How Eliot Sinclair future-proofed project information and created a single source of truth
Managing correspondence, CAD files and project data across disconnected systems was already a challenge for Eliot Sinclair. When the Christchurch earthquakes prompted a wider rethink of how the business protected its information, the case for change became clear. 12d Synergy brought technical and administrative staff into one connected environment, creating a single source of truth, cutting data retrieval time by 50% and strengthening the foundation for remote work and business continuity.
Eliot Sinclair is a New Zealand consultancy providing engineering, survey and spatial, planning, environmental and design services. With Christchurch as one of its key locations and offices now across the South Island, the firm works across development, infrastructure and land-related projects that require coordinated technical input across multiple disciplines.
Multidisciplinary consultancy
Land and infrastructure development
Make project information easier to manage with 12d Synergy.
From documents and drawings to emails, models and workflows, 12d Synergy brings everything together in one secure system so your team can work more efficiently from day one.
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The Challenge
At the time of implementation, Eliot Sinclair had reached the point where it needed a document management system that could integrate with 12d Model. The business already had a correspondence database system and separate file storage, but nothing that linked the two together or allowed project teams to collaborate quickly and easily.
The need for change became even more pressing after the Christchurch earthquakes. Eliot Sinclair’s IT focus shifted toward future proofing the business and ensuring recovery after a disaster could happen with minimal disruption. Moving away from paper-based files or at the very least ensuring documents were electronically stored became a core requirement for resilience.
At the same time, the firm wanted better management of correspondence and email, stronger revision control for CAD drawings, and a more connected way for technical and administrative staff to work with project information.
The Solutions
Eliot Sinclair implemented 12d Synergy across all staff, both technical and administrative, to manage project files, tasks and email correspondence. The system was adopted early in its development because the team could see its potential as a collaboration and document management platform built specifically around the needs of civil engineering design and surveying users.
A major part of the appeal was the way 12d Synergy brought together correspondence, email management, CAD drawing control and revision tracking in one system. Eliot Sinclair also valued its integration with 12d Model, Microsoft Office products and Windows-based server environments, including Active Directory and SQL platforms, which made administration and permissions easier to manage.
From a user perspective, the firm highlighted the seamless integration with Microsoft Office, email and 12d Model, along with the ability to store and retrieve emails and check documents in and out of the database with a single click. Remote access also meant users could get to information from any computer with the client installed and an internet connection.
The Result
- Reduced time to retrieve data by 50%.
- Increased data storage by 20% while improving access and control.
- Created a single source of truth for important project information.
- Improved integration between correspondence, file storage, email and 12d Model workflows.
- Strengthened disaster recovery readiness by shifting away from paper-reliant processes.
- Added task scheduling tools for assigning work, reminders and progress tracking.
“From a user’s point of view the integration into Microsoft office products, email client and 12d Model is seamless. At a click of a button emails are stored and retrieved and documents checked in and out from the database. Being able to access the information stored from any computer that has the client application installed and connection to the internet is brilliant.”
A document system became part of business resilience
What makes Eliot Sinclair’s story distinctive is that the need for better information management was tied directly to business resilience. After the Christchurch earthquakes, the firm was not just looking for a more convenient way to store files. It was rethinking how project information would be protected, recovered and accessed if disruption struck again.
That shifted the role of document management from an administrative function to something much more strategic. A centralized system for email, files and project data became part of how the business would future proof itself.
A centralized source of truth for technical and administrative teams
Eliot Sinclair described 12d Synergy as a single repository for all important information effectively a single source of truth. That mattered because the firm implemented it across both technical and administrative staff, rather than limiting it to one project function or discipline.
This broader adoption helped connect file storage, correspondence and task management in a way the previous setup could not. Instead of separate systems for correspondence and files, the business gained one environment that made collaboration faster and easier across projects.
Retrieval speed and accessibility improved at the same time
One of the strongest measurable outcomes is that Eliot Sinclair’s data storage grew by 20% after introducing 12d Synergy, while time to retrieve data reduced by 50%. That is a compelling proof point because it shows the platform was not simply storing more information, it was making that information easier to use.
The ability to retrieve emails, check documents in and out, and access information from any connected computer also gave users a more practical and responsive working environment. For a consultancy managing multidisciplinary technical information, that accessibility is a major day-to-day advantage.
Integration reduced friction across systems and users
Eliot Sinclair also highlighted the technical integration of the platform as one of its most attractive features. On the IT side, Windows server integration, Active Directory, SQL platforms, remote access and permission administration helped make the system easier to manage. On the user side, integration with Microsoft Office, the email client and 12d Model made the experience more seamless.
That balance matters because successful information systems need to work for both administrators and project teams. In this case, Eliot Sinclair saw value in both the technical manageability and the user-level simplicity of the platform.
Eliot Sinclair is a New Zealand consultancy providing engineering, survey and spatial, planning, environmental and design services. With Christchurch as one of its key locations and offices now across the South Island, the firm works across development, infrastructure and land-related projects that require coordinated technical input across multiple disciplines.
Multidisciplinary consultancy
Land and infrastructure development
Make project information easier to manage with 12d Synergy.
From documents and drawings to emails, models and workflows, 12d Synergy brings everything together in one secure system so your team can work more efficiently from day one.
Book a DemoPositioned for more connected and resilient project delivery
For Eliot Sinclair, 12d Synergy became more than a document management tool. It provided a more connected and resilient way to manage correspondence, files, tasks and technical data across the business.
By creating a single source of truth, reducing retrieval time and supporting disaster recovery thinking, the platform helped Eliot Sinclair build a stronger foundation for long-term project delivery and operational continuity.