Peer to Peer: ILTA's Quarterly Magazine
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/1480787
23 I L T A N E T . O R G potentially offering the ability to complete time entry and surface experience and knowledge in the context of the current matter. Solutions that incorporate in-context content from other firm systems — such as budget and outside counsel guideline information from business intake systems, client documents from the document management system, and contact information from the CRM — make everything accessible via Microsoft Teams. Some solutions also integrate with the wider Microsoft 365 stack, including Microsoft Planner for Kanban-style task management, Power Automate for workflow, and Power BI for advanced reporting and analytics. Socializing the practicality of Microsoft Teams It's human nature to resist change, particularly when it comes to adopting new technologies. And as IT professionals know well, success with Microsoft Teams relies on users' receptivity to using and evangelizing the solution. Statistics show that lawyers are reducing the time they spend on administrative tasks by 15 to 20 minutes per day, on average, using Microsoft Teams. Over time and at scale, these micro time savings add up to significant productivity improvements that will delight firm leadership. Although your Microsoft Teams users might not be as excited about saving small increments of time as leadership, they will be pleased with how the solution supports remote and on-the-go access to shared dashboards, as well as the ability to make phone calls directly from their computer screens — keeping distributed teams in sync and collaborating in real time. Because Microsoft Teams facilitates chat and instant messaging throughout the day, team members build familiarity, community, and a sense of T O P T R E N D S F R O M T H E I L T A 2 0 2 1 T E C H N O L O G Y S U R V E Y Microsoft 365 expansion Survey results reveal that 53% of firms are currently using Microsoft 365 Business as their primary software application; however, 74% of survey respondents say they expect the solution to be their primary office application within the next 12 months, which speaks to a solid growth trajectory. Cloud-based upgrades With 24% of survey respondents reporting that their firms are mostly in the cloud currently — and with 41% pledging to continue to move to the cloud with every upgrade cycle —significant increases in planned implementations of cloud-based business solutions seem likely. Collaboration-tool adoption Survey results verify that the use of both Microsoft Teams and Zoom skyrocketed during the pandemic. Although 61% say their firms are mostly using Microsoft Teams for internal collaboration and messaging, more than 80% say they're predominately using Zoom for videoconferencing, virtual client meetings, and marketing events. Security-threat evolution Survey respondents generally report that security continues to be a top concern, with remote-working protocol deficiencies — including device management, unsecured Wi-Fi, and equipment provisioning and collection — adding complexity to the mix. Survey respondents cite user behavior, phishing, and client security requirements as problematic.