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Comparison · VKS

VKS alternative: digital work instructions on a TNO foundation.

Looking for a VKS alternative in the Netherlands? Instant Instructions is a co-developed TNO 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: a first working instruction live on the shop floor in a single working session.
  • 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 and 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 may be a good fit

  • 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 → a first working instruction live in a single working session. With VKS, the authoring process is visual and flexible, but requires active assembly.

Where VKS may be a good fit

  • 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 and 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 →