| The problem with paper is that it is simply | | | | stored electronically. |
| too expensive to handle. Posting, printing, | | | | |
| filing, copying it for others - expenses we | | | | If we adopt these changes then we benefit not |
| can all do without. The beauty of paperless | | | | only ourselves but all our successors on the |
| systems is that files of information can be | | | | planet and in our own small technological way |
| held in a central place and looked at by | | | | help avert the disaster of climate change. |
| anyone you want to look at them. Taking files | | | | |
| home to work on them has to become a thing of | | | | One of the biggest culprits, when it comes to |
| the past. | | | | paper storage, is MS Outlook (TM) . It |
| | | | accumulates a lot of information that is |
| Did you know that avoiding printing copies of | | | | passed from one person to another and each |
| emails and a 10% decrease in paper post | | | | person in an attempt to store it may print it |
| worldwide saves millions of tonnes of carbon | | | | out. The problem is then multiplied many |
| emissions every year? So why do we continue | | | | times. |
| to post bills, cards, letters, brochures that | | | | |
| have to be flown, driven, and walked to their | | | | The answer is to integrate case management |
| destinations? | | | | into Outlook. |
| | | | |
| So we need to develop systems that make using | | | | Microsoft has for some time urged developers |
| screen based files as easy as using paper | | | | to push their products into Outlook as add |
| files, where the file can be searched easily | | | | ins and some manufacturers of legal case |
| and quickly and where the file contains all | | | | management systems have done exactly that. |
| the information that we need. Once such a | | | | The benefits are enormous in that users that |
| software need has been developed we as users | | | | know and 'love' Outlook are instantly |
| have to be become comfortable using it. | | | | familiar and need little training to use the |
| | | | new systems. Since Outlook is part of the |
| Case management has been in the legal market | | | | email solution, and integrated to the phone |
| for years serving applications such as | | | | using TAPI, the file being stored inside |
| Conveyancing, Personal Injury, Probate, | | | | outlook is a natural extension. Some software |
| Criminal Billing and general litigation so | | | | houses have gone further and integrated |
| well. A typical personal injury transaction | | | | digital dictation into Outlook as well |
| can generate over 10,000 pages of | | | | meaning that the solution becomes a complete |
| documentation that has to be stored, copied, | | | | communications centre. |
| and distributed. Case management software can | | | | |
| help avoid this huge expense. | | | | The point is that we all need to make a |
| | | | contribution to saving the planet and if that |
| This type of software now has to focus on | | | | contribution can also save money and time and |
| paper based systems outside the legal market. | | | | makes our lives easier, then saving the |
| Accountants, doctors, small businesses all | | | | planet becomes more attractive all of a |
| store paper based files and they account for | | | | sudden! |
| a huge number of documents that could be | | | | |