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VKS alternative: digital work instructions on a TNO foundation.

Looking for a VKS alternative in the Netherlands? Instant Instructions is a TNO-grounded platform for digital work instructions, locally supported, GDPR-compliant.

TL;DR

  • VKS (Visual Knowledge Share) is a Canadian platform that has been operating since 2012 in 30+ countries, with tiered licensing (Lite/Pro/Enterprise) and a strong IoT focus.
  • Instant Instructions is a Dutch JV with TNO, focused on one thing: getting work instructions live on the shop floor within an hour.
  • For Dutch manufacturers, local support, NL-hosted data, and the Brainport ecosystem are weighty factors.

VKS vs Instant Instructions — facts side-by-side

Instant InstructionsVKS
HeadquartersNetherlands (Brainport Eindhoven)Canada (Châteauguay, Quebec)
Scientific basisJoint venture with TNOIn-house development since 2012
AI modalitiesVideo + speech → instructionVisual drag-and-drop, smart forms
IoT/PLC integrationVia ERP/MES integrationNative via VKS Connect
Self-hosted optionCloud (NL)Cloud + Virtual Machine appliance
Languages25+27+
Local NL supportYes, in-house teamFrom North America

Where Instant Instructions is stronger

  • Dutch presence. Sales, support, and development in the same time zone, in the same language, on the same shop floors as the customer.
  • TNO validation. The methodology was not invented in product development — it was built and tested with TNO, the Netherlands' largest independent research institute.
  • Time to first instruction. Video → AI → live within an hour. With VKS, the authoring process is visual and flexible, but requires active assembly.

Where VKS is stronger

  • IoT and PLC integration. VKS Connect provides native integration with machines, scanners, and vision systems — relevant for heavily automated lines.
  • International scale. Present in 30+ countries with a longer market history.

Frequently asked questions

Can I migrate my VKS content?
The AI of Instant Instructions processes existing visual instructions and videos as input.
What about machine integration?
Instant Instructions integrates via ERP/MES/PLM systems. For direct machine integration we work via that layer, not directly at PLC level.
Where is support based?
Netherlands — Brainport Eindhoven. In-house support and consultancy team.
Is a proof of concept possible?
Yes — first instruction live within one hour on your own process.

Three ways to start

Pick the entry point that matches your stage. No sales pitch — just practical information at the depth that fits where you are.

First read

TNO whitepaper

8 pages, co-published with TNO. A practical roadmap without sales rhetoric.

Download whitepaper →
First see

Live demo

30 minutes on your own process. We show how your first instruction looks live.

Schedule a demo →
Experience now

Pilot programme

Structured 4-week pilot on your own production line. First instruction live within the hour.

Schedule a pilot →