The increasing complexity of avionics development requires new approaches to manage workload and improve efficiency. Early and continuous validation has emerged as a solution to reduce unnecessary iterations by using limited system information for simulations from the earliest stages. However, simultaneous hardware and software development means validation must occur without the final hardware or software. While additional validation steps initially increase workload, they enhance system confidence earlier in the process. A streamlined workflow is essential to minimize this burden. The Universal Configuration Format (UCoF) addresses these challenges by providing a single-source-of-truth database for all development stages. Instead of merging common data (i.e., targetindependent data like signal data types) and target-specific data (e.g., hardware pins), UCoF separates them, linking specific information through extensions. This enables efficient configuration of various test environments - virtual, hybrid, and hardware without being restricted by proprietary tools. UCoF supports varying levels of information granularity, accommodating different software and hardware maturity levels with minimal additional workload. It facilitates functional integration (basic simulations), hybrid integration (hardware-in-the-loop testing), and emulation integration (full platform partitioning). By ensuring traceability, UCoF streamlines change management and revision control, crucial during for the development process. Additionally, UCoF's open format allows seamless automation and integration into existing toolchains. Bidirectional data transformation ensures platform updates are reflected across environments, enhancing transparency. This paper demonstrates the advantages of UCoF over proprietary formats in a virtual environment, showcasing how it reduces configuration workload and improves avionics development efficiency.