Adopt an accelerator approach to standardising processes
Choosing out-of-box accelerator solutions can bring quick efficiency gains for your business without a heavy time investment, according to Gemma Taylor – account manager for Visualfiles at LexisNexis Enterprise Solutions.
The pandemic has brought about a stark focus on the efficiency and profitability of our businesses under strained operating conditions. A key question that many have is – how can we add quantifiable value to our business processes? This is particularly relevant in departments such as conveyancing, debt recovery and personal injury, for example, where margins are tight owing to fixed fees.
Adding value can, of course, be achieved in many different ways, but for me, the front runner is any tool that allows for successful process standardisation by way of workflows and automation. This not only provides scope for an increased fee earner caseload, but it also ensures that work is undertaken with consistent standards and reduced risk.
There are many tools on the market – the challenge firms face is not only which one to select, but to also determine how fast it can be deployed so that the organisation can benefit without a holistic system change. Seldom do organisations have the luxury of time to allow the development of workflows from scratch. And time aside, there really isn’t a business rationale to reinvent the wheel – especially as many organisations are working with a compressed budget.
A proven approach is using out-of-the-box accelerator solutions that manage a case or process end to end. The conveyancing sector has successfully adopted this approach. Through these accelerator solutions, conveyancing firms are able to undertake contact management, document production, email management and task automation. Right off the mark, these solutions provide clients with the automated workflows, documents and key data capture that they require to deliver a highly efficient conveyancing service. The use of automation removes mundane tasks from a fee earner’s day and allows them to apply their knowledge and experience to tasks more deserving of their time, which goes a long way in boosting morale too.
Another such example is personal injury. At no time has efficiency in personal injury claims been of more importance than post-Jackson reforms. By their very nature, while the very human element existing in personal injury claims renders no two claims the same, margins are tight. At the same time, it is important to accept that there are many tasks that are repeated in every claim. Any human touch point that can be minimised will lend itself to increased efficiency and subsequently prompt return on investment. This is where the out-of-the-box accelerator solutions deliver value – allowing for tasks to be standardised where appropriate and enabling fee earners to service their clients, many of whom find the process somewhat daunting.
We have helped many firms add quantifiable value to their business processes through efficiency and productivity gains that translate into a superior customer experience for their clients, so do get in touch if you’re interested.
