Document Automation 101 & Why It’s Necessary For Your Workflow

You may have heard the term, “document automation” before, but do you really understand what it is, how it works, and why it benefits your firm?

Document automation has been a standard in the legal industry for decades.  Automating the drafting and assembly process creates time saving advantages and reduces errors that are prone to happen with manual drafting.  To put it another way: document automation streamlines workflow and streamlining workflow results in more productivity, less wasted cost, and more time for client matters.

Here’s how it works: document automation starts with your firm’s exemplar documents that are drafted often.  A document automation software, in this case Thomson Reuters’ Contract Express, instructs a user to simply add variables (to accommodate for different clauses, names, etc.) to your exemplar document, turning it into a questionnaire, which fuels the engine behind the document’s automation. Once the questionnaire is finalized, users can complete the documents by answering the questions resulting in a finished document.

Workflow is Crucial to Efficient Work

What are the benefits to document automation?  Eliminating manual drafting removes the tedious task of updating variables within a reused document.  Consequently, steps in the drafting process are condensed and you have more control over document consistency.  Among other things the amount of errors avoided usually made with manual drafting are reduced, which in turn decreases the number of reviews and redrafts.

Don’t know where to start?  Never drafted a document for a specific topic before?  Your practice doesn’t have an available document set?  Writer’s block?  Contract Express is integrated with Thomson Reuters’ know-how solution, Practical Law. The integration with Practical Law provides access up to 300 pre-automated templates within Contract Express.  In times of stressful need, having access to these templates helps immensely.

More Client Collaboration

When the document is ready for the client Contract Express has the power to connect your client to you and the document via a secure web portal.  Your firm creates and controls a client site where clients log into a password-protected area to gain full access to client-specific documents.  Clients get full or limited rights to their automated documents and templates with an archived history that is easily accessible. This way practitioners and clients can work one on one within a client site.

In a time when client demands are high client collaboration is key.  The added benefits of document automation and a client site allows you to deliver quality work at a faster rate. This setting becomes the foundation for maintaining and improving client collaboration across practice groups.

Technology Provides More Benefits Than Risks

Think about the amount of time you spend drafting documents.  Are you doing that manually? How old is your software?  The dollars and time spent drafting documents adds up and much of that time and money is wasteful.  With Contract Express you can reduce drafting time, which is more money saved.

To have the ability to draft a document automatically in a fraction of the time of manual drafting is a huge advantage. Your gain is a more productive and faster workflow.  What will you do with the time?

For a free 28-day trial of Thomson Reuters’ Contract Express document automation software or to learn more, please visit us here or email contractexpress-support@tr.com to reach an account representative.