UK legal firm Mills & Reeve is reducing risk by equipping
more than 800 users in six offices with an
enterprise search to ensure quick access to the information
they need.
Recommind's
Mindserver software and expertise module integrates internal
data stores and human resources systems with key external resources
to find all the information or subject experts that best meet the
needs of the firm's lawyers.
Reduced risk through fast and accurate search is one of the most
important benefits, but time and cost savings were the biggest
business case drivers, said Duncan Ogilvy, a partner at Mills &
Reeve.
"For our lawyers, being able to find whatever they need from the
firm's vast data reserves will prove invaluable," he said.
Other law firms that have switched to enterprise search software
have told Computer Weekly that users typically save between
50% and 75% on search time.
For Mills & Reeve the biggest cost involved in
knowledge management was outsourcing the process of putting
links to related information in reference documents created
internally.
"We expect a return on investment within two years from savings
in outsourcing costs alone without taking into account saving from
time and efficiency gains," said Ogilvy.
The final choice of software was made using a live test linking
three main data sources used by the firm to compare the performance
of two short-listed enterprise search products.
Mills & Reeve decided on the test to avoid a costly proof of
concept exercise and drew up the shortlist based on industry
recommendations as well as the ability to deploy quickly.
"The deciding factor was Recommind's concept-based search
capability," said Ogilvy.
This made the software easier to use because concept-based
search is much more flexible than keyword-based search, which
requires users to come up with the right keywords for the best
results.
In a phased approach, Mills & Reeve will use Mindserver to
link all the firm's internal and external information sources,
starting with the firm's existing data repositories.
Mindserver will integrate with the firm's Interwoven Worksite
document management system, Tikit Firmware practice management
system, Softlink library catalogue, intranet, extranet and external
Practical Law Company knowledge service.
Mills & Reeve also plans to add the firm's external websites
as well as other external websites to enhance its information
service to clients through improved search facilities.