Houweling Architects is an architectural firm based in Bleiswijk, specializing in the design of sustainable buildings. Their approach is unique: they design from the inside out, putting the user's needs and quality of life at the heart of each design. The firm is known for its innovative solutions and has a broad clientele, including private clients, developers, entrepreneurs, government and healthcare institutions.

Houweling Architecten faced the challenge of overhauling their operations in a shrinking market impacted by high interest rates, rising construction costs, and stricter environmental performance standards. As Jan Houweling, director and owner, explains: ‘We need to abandon the traditional way of building and focus on circular construction, bio-based materials, fewer installations, and the reuse of materials. This requires a new way of thinking.’
To tackle these challenges, Houweling Architecten decided to implement Simplicate – a solution within Blinqx Architecten. Their goal was to optimize internal processes and gain better insights into productivity and budgets, enabling them to work more efficiently and prepare for future market conditions.

The implementation of Simplicate was structured and methodical. The firm began by mapping out their existing processes and identifying bottlenecks. Simplicate was then integrated into their daily workflow to address these issues. Jan Houweling explains that the decision to invest in knowledge—by allocating time and budget for studies, knowledge sharing, lectures, and courses—was made possible thanks to the efficiency gains delivered by Simplicate: ‘We consciously sacrifice billability to further develop our team. It’s an investment in the future.’
Simplicate significantly reduced the time spent on administrative tasks, such as time tracking and budget monitoring. This allowed team members to take on more responsibility for their projects and gave the firm the flexibility to allocate time for knowledge development without disrupting operations. The result was a 20% increase in revenue and a more flexible, future-proof organization. ‘This change has also created more opportunities for growth, whether that’s moving into another role or taking on more responsibility,’ says Jan.