An independent knowledge collective for digital real estate

Our mission

Digital transformation affects all aspects of our lives and work. Yet the digital quality of buildings long remained a blind spot in the real estate market. Where the energy label has provided clarity on the energy performance of buildings for years, a comparable standard for digital infrastructure was lacking. The IT-label fills this gap.

Our mission is clear: we make the digital quality of real estate transparent, measurable and comparable. By providing an objective standard, we help property owners improve their buildings, tenants make informed choices and prepare the entire real estate market for the digital future.

Our vision

We strive for a world in which every building has quality digital infrastructure and in which digital quality is assessed as naturally as energy performance. In our vision, the IT-label will be a standard part of every real estate transaction within five years, from lease to purchase agreement. Companies choose their location partly on the basis of the IT-label, and owners invest proactively in digital infrastructure because they know it increases the value and attractiveness of their real estate.

Independence as foundation

The value of the IT-label stands or falls with our independence. The IT-label is not a commercial product from a supplier who then wants to sell the solution. We are an independent organization without interests in specific products, suppliers or solutions. Our assessment is based solely on the objective methodology that we have developed together with experts from the IT and real estate sectors.

This independence also applies to our certified partners. They are bound by a strict code of conduct that ensures the audit is carried out impartially. A partner may not have a commercial interest in the outcome of the assessment, and all audits are randomly checked.

Why we exist

The idea for the IT-label arose from an observation that many recognize: when renting or buying an office building, it was virtually impossible to objectively assess the digital quality. Tenants relied on the promises of landlords, who in turn did not always know exactly how their infrastructure was doing. The result: disappointments after signing the contract, unexpected costs for upgrades and discussions about responsibilities.

At the same time, property owners who are ahead of the curve invest large amounts in fiber optic, cybersecurity and smart building technology, but had no way to make this visible to the market. The IT-label gives them that tool: a recognized, verifiable proof of the digital quality of their real estate.

Our knowledge collective

The IT-Label is carried by a knowledge collective: professionals from IT infrastructure, real estate, letting and fit-out, each contributing to the standard from their own practice. That keeps the label rooted in how buildings are actually delivered and used.

Didier Paardekooper

Head of Sales – ScaleHub Offices

Didier is Head of Sales at ScaleHub Offices and sees daily how much weight digital provisions carry for organisations choosing a turn-key office. A modern working environment stopped being about stylish fit-out, good coffee or an inspiring community alone a long time ago: the digital infrastructure is every bit as decisive. For many organisations, IT has become a primary necessity. ScaleHub Offices has been investing deliberately in high-quality IT provisions for years, and informs tenants transparently about the digital capabilities of their working environment. That way of working aligns with what the IT-Label stands for. Drawing on his experience in the business centre market, Didier focuses within the knowledge collective on the practical question: what may a user actually expect from a turn-key office in 2026? Because when an office is offered as plug & play, an equally clear expectation about the digital infrastructure belongs with it.

Miquel van Dongen

CTO & Founder – RE-SEARCH

As Chief Technology Officer at RE-SEARCH, Miquel carries daily responsibility for the organisation's entire technological infrastructure. In that role he knows better than anyone how crucial a reliable digital working environment is: from stable internet connections and modern workplace provisions to robust cybersecurity. "Technology is no longer a side issue; it is the backbone of every modern organisation. As CTO I am not just responsible for technology, I depend on it completely. I know exactly what happens when your internet speed falls short, when your network is vulnerable, or when your workplace does not grow with your ambitions." From within the IT-Label knowledge collective, Miquel brings the perspective of the end user and tenant. He looks from the client side at what a building really needs to function optimally in digital terms. He translates that practical experience into clear standards for testing and certifying digital infrastructure in real estate. His conviction is clear: what you do not measure, you cannot improve. That is precisely why an independent knowledge collective like the IT-Label is indispensable: it makes digital quality visible, comparable and reliable.

Thijs Verdriet

CEO & Founder – Kato Projecten

Kato Projecten designs, builds and delivers working environments where organisations can get straight to work. It is precisely from that daily practice that Thijs sees a problem many organisations will recognise: a beautiful design is one thing, but what about the digital infrastructure underneath? Too often it only becomes clear during fit-out that a building's IT delivery level is unclear. What cabling is in place? Is there enough capacity? How is the internet connection arranged? And which provisions does the landlord actually deliver? The result is extra work, unexpected costs, delays, and above all, expectations that have to be adjusted after the fact. According to Thijs, a successful office fit-out therefore does not start with building, but with clear information up front. Not when the ceilings are already open, but during the search for an office and before the first construction drawing. That is exactly what the IT-Label exists for: tenant, agent, property owner and fit-out contractor should all know in advance which digital delivery level a building has. That prevents surprises and ensures everyone sits down at the table with the same expectations.

See the full knowledge collective →

Want to know more about how we carry out the assessment? View our methodology. Or contact us if you have questions or want to collaborate.