MELVILLE, N.Y., January 30, 2017 – The landscape of the legal industry is evolving, with digitized records becoming an increasingly used resource for investigative purposes. Yet, these demands require firms to not only digitize files, but to also restrict access to sensitive client data and achieve accurate capture and reporting of legal document process for client billback efficiency. Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, recognizes these challenges, and offers a complete portfolio of solutions to assist firms in addressing and overcoming these pain points at Legaltech 2017, taking place January 31 to February 2 at the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan. Visitors to the Canon booth (booth #324), will discover how Canon, the predominant brand of photocopier among legal firms, used by 41 percent of firms surveyed, can help them achieve flexible, transparent workflows in order to respond with greater agility to industry changes.
“In a typical workday, firms send and transfer an enormous amount of confidential information, with a growing number of firms relying upon electronic documents. Organizations reaping the benefits of digitized files must also consider methods used to prevent data breaches which can carry a hefty price tag – not just in regulatory fines, but also in reputation,” said Sean Pike, program vice president, Security Products and eDiscovery & Information Governance at IDC. “A simple solution to help safeguard client data is through a secure print and scan strategy. Output management solutions that offer security features can help firms restrict access to only those who absolutely need the information to complete their duties, bringing firms closer to their compliance goals.”
Firms utilizing the discrete report and capture capabilities of the award-winning uniFLOW solution, with Version 5.4 currently available, can also discover the benefits of devices capable of integrating with uniFLOW including the new imageRUNNER ADVANCE 4500 Series of multifunction systems (MFPs). When used with the optional imageRUNNER ADVANCE Desktop, these MFPs can easily combine scanned images and electronic files created in varying applications as a means of effectively supporting collaboration and overall client case management. Customers that have leveraged imageRUNNER ADVANCE technology in this manner with existing devices have been successful in more effectively meeting court and client deadlines, while freeing paralegals and attorneys to focus on higher value activities.
In addition, firms with select imageFORMULA production document scanners will discover how they can benefit from the Scan Kiosk Networked Scan Station Expansion Pack, an optional accessory capable of integrating with uniFLOW, which has capabilities designed to convert select production document scanners into high-speed, network-attached dedicated scanning devices for uniFLOW environments.
Business Intelligence
Recent studies demonstrate that firms utilizing a proactive approach to alternative billing are more profitable than firms that take a reactive approach to alternative billing methods.
This kind of proactivity might include the use of business analytics to quantify document management costs. However, a large majority of U.S. firms have yet to incorporate business analytics as part of their document management strategy – a decision that can potentially eat away at the firm’s profits. Software solutions with integrated metrics capture and reporting capabilities can help firms with their business intelligence strategy, providing quantitative insight into the value of workflows and asset usage essential to evaluating productivity. These analytics may be particularly helpful for firms needing to forecast project costs for cases with alternative fee arrangements.
To help increase potential to drive profitability with operational efficiency, firms can easily calculate costs associated with billable activities, such as print and copy and assign charges to the appropriate customer or project, with solutions such as uniFLOW as well as the new imageRUNNER ADVANCE 4500 Series of MFPs, which utilize advanced authentication, metrics capture and reporting capabilities. The same data collected for cost recovery can also be used to contribute to more extensive trend analysis and forecasting to help firms build their cost management and profit improvement strategy.
Process Management
Legal professionals can leverage the broad capabilities made available by the uniFLOW platform, including print and copy tracking and user authentication, document capture and workflow integration capabilities with various third-party document management solutions such as iManage Work™, OpenText™, SharePoint™ and Box™. For firms requiring increased flexibility, the imageRUNNER ADVANCE 4500 Series of MFPs can help firms adapt to evolving business needs with tools that can help streamline workflow steps with a ‘tailored’ user experience. Upon authentication at the MFP, professionals can access My ADVANCE features to create a personalized experience tailored to their individual preference, offering a customized interface displaying frequently used functions. Also offering efficient workflows as well as collaboration between legal professionals, the Scan Kiosk Networked Scan Station Expansion Pack can help users of select imageFORMULA production scanners and uniFLOW promote collaboration within the firm, providing a consistent, user-friendly means to capture paper documents and incorporate them into a firm-sanctioned repository on a network.
Security Features
According to the 2016 ILTA Technology Survey, firms cite balancing security with usability as the number one law firm security challenge. The intuitive interface of the optional uniFLOW solution which can be added to be used as the touchscreen display of many user-friendly Canon devices, including imageRUNNER ADVANCE and imageCLASS systems and the Scan Kiosk, can be used by firms to help them address some aspects of these challenges. With uniFLOW integration for these devices, users are greeted by a familiar interface that carries their personalized workflow settings to other compatible, networked devices. For increased control over printing from compatible mobile devices, the optional uniFLOW Mobile Printing application, which can integrate mobile device printing into a firm’s overall output management solution to enable administrators to enact control over which users can submit document output from compatible mobile devices, while also requiring user authentication to print at compatible devices.
In addition to harnessing the access control features of uniFLOW, firms can also help limit access to clients’ sensitive information thanks to a set of standard features and optional security solutions for the imageRUNNER ADVANCE 4500 series models. When activated, the Standard Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Encryption function with FIPS140-2 validation found on these models automatically encrypts data stored on the main unit’s HDD, helping to restrict access to client data.
For more information about Canon U.S.A., visit https://www.usa.canon.com.