Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/37773
and improves their responsiveness. These things add up to more efficient and cost-effective client service delivery,” Kevin says. In this way, Parkway has become a powerful business development tool for the firm. Parker Poe now has a mechanism to do things differently; to really collaborate you have to go beyond thinking about the technology and engage with the client in a different way. A PLATFORM TO GO FURTHER AND GET CLOSER Parker Poe has succeeded in this mission. It is leveraging the Parkway intranet as a platform to deliver an extranet capability that has both design and functional advantages beyond the traditional uses of the technology. Steve says that Parker Poe extranets are more than simply repositories for the firm and clients to share documents. The sites are designed using a Web-friendly user interface and provide unique functions for users. “We are providing a vehicle for attorneys and clients to collaborate on work in progress. Using SharePoint, we can provide an integrated environment for all of our applications that are relevant to the client and the attorney. People can search across our entire repository of information, including relevant financial sources.” In practice, this fosters stronger client/attorney relationships, and by serving up easy access to valuable content, it can help bring new business in the door. “It works for both the client and our attorneys,” says Steve. “We can add significant value by making this material available to the client and we have given them the structure and tools for them to work beside our attorneys each and every day. By institutionalizing our clients in this way, we are providing our firm with a point of difference. By taking the time to build the extranet, we are punching well above our weight and competing on a level field with much bigger firms.” The success of the intranet and extranet projects has ensured the two departments continue to collaborate closely. Steve says his department does not carry out any new technology rollouts without involving marketing to undertake the all- important prelaunch communications. Kevin says this collaborative approach has helped improve the value of both departments within the firm. “It’s long past the days since marketing was just responsible for fulfillment of brochures and proposals. We are now at the point where we are doing what marketing should be doing for any company — helping create new products, developing business and providing sales as a service.” ILTA 32 Portal Platforms ILTA White Paper