– Is Your Software Helping or Hurting You?
(a 2-minute read that is worth your while!)
Last week, we explained why this is the time to plan for a strong finish to the year, and position your firm to succeed in the new year. You should start by reviewing your hardware and software, the tools that drive your business. Those tools should allow you and your staff to work more efficiently, be more productive, and, ideally, improve firm profitability.
Are your tools doing that, or are they holding you back?
- Begin with a review of your tools
- What applications do you and your staff use daily?
- Are they the latest versions, or are you relying on outdated and unsupported software?
- If your staff uses cloud-based applications, how effective is the internet speed in your office?
- Is access to the internet reliable?
- Neglecting needed investment in good and reliable tools does not save money. On the contrary, doing so creates hidden costs that can negatively impact your bottom line.
If you recognize any of these statements, it’s time for a technology assessment. Poll your staff. What problems or challenges do you expect to solve with your present workstations and software? Are upgrades, or even new hardware or software, needed? If so, budget for those upgrades now.
- When you purchase software, you own 100% of it – But how much of that investment do you actually use? When we ask clients this question, the typical answer is “maybe 10–15%.” There is a clear difference between ownership and utilization. Having the former does not guarantee the latter.
If this sounds familiar, staff training may be the solution.
- Effective training is not a 15-minute handoff from someone leaving the firm, nor is it simply watching online videos.
- Formal instruction from a certified trainer helps users discover features they did not know existed in the software,
- allows for questions that connect the software to your staff’s specific job responsibilities,
- builds confidence in daily usage. And confidence often leads to enthusiasm.
How well do you and your staff know your software? If training is needed, include it in your plan for the coming year.
As you prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead, having the right technology strategy can make all the difference. Crosspointe Consulting Group helps firms evaluate whether their current systems are supporting their goals through
- comprehensive technology assessments,
- practical recommendations,
- customized training programs.
Our team understands the unique demands of legal professionals, and works closely with firms to maximize software utilization, improve efficiency, strengthen productivity, and insure that the firm’s technology investments deliver measurable value. Whether you need assistance with planning, implementation, training, or ongoing support, we provide the expertise and guidance to help your firm build a stronger foundation for long-term success. Contact us at info@crosspointecg.com or call us at 877-375-2810.
See also:
- Now is the Time: It is Time to Decide
- What a Needs Analysis Actually Is (And Why You Need One)
- The Business of Law: Proactive Management Based Regulation– Pulling it All Together
- Read more of Dana Riel’s Posts
Dana Riel is President and Founder of Business Solutions, Inc., serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area since 1985. Her firm is the authorized training center for the region for Time Matters and PCLaw by PCLaw|Time Matters, PLLC; Timeslips and Sage 50 Accounting by Sage Software; and QuickBooks by Intuit Corporation. She also serves as a consultant for Caret Legal (formerly known as Zola Suite), CosmoLex, Soluno & TimeSolv. As a trainer, Dana has provided training services to organizations such as the DOD Defense Logistics Agency, Judge Advocate General’s Office (JAG)/Department of the Navy, University of the District of Columbia School of Law, U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as with small‐ to mid‐size law firms in the Baltimore‐Washington D.C. area. In 2009, she participated in the series of day‐long seminars sponsored by the District of Columbia Bar Association Practice Management Section, titled “Basic Training: Learn About Running a Law Office”. Ms. Riel also served as an Adjunct Professor in Georgetown University’s Paralegal Studies Program, having taught the course, “Legal Ethics/Legal Technology” in 2009; and “Legal Technology” for the Spring and Summer Semesters of 2010. She presently serves on the Advisory Board for PCLaw|Time Matters, PLLC.
