As we noted in our previous post, some law firms struggled to shift to working remotely when the pandemic struck last year. For many, the solution was the cloud. As firms look forward to the pandemic’s end, they’re seeing how cloud-based solutions can play a crucial role in how they operate.
What about your firm? Maybe you see how the cloud’s benefits can make your team more efficient and your work more profitable. But how do you make your argument when stakeholders across the firm may be hesitant to adopt?
For some helpful insights that can help boost your case, you can check out the new Thomson Reuters white paper, Head for the cloud in a storm: Maintaining your firm’s business continuity during a crisis. It provides a framework that details the ways that cloud-based solutions can support a remote workforce.
Building the case for your firm to implement a cloud-based solution
One approach is to look at the cornerstones of your firm’s practice. How might the cloud support them? Here are a few ways the cloud can boost your firm’s performance:
Keeping track of all the tasks associated with a particular matter
This is absolutely necessary for securing favorable outcomes for your clients. But it can be a tough challenge—especially in a remote working environment. The cloud provides a clear path. Cloud-based collaboration tools give everyone involved access to matter information from wherever they are. They also help ensure that all stakeholders have the most accurate and current information to keep everyone on track.
Staying in touch with clients
Even with everyone working remotely, you still need to stay connected to your clients. You have urgent issues to handle, like matter updates, strategy discussions, and document signings, to name just a few. Cloud-based client portals and virtual meeting technologies keep firms connected with their clients. They also allow for (at least virtually) face-to-face communication, the kind of personal interaction that’s crucial to maintaining a strong client relationship.
Delivering timely and accurate answers
Clients always want sound responses to their questions, of course. During a crisis, they usually want them faster than ever. From questions about matter statuses and expenses to queries about next steps, a cloud-based solution can provide the answers you need—and that you can access from anywhere.
Working with courts
Remote work isn’t just impacting law firms and their clients. Courts are operating remotely, too. And some experts are saying that a portion of these proceedings will remain virtual even after the pandemic is long gone—suggesting that cloud-based video conferencing and other communication technology will remain essential tools.
Managing back-office functions
Smooth back-office operations are essential to every firm. Any technology that supports your firm’s scheduling, finance, time and billing, and related functions on the business side must be available to remote workers. And that’s what a cloud-based solution can provide.
Help your firm make the move to the cloud
From the daily work of the client-facing professionals who work on legal matters to back-office support functions, there is no aspect of your firm’s business that wouldn’t benefit from a move to the cloud. Armed with a clearer understanding of these benefits, you can start to make the business case for the cloud.
