Hassan AhmedEnterprise resource planning or ERP uses computer technology to seamlessly integrate the HR Management, logistic, accounting, and inventory system. The primary purpose of this system is only for the manufacturing industry.
However, as its growth, ERP now does not only help manufacture industry but also other industry models like law firms and other professional services industry. Principally, ERP is typically used to help employees from the business planning process, valuable information sharing, decision-making in corporate level. By implementing cloud-based ERP, the productivity and effective communication between colleagues in the law firm are also improved tremendously.
Why Law Firms need an ERP?
Investment in an enterprise resource planning system will provide multiple benefits to your law firm including the following:
1. Collaboration
The legal industry has a common practice that promotes a standard of collaboration among professionals. If this is the case for law firms, you can harness the collaboration by integrating cloud-based ERP. The system will bring with it the impact of increased productivity, greater efficiency, and superior understanding of the practice of law.
2. Workflow
A cloud-based legal ERP system can streamline and automate every aspect of the business of a law firm from planning to project management, provide efficient resources, and increase productivity. The cloud-based system also gives you the advantage of centralizing and automating most of the work to the cloud rather than an expensive and on-premise solution. Goto www.haystackenterprises.com to learn more.
3. Security
The cloud-based legal ERP system offers enhanced protection of data and documents secured with an extra way to back-up and to encrypt all data. Capacity on the cloud is another advantage, you can access data anytime and anywhere on any device. The system is designed to protect your data to the highest level. The cloud-based system has a security, and data recovery system to protect information in case of a disaster.
4. Storage
The system stores all information and data in the cloud, so you don’t need your own server anymore. This is especially beneficial when you are small law firm and have limited technical expertise in the in-house server set up. With an inhouse server erpsetting up takes significant time and cost.
5. Business intelligence
With an ERP system, you can access real-time information, analysis, and reports. You can draw the data you need to operate your business. The cloud-based system can give you access to critical data in a very easy way. Furthermore, cloud-based ERP is an excellent tool for business intelligence especially for micro, small or medium size law firms.
6. Deployment
With an on-premise system, you need more IT expertise to manage and maintain the system, the process can be time-consuming and costly. If you need to upgrade your software version, you also need to shut down the on-premise server to complete the upgrade.
The cloud-based system is built for quick installation. You can start using the system in a few minutes and it only takes a few minutes to update. If you need to add on new modules, the installation process is quick and convenient.
7. Ongoing cost
Another crucial advantage of the cloud-based ERP for law firms is the ongoing cost. It costs less than its on-premise counterpart. You only need to pay for the cloud service and not for the physical server.
8. Scalefree
You can grow the software with you as you grow your business. In other words, if you expand your business you don’t need to upgrade your investment; you only need to pay depending on the number of users you are adding.
Planning of the ERP implementation
The planning process can be divided into two main steps: the business planning process and the technical planning process. The business planning process requires the understanding of your business model, and business process before starting to select the desired functionalities and technical architecture. The second step is the technical planning. Upon selecting the desired functionalities and technical architecture, you need to find the technology that fits your business (for example: cloud computing or on- premise). The third step is the implementation. The implementation stage may include the training of users, the implementation process, and conducting the final tests to verify if the system is working as designed before going into production.
With an ERP system, you can maximize efficiency of the workplace and increase productivity of your system. Furthermore, cloud-based ERP is the best choice for your law firm because it is affordable and easy to use. There are many benefits that you can get from ERP.
