With technology constantly evolving, problems can arise if your law firm fails to keep pace with the changes. The consequences of antiquated technology can adversely impact a law firm’s bottom line in multiple ways, from inefficiency and security concerns to dissatisfied clients and staff. Here are five signs that your firm’s technology may need attention.
Excessive Downtime and Lagging
When your systems are down, attorneys and staff waste valuable time that could be spent servicing clients and producing revenue. When employees are thrown off the network or it moves at a snail’s pace, productivity declines and employees become frustrated. According to an American Bar Association survey of solo and small law firms, 45% of attorneys said their productivity was sometimes decreased by technological problems. Excessive downtime and lagging become increasingly common with aging hardware and software.
Security Breaches
Suffering a security breach may be a sign of vulnerabilities in your system. As technology ages, its ability to fend off cyberattacks significantly declines. Companies that create the software and applications you use eventually stop updating and supporting old versions. This means older systems will not receive security updates and patches from the software company, leading to weak points that hackers can exploit. Client confidentiality is paramount to the legal industry, a fact not lost on hackers, who have increasingly targeted small and midsize law firms for ransomware attacks. As hackers become more sophisticated, it is more important than ever for law firms to make their IT systems as secure as possible.
Inefficient, Redundant Systems
If you lack modern tools to make your operations more efficient, it is probably time for an upgrade. There is increasing pressure on law firms’ profit margins as clients expect high-value services for their dollars. State-of-the art technology systems provide law firms with the ability to cut costs by streamlining operations. Automating tools allow for the elimination of certain mundane, time-consuming tasks, such as time and billing, freeing up staff to concentrate on higher-order and revenue-generating responsibilities. Collaboration tools, such as cloud-based law practice management software, allow for information to be accessed from a central place by multiple users from anywhere. An efficient CRM (customer relationship management) system allows law firms to store data for customers and prospects in one place to manage leads and customer relationships. Fully integrated systems cut down on extra steps, such as eliminating the need to input data more than once and allowing colleagues to seamlessly share information.
System Does not Support Flexible Work Environment
Over the last two years, many law firms have adopted a flexible work environment, which has become an important factor in attracting and retaining top talent. If your current system does not allow your attorneys and staff members to seamlessly and securely log in and access their applications and files from multiple locations, it’s time to consider an upgrade. A law firm benefits when its IT systems allow employees to be productive, generate revenue, and provide clients with effective service regardless of where they are working.
Client Complaints
Clients expect accessibility and responsiveness from their law firm. They want their attorney to take their calls and solve their problems as quickly as possible. State-of-the art collaboration and communication tools can go a long way in supporting your ability to provide the level of customer service your clients demand. If feedback from your clients indicates your team is not responsive enough or that your firm’s technology hinders your ability to provide them with superior service, it may be time for an upgrade.
Tabush Group is a leading provider of Desktop as a Service and Managed IT services for small to midsize law firms. To learn more about how our state-of-the-art IT solutions can make your firm’s operations more efficient and secure, contact us.