Publi manages and controls document distribution throughout the entire lifecycle of an equipment
The digitization of development and production processes, along with the rise of automation in manufacturing, demands quick and easy access to information. Modern requirements call for this data to be available not only in office environments but also in the field, in specific situations where access to data networks may be unavailable.
Requirements for Today's Documentation
In today’s competitive and security-conscious environment, working with documents requires coordinated teamwork, built in part on robust access control and security measures.
Modern documents should be easily readable on all current devices, including mobile phones, and accessible to all users regardless of their technological platform. They should include tools that clearly convey information and provide timely support to the reader. If such tools are not embedded directly in the document, they should be made available through the accompanying application
or device.
The documentation accompanies the equipment throughout its entire lifecycle – from
development, production, and testing, through sales and usage, to maintenance, repairs, and ultimately disposal.
The Publi Platform
Publi is designed to support the comprehensive management and controlled distribution of documents throughout all phases of the equipment lifecycle.
We have created optimal conditions for the creation of interactive, responsive documents (editor), systematic organization (database system), access control (user permissions), secure and managed distribution (online delivery), and document viewing both on the web (online) and in dedicated apps (offline readers). Documents are also protected through encryption to prevent potential misuse.
A key feature of these documents is responsiveness, ensuring comfortable readability across all devices regardless of screen size. Using documents with interactive elements (such as fillable fields), it is possible to efficiently gather data from selected respondents (e.g., mid-level managers, employees) without organizational overhead, and process it according to pre-set algorithms, for example, generating graphical outputs. A standard modern document in the Publi environment
can include not only text and interactive fields, but also videos, audio tracks, animated
3D objects, virtual reality elements, and more.
Standardization and Cataloguing
When a new equipment is first delivered to the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, it is essential to meet the requirements for materiel cataloguing according to the NATO standards. In this phase, the manufacturer is required to provide original documentation about the product entering the materiel cataloguing and identification process. This primarily involves documentation that clearly
describes the product and defines its properties. Based on these documents, the product is, in simple terms, assigned a catalogue number, or an NSN (NATO Stock Number). It is evident that the materiel cataloguing and identification process demands strict consistency in the provision and subsequent processing of input information (documents), clear documentation tracking, and controlled distribution to the relevant processors (so called materiel item managers).
API
Publi can be implemented as a standalone system on the customer’s hardware. Naturally, it also supports integration with other enterprise information systems or the customer’s document management system. The API provides an environment for identification, authorization, bidirectional data exchange, and other functionalities required for integration with additional applications. As the platform evolves, the API is extended based on the specific needs of individual customers. These enhancements may involve communication between the platform and the information system, or between the document and the information system. The flexible development approach enables capabilities for working with data that go far beyond what is typically possible with traditional document distribution formats such as PDFs.
Examples of Publi Integration with Other Systems
Efficient logistics saves costs. By integrating applications and sharing operational manuals, repair procedures in various formats, descriptive characteristics of materiel items, and other documents through Publi, it is possible to enhance the item description in a catalogue. The materiel codification tool MC CATALOGUE from AURA combined with the Publi platform offers advanced capabilities for accessing catalogue items.
Another example is the integration of Publi with LIS (the next-generation Logistics Information System from AURA). Through LIS, users can access supplementary documents in Publi, such as manuals, training materials, descriptions, directives, and more. Both systems enable seamless mutual access based on synchronized user authentication.
A practical example of connecting an interactive Publi document with a customer’s information system is the Spare Parts Catalogue (items of supply). The document on a mobile device contains a complete list of equipment items, including graphical representations. The user can navigate
from an overview to individual components, select an item, add its data to a cart, and create a purchase request in the system for further processing. The electronic catalogue on the mobile device can also work in offline mode, making it a valuable tool for managing and distributing documents throughout all stages of the equipment lifecycle.
We warmly invite you to visit AURA’s booth during the IDET 2025 trade fair in Brno, where we’ll be happy to demonstrate all the features mentioned above, and much more.
Source: Review for Defence and Security Industry 2/2025