Does technology make us more or less productive?
Microsoft have recently launched new AI tools designed to improve business productivity. And 66% of legal leaders planning to increase legal tech investment over the next few years. So, in our latest blog post, we’re asking: “does technology make us more or less productive?”
You may think this is a strange question for us here at PracticeEvolve since our objective is to help law firms to unlock their full potential – and thus become more productive – by adopting new technology. Our solutions are, by their very nature, specifically designed to enhance productivity by making it easier for users to do every part of their job. The technology is just one piece of the productivity puzzle though. Having the best legal tech in place is only the first step. The next steps – ongoing training, upskilling and continued engagement – are fundamental to ensuring you are more rather than less productive.
Consider this scenario.
Your firm implements a new CMS and you have no idea how to use it. You receive a couple of hours of training but then you’re on your own. Chances are your productivity will now, at best, stagnate or, at worst, drop off a cliff. You and your colleagues may feel disillusioned and frustrated. That could lead you to look for a new job with another firm that perhaps uses the CMS you previously used.
Your firm’s aim to increase productivity has fallen flat and it’s led to employees jumping ship to work for a competitor. Epic technology fail.
Competency, competency, competency.
Of course, we’ve outlined an extreme scenario there to illustrate a particular point. Everyone in that firm should feel wholly competent when using the new CMS. Involving employees from the outset and ensuring your supplier includes a comprehensive, ongoing training schedule and educational materials are imperative for any legal tech to not only exceed, but also to deliver that required increase in productivity.
For example, our Client Success Programme and Evolve Community is all about educating and empowering users to maximise the full potential of our software. All the skills they need to succeed at their fingertips. If you’re not offered a programme like that or similar, simply move on because you risk becoming less productive in the long-term.
Consider your audience
Taking into account who is actually using the software is also vital. For the Gen Yers (or Millennials, whichever you prefer) out there in the UK legal sector, technology is something they have lived with all their life. Therefore, if their law firm switches to a cloud-solution, they’ll take it all in their stride and, most likely, be up to speed with how it all works within a matter of days.
Compare this group to the Gen Xers who have experienced a technological revolution during their lifetimes. Many are perfectly competent (to a degree) but many are also still getting to grips with tech. They are nervous when it comes to both an all-singing, all-dancing CMS and change itself. And law firms across the globe comprise people from both of these generational cohorts.
Leave either of these groups behind at your peril. With the right training, support and encouragement each can excel and play their own role in embracing technology to become more productive, not less. And another word of warning: too much tech can get in the way. It’s not the answer to improving productivity. Consolidate and simplify wherever possible and your team will thank you for it.
Making the most of the technology
One of the most frustrating things we see is individuals using only a small percentage of the applications and features offered by the software. Even for those Gen Yers it can be a little overwhelming when you start to explore the functionality of certain software and cloud-solutions. But all of those features are there for a reason, you just need to understand exactly why and how they work and you can take your user experience to the next level.
One-to-one and peer support can really help to turn this around, as can a continually updated cache of short, informative ‘how to’ videos that users can watch in their own time. Talking to each other is also a good idea. Chances are if you’re struggling with a feature, your colleagues are too. Shout up and tell someone it’s affecting your productivity. Any supplier worth working with should bend over backwards to help; it’s in their interest your firm succeed after all.
The power of productivity
What does more productive look like for your firm? Have a long hard think before you implement any new technology. Once you’re clear, you can trial some of the products out there and see which one fits best and is robust enough to support the enhanced productivity you demand.
Harnessing the full power of any technology to become more productive, irrespective of the industry you’re in, needn’t be a challenge but it won’t happen overnight. Let’s face it, economic revolutions driven by increased productivity take time. We may not fully understand the true impact of today’s technology for many years. Don’t let it put you off though.
The sooner you get started, the sooner you can start to see the benefits, both operational and financial. Technology absolutely can make you and your firm more productive when it’s done right.
We’d love to know your thoughts on this topic. Has technology made your firm and your colleagues more productive, or has it had completely the opposite effect?
Sources.
*Technology Record: https://www.technologyrecord.com/article/new-ai-tools-from-microsoft-to-improve-business-productivity
