GrafDok Introduces a Universal Engineering Document Management System
Chaos in CAD documentation may be coming to an end. The launch of GrafDok responds to growing demand from Russian businesses for domestically developed document management solutions that reduce dependence on foreign software.
Russian software developer Graphic Technologies (GrafTech) has introduced GrafDok (GraphDoc), a new module within its Avtograf (Autograph) editor for engineering diagrams and business graphics. The new tool supports the entire lifecycle of technical documentation, from creating diagrams and documents to review, editing, storage, and archiving within a single digital environment.
A Unified Workspace for Engineers
An estimated 65% of errors in engineering documentation occur not during the design stage but during the review and approval process. Parallel edits, fragmented communication channels, outdated file versions, and the absence of a single source of truth are the main causes. GrafDok addresses those issues by bringing document workflows into one workspace, eliminating the need to switch between multiple applications. Documents, engineering diagrams, and related materials are stored centrally with hierarchical organization, intelligent search, and version control. Files no longer disappear across individual desktops. Instead, they remain within a managed system where engineers can track revision history, approval status, and the reasons why specific versions were rejected.
The platform supports a broad range of file formats, from text documents (DOC, DOCX, RTF, ODT) to graphics, engineering diagrams, and CAD drawings (PNG, JPG, TIFF, SVG, VSD, VSDX, DWG, DXF, UDX). GrafDok can import data from existing electronic document management (EDM) and ERP systems while allowing organizations to configure flexible approval workflows, including collaboration with external contractors and third-party services.
This approach lowers the barrier to deployment because employees can continue using familiar workflows while gaining transparent approval tracking and a centralized repository for engineering documentation. Pilot deployments demonstrated substantial gains: documentation errors fell by 65%, while approval times dropped by 40%. For businesses, that translates into faster project execution and lower operating costs.
The End of Microsoft Visio's Era in Russia
Graphic Technologies has spent more than 30 years developing engineering graphics software in Russia. Every product is built domestically on the company's own graphics engine. Six of its products are listed in Russia's Ministry of Digital Development software registry, including its flagship application, Avtograf (Autograph), a business and engineering graphics editor positioned as a domestic alternative to Microsoft Visio.
Avtograf is a cross-platform solution supporting Windows, macOS, and Russian operating systems including Astra Linux, Alt Linux, ROSA, and RED OS. The addition of the new GrafDok (GraphDoc) module, which is also included in the ministry's software registry, makes GrafTech's software ecosystem particularly attractive for government organizations and operators of critical information infrastructure.
For several years, the company provided software support for the St. Petersburg Metro. It also secured a major contract with JSC NIIAS, Russian Railways' principal digitalization center. In 2024, GrafTech expanded its partner network to promote Avtograf as a Russian replacement for Microsoft Visio, signing agreements with leading IT companies including Krayon, ICL Services, Marvel Distribution, X-Com, and T1 Integration. Its success in strategically important sectors reflects strong demand for domestically developed engineering software.
Russian CAD Platforms Expand Across Strategic Industries
The migration toward Russian CAD platforms has become one of the industry's defining trends. In 2022, engineering company Nizhegorodneftegazproekt selected NanoCAD from Nanosoft, Russia's leading developer of CAD and engineering software, for its design operations. NanoCAD was also deployed at Power Machines after AutoCAD support ended, helping eliminate information security risks. One of the project's primary objectives - maintaining reliable exchange of 2D engineering documentation with contractors - was successfully achieved.
That trend carried into 2023, when Atomenergoproekt, Rosatom's lead nuclear engineering institute, continued its large-scale transition to domestic CAD and engineering data management systems - tools that are critical for designing high-capacity nuclear power plants. In 2025, infrastructure software developer Astra Group and engineering software company ASCON completed full compatibility between the Pilot family of products and Astra Linux. Certification under the Ready for Astra program covered Pilot-BIM, Pilot-ICE Enterprise, and Pilot-ECM.
From EDM Systems to CSP Platforms
According to industry experts, the most intensive phase of software import substitution has largely been completed. Migration across the public sector has reached approximately 75%, and the industry's basic dependence on foreign technologies has been eliminated. Companies are now shifting toward systematic modernization of business processes and more deliberate investment in flexible software platforms.
Russia's market for EDM, ECM, and CSP platforms was valued at approximately 95-110 billion rubles ($1.2-1.4 billion) in 2025. The market is evolving from simple "electronic filing cabinets" into specialized enterprise platforms. Demand continues to grow for CSP solutions offering modular architectures, low-code customization, and deep ERP integration. Modern systems increasingly incorporate BPM capabilities, while AI is becoming a standard tool for engineering compliance checks and analytics. Until recently, however, engineering diagrams, technical drawings, and complex approval workflows remained comparatively underserved. GrafDok addresses that gap by providing centralized version management and transparent engineering document workflows - capabilities increasingly expected by today's enterprise customers.
