in order during a social inspection, the amounts can be significant—not to mention the reputational damage. With Smooth, we see the same impact: in the past, a delivery note would pass through ten to fifteen hands before it was processed. Now it’s simply scan and done. Integrating this process delivers far more value than just that extra hour on site.”

‍

The Ecosystem and the Subcontractor

A common criticism of digitalization is that small contractors end up being the victims. The big players impose their systems, and the smaller independents are expected to simply follow.

‍

“That concern is valid, but outdated. In the early stages, you would sometimes hear: ‘Do we really need to use yet another system?’ It’s understandable that a main contractor wants to streamline their processes, but we quickly realized that the system would only work if subcontractors also benefited from it. We listened to their frustrations, and the biggest complaint was: for every main contractor, I have to upload the same documents into a different portal. That’s why we built Zen so that subcontractors have their own ‘vault.’ They upload their documents—ID cards, A1 certificates, safety certificates—once, in their own structure. When they work for main contractor A, B, or C, they can automatically share that data, with permission, of course.

The result is that subcontractors are now active participants. They see that their administration is completed faster and that their invoices are paid more quickly. Many main contractors withhold payments if the social documents aren’t in order. By handling this through Zen, that blockage disappears. Our business model is usage-based, so it works just as well for a company with €10 million in revenue as for a giant like Besix. Small companies that are main contractors today also adopt it because they see that it protects and relieves them."

‍

‍

The Construction Site of the Century

On the topic of major projects, the ‘Construction Site of the Century’ has also come on board.

‍

“That’s a great showcase. A year and a half ago, we never imagined we would play a role at Oosterweel. They were already using a system there, but it wasn’t meeting their needs. We stepped into the process, and today we serve all consortia and all sub-sites at Oosterweel: ROCO, Rinkoniën, Ocotech… It’s a project of unprecedented complexity. At peak times, more than 2,000 people register there each day. That places enormous demands on your software—speed, stability, and integration with complex access control systems. The fact that we can handle it gives both us and our clients tremendous confidence. When I drive along the Antwerp Ring and see all that activity, I feel proud that we are supporting it. It also proves that we are comfortable with complexity. Whether it’s a technical challenge or the sheer volume of data, we’ve shown that we can manage it.”

‍

Safety and Privacy

With so much data — from personal information to site details — security becomes crucial. How do you ensure that this data is kept safe?

‍

"f we dropped the ball in this area, it would be game over. That’s why, from day one, we placed a strong focus on security. We operate under strict data processing agreements, which means the client remains the owner of the data; we are merely the processor and never sell data. In addition, we conduct annual pen tests (penetration tests) through external parties to identify vulnerabilities. The crown jewel is our ISO 27001 certification, which we achieved in mid-2025. This goes beyond tools—it’s about processes and how incidents are handled. Major players like Equans or Jan De Nul will demand this from every software provider in the future, and Europe is supporting this trend with stricter regulations. Since human error is often the weak point, we use single sign-on, an authentication method that allows users to securely access multiple applications with a single set of credentials. On top of that, we enforce strict role-based access: for example, a site manager never sees the identity document itself, only a green check mark confirming it’s in order."

‍

Still, some people remain worried about ‘Big Brother’.

‍

“We don’t monitor productivity, nor do we track individual movements on site. What we do is implement a legal framework developed in consultation with employers and unions. The Check-in-at-work system exists to prevent social fraud and protect workers. It ensures fair competition and proper employment. When we verify whether someone has an A1 certificate or a work permit, it’s to prevent illegal employment or exploitation in sham arrangements. Soon, a check-out requirement may also be added—but even that is simply a way to verify compliance with working hours and safety regulations. It protects both Belgian and foreign workers. Take the Oosterweel site, for example, where subcontractors from 78 different nationalities are active. In such a complex, international environment, transparency and efficiency are indispensable—but even in less complex projects, they remain essential."

‍

Across Borders

‍

What does the future hold?

‍

“We want to further develop our ‘smart leadership’ in Belgium. There is still significant potential in the domestic market, both among large companies that are not yet fully digitalized and across the broader market. We remain committed to the construction sector, as that is where our strength lies. At the same time, we are cautiously looking beyond our borders. Internationalization is already a reality, as many of our users are foreign subcontractors. But we are now evaluating whether to actively expand into the Netherlands, Germany, or the UK. We’re not going to play the ‘cowboy’ and try to conquer 25 countries at once with millions in venture capital—that doesn’t suit the construction sector. Instead, we take it step by step, through partnerships and by following our clients."

‍

Are you also looking at other sectors?

‍

“We’re seeing interest from industry, particularly for large projects with significant temporary labor. Think of the construction of large factories, such as the two recent glass factories in Lommel. They face exactly the same challenges: many external contractors, complex access control, and the need for compliance. Our solution can be applied perfectly in these contexts without losing our focus. I also hope we can continue to innovate, for example with a third application focused on equipment management. But in a few years, what I really want to demonstrate is that we have delivered on our promise of efficiency and transparency across the entire sector—from the largest construction sites in Antwerp to small contractors in the provinces."