A Comparative Analysis of Accuris and Nimonik as Alternative Compliance Solutions

In the rapidly changing and dynamic world, keeping abreast of current standards and regulations is paramount to success. Accuris and Nimonik are two companies that specialize in providing businesses with the resources and tools needed to stay compliant and innovative.

Accuris (formerly IHS), offers access to Industry Standards in print, pdf and subscription formats. Their tool, Workbench allows engineering teams to collaborate on standards, share information and access important information. In 2023, Accuris (formerly IHS) purchased Techstreet and is presently migrating Techstreet customers to the Accuris Workbench solution.

On the other hand, Nimonik offers industry standards and advanced software to manage compliance to standards and collaborate across your engineering and operations teams. They also provide individual document sales in print, pdf and subscription format for businesses looking to stay informed about the latest standards and regulations.

In this article, we’ll delve deeper into the services and products offered by Accuris and Nimonik, highlighting their key differences and which can best benefit your business to adapt to this fast-paced and ever-changing industry regulations.

Accuris: Essential Solutions for a Variety of Industries

After S&P Global Engineering Solutions purchased IHS Markit in 2022, they sold the engineering division, which was renamed Accuris, to investment funds managed by KKR & Co. in 2023. With a rich history in information and analytics, Accuris provides innovative technology solutions across various industries.

The company offers a range of cutting edge products and services to meet the evolving needs of its clients. Building on the foundation of IHS’s transformation from microfilm to digital formats, Accuris leverages advanced technologies to provide efficient and accessible solutions.

Their portfolio includes different workbench and data and analytics solutions enabling organizations to streamline operations, make data-driven decisions, and solve complex engineering problems. Accuris’ workflow tools support a range of industries, such as the following:

• Aerospace & defense
• Automotive & transportation
• Building design & construction
• Electronics
• Energy
• Government
• Manufacturing
• Medical devices

Exploring Accuris Key Features

Accuris empowers professionals across different industries with enhanced decision-making capabilities. Their platform Workbench caters to engineers, architects, builders, operations, and logistics professionals, providing unparalleled control over mission-critical technical knowledge and data. Here are some of the services and solutions they provide:

Workflow Solutions

Accuris’ workflow solutions connect fragmented information from multiple sources, allowing for better informed decisions. By combining access to technical content with proprietary AI technologies, their Engineering Workbench streamlines standards management. Some of the features of their workflow solutions include:

• Engineering Workbench — This platform provides single-source access to engineering resources, industry standards, and regulations. It enables clients to stay compliant with standards while reducing costs and risks.
• Goldfire Cognitive Search — This AI-powered search engine simplifies technical searches, delivering accurate results in seconds. It accesses external and organizational knowledge to help businesses find answers instead of just data.
• Parts Content Services — Organizations can use this service to manage their supply chain better and stay compliant by consulting with experts.
• Parts API Integrations — This feature allows businesses to integrate parts information with their internal and external data, systems, and workflows.

Digital Libraries

Accuris’ digital libraries are a repository of engineering and standards content. Their library allows quick access to reliable data and is an excellent solution for organizations looking to stay compliant. Some of the content available in their digital library includes:

• Engineering guides — Explore over 1,800 designs approved by engineering professionals worldwide.
• Journals, reports, and eBooks — Utilize machine learning to discover information quickly and effortlessly.
• Knowledge Collections — Enhance workflows by incorporating searchable and shareable knowledge.
• Patents — Easily discover and compare over 107 million patents, patent applications, utility models, and abstracts.
• Standards subscriptions — Gain access to over 2.3 million industry standards from 170 reputable global organizations.

Nimonik: Unbeatable Standards Management Services

Founded by an engineer and backed by key members of former resellers (including Techstreet and Document Center), Nimonik is a growing compliance management alternative with deep roots in the industry. Nimonik specializes in assisting organizations in meeting requirements in standards and regulations — offering various services, including outsourced management services, individual document sales, and monitoring over 500,000 standards and 500,000 regulations from multiple disciplines and jurisdictions.

Nimonik maintains reseller agreements with numerous industry organizations to distribute standards, specifications, and technical publications. Some of them include.

• Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
• ASTM International (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials)
• British Standards Institute (BSI)
• Deutsches Institut Fur Normung (DIN)
• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• JEDEC Solid State Technology Association
• SAE International (formerly Society of Automotive Engineers)
• Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI)
• TechAmerica
• Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL)

Nimonik specializes in military specifications, international regulations, non-U.S. standards and regulations, and government publications. They have access to the following standards:

Military

• DOD Index of Specifications and Standards
• GSA Federal Specifications and Standards

International and Non-US Standards and Regulations

• Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS)
• European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA)
• European Standards (EN)
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• Australian Standards Association
• Pharmeuropa
• Canadian Medical Device Regulation

US Government Publications

• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
• Code of Federal Regulations
• Federal and State level jurisdictions

Exploring Nimonik Key Features

Auditing Services

This service assists organizations in ensuring the integrity and accuracy of their documents. Companies can specify the standards they use, such as document number, revision level, date, and title, and experts will review them for completeness and correctness. If any discrepancies are found, Nimonik will provide a quote and offer solutions to rectify the issues.

Monitoring Services

Nimonik’s monitoring services allow organizations to stay up to date on any changes or updates to their standards. They can specify which documents they want to monitor, and Nimonik will send notifications for revisions or new versions. They have several options for monitoring, such as the following.

• Regular Notification Service — Companies can opt to receive email change notices for their documents. Updates are sent as soon as they are available.
• Standards Alert — This premium service audits a company’s collection and sends an email within 24 hours if any standards have changed.
• Standards Express — This option is for those who want to be notified of changes but don’t need an audit. Nimonik will send an email with the new version of the document and its price.
• Standards Informer — This service allows clients to track standards not in their collection. It provides quarterly reports on new standards in their areas of interest, generated four times yearly.
• Quarterly Standards Report — Nimonik’s quarterly report lists all the standards, titles, current revision levels, and release dates for a company’s collection. It also includes any amendments or correction sheets.

ASTM Standards

ASTM standards availability represents an important future difference between Nimonik and Accuris. Accuris has announced that it will no longer carry ASTM content after 2026. However, Nimonik maintains close ties with ASTM and will continue to sell ASTM documents within the NimonikApp platform. While other resellers are required to sell ASTM Compass (ASTM’s proprietary software) to access these key standards, Nimonik is one of the only resellers offering organizations the opportunity to access all of their ASTM documents in the same location as other key standards. 

Accuris and Nimonik: How Do They Compare?

Accuris and Nimonik are two trusted industry standards management companies with a lot to offer in terms of helping businesses keep their documents organized, accessible, and compliant. Each company offers something unique for organizations depending on their needs.

Accuris specializes in providing digital libraries with engineering and standards content, making it easier for businesses to access essential information quickly. Nimonik offers a broad range of services, including auditing and monitoring services, making it a one-stop shop for compliance management solutions for standards and regulations.

Accuris focuses on engineering and technical content. Nimonik offers a robust database of regulatory information that is interconnected with standards. Both companies offer valuable services to help organizations manage their documents efficiently. It ultimately depends on the specific needs and requirements of the organization to determine which company is a better fit. So, businesses should carefully consider their options and make an informed decision based on their unique needs.

FAQs About Accuris Alternatives

Why Consider Alternatives to Accuris?

Accuris is a reliable and reputable company with a longstanding reputation. Nimonik offers a competitive product with certain unique features and a team of engineers and professionals to serve organizations. Each organization should review its options in the marketplace and select the appropriate service provider based on its needs and preferences.

Are These Alternatives Cost-Effective?

The cost of document management services varies depending on each organization’s specific needs and requirements. It’s best to request quotes from Accuris and Nimonik to compare costs and determine which offers the best value for your organization’s budget.

Why Choose Nimonik?

Nimonik offers standards auditing and monitoring services and access to various documents, including international standards and military specifications. These services include compliance management software with the ability to build lists of documents, add your own documents, leave notes and comments, and conduct audits on iPad and Android devices. Organizations can also obtain multilingual access to laws and regulations in over 600 jurisdictions, along with standards from over 60 publishers such as ASTM, API, SAE, IEEE and many others. As a result, Nimonik is an excellent option for organizations that require these services to close knowledge gaps in their operations.