Yes, there must be a minister of digitization, argues Pim van Meer. But that must be a minister for the rules of the game and the urgency, not for the gadgets and nice stories.
There is now a question floating around whether the appointment of a minister of digitization would help. My opinion relates to more than the construction column and is simple: Yes! Not to cuddle new toys, but to the rules of the game monitoring. Digitalization is not an end goal; it is a condition to refloat tough dossiers: housing shortage, nitrogen, sustainability, stacking ambitions, labor market tightness.
The answer is simple: how do you make people in the primary real estate development and construction process better at their jobs with proven digital techniques? People call that innovation. I call it ATTENTION and RITME.
Why right now?
Engineers and software builders had been quietly hammering on for years. Many colleagues barely noticed-until the pressure mounted. Then parametric design, 3D information modeling and language modeling suddenly felt like magic. It's not magic; it's visible become because the urgency there is. And if it is visible, you have to make it boards!
What should such a minister do?
Don't shine at demos, but boards on evidence. First explain, then impose. One common language put down: small, open and verifiable datasets per space, with thresholds that everyone understands (daylight, sound, accessibility, energy). Transparency obligations where it counts: fixed rhythm in decision-making, ownership per field, transfer without translation circus. Open standards nurture rather than reward supplier formats. Testable goals and planning concerns for quality and speed.
Above all: governance. Who gets to train, publish, modify-and with what track of responsibility. We are Europe, we are not allowed to cut corners and we don't have to.
Where the edges are (governance and governance)
I encourage steering with images. Have a generator sketch what you mean, enter into a conversation with the stakeholders in the chain in this way, let the HUMANITY of design speak. But with agreements. A render by an architect without permission improve is not creativity, it is a copyright-issue. Freedom through open data and clear definitions-protection where craftsmanship is concerned. The specialists remain responsible for the end result but now with more and better resources. Always traceable and honest.
Democratizing through digitization
Digitization does not take the pen away from anyone; digitization puts there light op. Everyone reads the same model and the same data passport. Everyone sees the same threshold colors: green, orange, red. Why can this plan go through the gate-or not? That conversation becomes more honest. Less hierarchy, more BETWEEN. Two scenes with a smile
The all-rounder
People say: Pim, you are all over the stage. The reason is unglamorous: I keep repeating the same working trick. One small data set per theme. Fixed review moments. Record decisions briefly. Through the data gates and not around them. It fits in and with area development, social impact, project development, affordability, sustainability, construction preparation, execution, management, asset management and portfolio management. I only change the words, not the governance. Success recipe? Logic! Even my mother gets it now-and she still believes that ChatGPT has an opinion.
The button course
I teach executives about buttons. Not to make them modelers, but so that they know what they are selling. Otherwise digitization will remain a nice story with no hands. If the 3D model will soon be the contract piece, everyone should be able to read it. Best moment in every session: someone hesitantly presses pre-programmed themes and then says, half surprised, half proud: 'Oh, so it's that simple if you set it up properly'. Exactly!
Digitalization is not a mail factory
No one is waiting for generic letters or columns from the machine. We have efficiency with insight necessary: summarize long e-mails, highlight questions, and check at the end if everything has been answered. That's not laziness; that's HELDERHEID. The responsibility remains with us.
Why I turn down the invitation for the position of minister anyway
When I get a call to fill the vacancy, I feel honored ... and for this cabinet I kindly say no. My heart is on projects: intervene before it escalates. I do take Rob Jetten digital with the world: Along what wél can and what you better not does, IJstad?-with practical examples, not with talking points.
A little (loving) joke
If I may make one wish: ban "PDF," Bluebeam and AutoCAD. You shouldn't drive a nail into the wall with a screwdriver!
Just kidding, of course. Prohibition is counterproductive. I don't believe in imposing, I believe in explain and in frameworks in which better habits prove themselves.
And what if there is no minister?
Then I still have confidence. I see at the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning, at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Association of Dutch Municipalities capable, enthusiastic people who are using digitization to address exactly these issues. The movement is already underway-with or without a sign minister on the doorstep.
The filleting moment
A minister of digitization is about gadgets and wild visions of the future.
No. A minister of digitization is about rules, language and trust. About open standards, objective quality and fair transfer. About protecting what needs to be protected, and speeding up where it can: decisions, lead times, variants.
If there is a minister, great. If it does not, then we will on to the next challenge we can solve with digital gates. And yes-if I really have to, I'm willing to give the Lower House a crash course. First explain, then vote.
About Pim's digital maze
In this column, Pim takes you through the sometimes wondrous, tangled but rapidly changing world of digitization. He draws on his experiences as director of digitalization at VORM. Pim is outspoken, critical, but above all wants to help you. Are you stuck in the digital maze? Pim helps you find the way out.... Do you have a question for Pim or are you looking to get in touch with him? Follow Pim on LinkedIN.
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