Over the years, document management has become a digital-first endeavor. Google Docs first normalized multiuser editing and version history within the browser around 2006, and the shift to “access anytime, anywhere” grew to what you see today.
Now, smart file libraries and workflow dashboards offer engineering organizations like yours a seamless and accessible way to manage files while maintaining security and compliance. This is why Accruent is committed to delivering a top-of-the-line cloud-based engineering document management system (EDMS) in the form of Accruent RedEye (RedEye).
RedEye can preserve your information through better file support while democratizing and extending that information through its unlimited user model and broad access options. In this article, we walk through three critical benefits RedEye brings to users as a cloud solution showcasing how it is a stronger option than on-premises solutions that have cloud capability built in after the fact.
Related Read: Best Document Management Systems in 2025: Full Comparison Guide
1. Better Support for Legacy Documents
If you want your engineering document management strategy to be future-ready, you need to account both for what teams create today and for the decades of material that came before.
RedEye is built to provide robust support for hybrid and obsolete file types that many systems struggle to manage. Think hybrid CAD and .CAL formats. With RedEye, these historic and non-standard documents won’t remain buried in archives. Instead, your teams can access, review and collaborate on older drawings just as easily as with current files so valuable institutional knowledge stays within reach.
The expanded accessibility you get with RedEye also doesn’t come at the expense of security. Granular controls let you manage how native files are shared, so you can define exactly who can view, download and edit sensitive files. These safeguards help to protect intellectual property while still enabling the transparency that partners, contractors and internal teams need to work effectively and on schedule. RedEye maintains strict data integrity along with flexible visibility to create a trusted environment where you can manage modern and legacy engineering documents that will continue to inform maintenance, safety and operational decisions.
File Types Supported by Accruent RedEye
- 2D CAD
- 3D CAD / BIM
- Office Documents
- Visio Drawings
- Images
- Legacy / Hybrid Drawings
- Multimedia and Media Assets
- Project and Schedule Files
- Archives and ZIP Files
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2. Enhanced Collaboration Across the Document Lifecycle
To truly futureproof your engineering documentation, start by creating an ecosystem where every stakeholder can work seamlessly from a single, reliable source of truth. RedEye eliminates traditional seat-based limitations, allowing unlimited users to manage permission controls. What does that mean? Contractors, consultants and field crews can all access the same information in a secure environment free of bottlenecks, driving alignment from design through operations.
RedEye is built for the realities of the engineering industry and work in the field. Its mobile-first interface lets your teams view and interact with documents and drawings from any location, whether online or offline. Personnel in a plant, along a pipeline or at a remote facility can quickly access the latest documents without having to wait for connectivity or returning to an office or workstation. RedEye acts as a dynamic, day-to-day collaborative workspace.
The platform also simplifies coordination across linear and mutual assets such as pipelines, utilities and large-scale infrastructure. This is especially important as multiple groups often rely on overlapping documentation in these cases. By centralizing access, RedEye can reduce any duplications of effort and strengthen communication throughout a project lifecycle.
RedEye closes one of the most persistent gaps in asset management: the handover from engineering to operations. Approved documents flow seamlessly from Accruent’s on-premises EDMS, Meridian, into RedEye so your operations teams can always reference current and valid information. Field teams can annotate, redline and update documentation in real time, allowing for a continuous feedback loop between design, maintenance and compliance. As a result, you get a streamlined and future-ready strategy and approach for managing your engineering documents; one that scales with operational complexity.
3. More Informed and Efficient Decision Making
When every stakeholder can access accurate, up-to-date engineering information, you unlock smoother operations and stronger outcomes. RedEye equips your teams with controlled and reliable access to the files they need, so decisions can be based on the latest data.
Contributor alignment around the same information significantly reduces the risk of rework and costly delays. Filed Teams, contractors and engineers can capture feedback and incorporate updates faster, keeping your projects moving and reducing the chance that errors will compound. This real-time flow of data and information enhances safety and compliance, giving your teams the confidence to move work forward, helping to prevent safety risks and ensuring regulatory standards are consistently met.
Related Read: Assessing Your Document Management Needs and Building a Holistic EDMS Approach
Take the Next Step in Realizing Greater Value from Your Engineering Data
Engineering information stretches across so many teams and lifecycle phases, which is often what leads to outdated data. An integrated EDMS environment helps balance control with agility and flexibility.
Accruent’s integration between RedEye and Meridian modernizes your document management experience to streamline access and enhance collaboration. Meridian maintains control while RedEye delivers connections. Together, they create a complete, modern EDMS that is secure, scalable and built for collaboration across the full asset lifecycle.
Ready to learn more about what RedEye can do for your engineering document management approach? Book a demo with us today.
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