The amounts and types of data e-discovery platforms are analyzing isn't slowing down, and to meet e-discovery's evolving demands platforms must consistently update their technology. Some companies work internally to update their services, while others turn to outside assistance.

E-discovery company Zapproved did the latter when it announced today it is partnering with e-discovery provider Nuix to enhance its Z-Discovery Platform. 

The reasoning for the partnership was meeting clients' growing processing demands, said Zapproved CEO and co-founder Monica Enand. Z-Discovery will sit on top of Nuix's processing engine,  and Enand believes clients will experience faster processing speeds of more file types and expanded workflow efficiency..

Enand and Nuix group CEO Rod Vawdrey noted the two companies have teamed up previously when Nuix powered Zapproved's Legal Hold Pro and jointly produced Nuix Legal Hold in 2012. Still, this recent partnership started six months ago when Nuix was conducting marketing research about clients' legal hold needs, Vawdrey said. During an interview with Zapproved, the subject turned to Nuix's API, and Enand said it was obvious the two should team up again to enhance Z-Discovery.

Vawdrey said Nuix wasn't hesitant to assist a fellow e-discovery and information governance company, although he noted that Nuix offers an e-discovery solution along with compliance, cybersecurity and investigative products. 

"Part of our strategy is to have a strong API platform so organizations can take advantage of our processing," Vawdrey said.

Indeed, in January, Big Four firm KPMG announced its Spain office's forensic technology division will use Nuix software to identify and analyze data. Nuix also integrated with HayStackID to enhance HayStackID's e-discovery and digital forensics products and services in 2015.

Currently, Nuix is working with Zapproved to ensure the transition to Nuix's API is smooth, and will follow the transition with a testing period. "Like other integrations, it will be something that happens fairly easily," Vawdrey said.

Zapproved didn't provide specifics regarding the date of the updated Z-Discovery, but said it is scheduled to be released in 2020.

It's not unusual for legal tech companies to leverage another company's technology to power its own software. Take for example, AI contracts platform Luminance partnering with document and knowledge management provider HighQ to automate data management. HighQ also teamed up with Kira Systems to launch an integrated data sharing product.