Custom Metacom integration development
Appfront develops custom Metacom integrations that seamlessly connect your project administration to planning tools, field service apps, financial software and in-house applications. Using the web services and REST API of the Metacom platform, we build stable integrations that eliminate manual re-keying and keep your project data consistent from the office to the job site.
What is a Metacom integration?
Metacom is the ERP platform from VanMeijel (Van Meijel Automatisering), built specifically for construction, civil engineering and infrastructure. It supports processes such as project administration, costing, planning, time registration, digital work orders, procurement, plant and equipment management and invoicing, with the project as the starting point and financial administration following from it.
A Metacom integration automatically connects that ERP platform to your planning tool, field service app, financial package or in-house application. Data flows from one system to the other without re-keying: hours and work orders from the field land in project administration, calculations become orders, and project progress stays up to date in both directions, both in the office and on site.
Appfront builds these integrations to measure via the Metacom web services from VanMeijel. We tailor the scope, synchronisation frequency and error handling to your actual project and field processes, rather than a standard connector that solves only part of the problem.
Office and field in sync
Changes in Metacom or in the connected system are passed on immediately or at an agreed frequency. What happens on site appears in project administration without delay.
Project administration without retyping
Hours, work orders, materials and invoices are processed automatically against the correct project. Less error-prone manual work and greater control over your project results.
Via the Metacom web services
Implementation in line with the web services and REST API of the Metacom platform, with clear error handling and extensive logging. No reverse engineering or scraping.
Our development process for Metacom integrations
We work to a proven methodology that removes uncertainty early and delivers a stable integration. From an initial analysis of your project and data entities through to go-live and ongoing management, every step is aimed at an integration your team can understand and trust.
We map out which Metacom entities are relevant, such as projects, hours, work orders or invoices, which direction the data needs to flow, and which business rules apply.
We design the integration architecture, choose the right authentication and draw up an error-handling strategy.
Implementation with automated tests, structured logging and monitoring. You see working builds along the way.
Controlled go-live with data validation and a safety net, followed by ongoing management and further development.
What a Metacom integration delivers in practice
Every integration is developed specifically for your business processes. Below are the features we most often build for organisations that want to connect Metacom to the rest of their software landscape.
Web services and REST API integration
We integrate with the Metacom web services and REST API (via Metalogic and the Enterprise Service Bus). Data is retrieved and written back in a structured way in JSON or XML, so your applications communicate reliably with project administration.
Project and order synchronisation
Projects, estimates and orders stay in sync between Metacom and your planning, quoting or CRM tool. Changes to the project structure or status are passed on, so the office and the field work from the same view of the project.
Hours and work order registration
Hours, material usage and digital work orders recorded in the field, via a field service app or your own tool, arrive automatically on the right project in Metacom. No more retyping slips of paper at the office.
Stock, procurement and plant
Items, stock levels, purchase orders and plant data are synchronised between Metacom and your warehouse, plant or procurement system. Workshop, purchasing and projects all work from the same picture of reality.
Invoicing & finance
Based on project progress, milestones or registered hours, invoices are prepared and financial transactions exchanged. Ideal for construction and installation companies that invoice by instalment or on final costing.
Material data and 2BA / reporting
Item and material data from industry standards such as 2BA is enriched and sent to Metacom, and project data is combined in custom dashboards or tools such as Power BI for management and project reporting.
Typical use cases in practice
Depending on your type of organisation, a Metacom integration can look very different. We see a number of recurring patterns, and for each we have developed a working model.
Installation companies (M&E)
Mechanical and electrical installation companies work on many small and large projects at the same time. We integrate Metacom with field service apps and planning tools so that hours, work orders and material usage land on the right projects. If you work with your own solution, also take a look at our web app development.
Construction companies and contractors
Contractors in construction, civil engineering and commercial building invoice in instalments and on actual costs. An integration automatically pulls project progress, hours and costs from the field and makes them available in Metacom, so instalment invoicing and project monitoring run smoothly.
Technical wholesale
Technical wholesalers that supply installers and contractors benefit from bidirectional synchronisation of items, prices, stock movements and purchase and sales data. Using supply-chain standards such as 2BA keeps item data consistent between supplier, wholesaler and Metacom.
Maintenance and service
Organisations with service and maintenance contracts connect Metacom to their planning and call-logging system. Fault reports become service orders, engineers record hours and materials in the field, and the outcome flows back into project administration, while you keep control over who can see which data.
Technology we use
We build Metacom integrations with modern, well-maintained technology stacks. The precise choice depends on your situation and preferences, so that your own team can manage or further develop the integration. We are happy to work alongside VanMeijel and other suppliers, and we deliver clear documentation.
Why choose Appfront for your Metacom integration?
Appfront has extensive experience building API integrations for a wide range of organisations in the Netherlands. We always start with a thorough analysis of your existing systems and processes. An integration should not only work technically, but also add practical value to the way you work.
For every integration, we write clear documentation and make sure your own team, or any future supplier, can understand and manage it. No black box, just transparent code and clear agreements on monitoring, alerting and maintenance.
You work with a dedicated point of contact who understands both the technical and the functional side. This keeps communication short, prevents misunderstandings and speeds up decisions when choices need to be made during development.
See also our wider services around API integrations, middleware, custom software and web app development, or browse all of our integrations.
- Specialists in Dutch ERP and construction software integrations
- Experience with web services and REST APIs such as those offered by Metacom
- Structured error handling and retry mechanisms
- Comprehensive logging and monitoring from day one
- Clear documentation your team can read and manage
- A fixed point of contact, no account managers passed around
- Ongoing maintenance and proactive further development
- A way of working aligned with your existing IT landscape
Security and privacy in Metacom integrations
Project, hours and financial data fall largely under the GDPR and contain business-sensitive information about your projects and employees. Appfront treats every integration with that in mind: we do not store unnecessary data, we encrypt sensitive information both in transit and at rest, and we document the data flows so that your record of processing activities stays up to date.
Authentication runs through secure methods such as API keys with restricted permissions, tokens or IP whitelisting, with role-based authorisation so that only the right people can access project data. We agree up front which data actually needs to be exchanged and minimise the scope of the integration in line with the data minimisation principle.
More on our security approach: information security policy and CVD policy.
- GDPR-compliant data processing and data minimisation
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest
- Role-based access and least-privilege principles
- Audit logs with traceable data flows
- Automatic retries and dead-letter queues
- Monitoring and alerting for anomalies
- Secrets management in line with best practice
- Documentation for your record of processing activities
Frequently asked questions about Metacom integrations
Answers to the questions we are asked most often about custom Metacom integrations.
A Metacom integration is a technical link that allows Metacom, the ERP platform from VanMeijel for construction and infrastructure, to exchange data with another software system. Metacom offers web services and a REST API that enable external applications to read and write projects, cost calculations, hours, work orders, purchasing data and invoices. This keeps your project administration and your other systems automatically in sync.
A custom integration makes sense when there is no ready-made connector for your combination of systems, or when a standard integration doesn't fit your working processes in construction or installation technology. Organisations with specific project structures, non-standard work order registration or complex synchronisation logic between office and field staff also often opt for a purpose-built solution.
Metacom provides web services and an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) that exchange data in a structured format, usually JSON or XML. On top of this, Appfront builds an integration layer that retrieves, validates and writes data, with clear error handling and logging. We work within VanMeijel's officially supported interfaces, without reverse engineering or scraping the Metacom environment.
Depending on your situation, we can synchronise projects, cost calculations, time registration, digital work orders, equipment and stock data, purchase and sales invoices, and financial transactions. Together we determine which entities are relevant and in which direction data should flow, so the integration fits your project administration and field processes precisely.
The lead time depends on the complexity of the required integration and the availability of the systems on both sides. A simple one-way integration, for example exporting work orders or invoices, can be operational within a manageable timeframe. Two-way synchronisation of projects, hours and financial data usually takes longer. After an intake meeting, we will give you a realistic estimate.
Yes. All integrations are developed in line with Dutch privacy legislation and security best practices. We encrypt data in transit and at rest, use authentication with restricted permissions and role-based authorisation, and minimise the scope of the exchanged data in line with the data minimisation principle. Data flows are documented so that your record of processing activities remains complete and confidential project data is protected.
Yes. Appfront regularly takes over existing integrations, even if they were originally built by another party. We first carry out a code and architecture review, document the integration and draw up a maintenance plan. From that point on, we can handle adjustments, extensions and monitoring, so your Metacom integration grows along with your organisation.
Metacom is widely used by companies in construction, civil engineering and groundworks, roads and waterworks (GWW), civil and non-residential building, building services engineering, demolition, waste and recycling, and technical wholesale. Any organisation that uses Metacom as its ERP and also works with supporting software, for planning, plant management, field service apps or financial tools, could benefit from an automated integration.
Ready to build your Metacom integration?
Tell us which systems you want to connect with Metacom and what you want to automate. We are happy to think along about the architecture and deliver a working integration that suits your construction or building services processes. A no-obligation first conversation will quickly give you a clear picture of the possibilities.