Brodies relies on iManage Work as its standard matter management tool for lawyers and partners. But as demand for mobile working has increased, the challenge of integrating the application with smartphone platforms became critical. In this case study (note – we do not charge for case studies or any editorial content for that matter) shows how the Rubus iManage Work connector from Appurity Connect provided the solution.
Appurity customer story
Brodies Solutions
– EMM integration
– Native Application Development
– Mobile integration for iManage Work
– Mobile working consultancy
Technologies
– Rubus for BlackBerry 10
– BlackBerry BES12
– BlackBerry 10 Smartphones
– iManage Work and Mobility Server
Customer:
Damien Behan, IT Director Brodies (pictured)
Brodies relies on iManage Work as its standard matter management tool for lawyers and partners. But as demand for mobile working has increased, the challenge of integrating the application with smartphone platforms became critical.
The Rubus iManage Work connector from Appurity Connect provided the solution. It gives users full iManage integration into the native email client, with familiar features such as ‘send and file’, ‘file from inbox’, ‘search Matters’ and others, all integrated on the smartphone.
“We needed a solution that gave us the security of BlackBerry and the efficiency and productivity of iManage Work. Rubus was the only application we found that really does the job.”
Damien Behan, IT Director, Brodies LLP
Brodies hits the heights of mobility with Rubus
Appurity delivers transformative accessibility and availability to lawyers on the move
The Munros of Scotland are mountains over 3,000 feet high. But, as one partner at Brodies LLP discovered, you can still provide excellent service to clients while you are climbing one of them.
Brodies is Scotland’s largest law firm, serving public and private sector organisations in the UK and internationally. It works in close partnership with clients on all aspects of corporate law, from employment and property, to tax, disputes, and mergers and acquisitions.
Brodies’ philosophy of providing excellent client service means that partners and senior lawyers work flexibly wherever and whenever required. Which is why one partner’s exhilarating hike up a Munro was interrupted by a client in urgent need of some documents relating to a time-sensitive matter.
Having adopted the Rubus iManage Work connector from Appurity Connect, the partner was able to access the relevant files directly from his smartphone and send them from the side of the Munro straight to the client’s desktop.
“iManage Work is the standard Matter management tool for our partners and lawyers,” says Damien Behan, IT Director for Brodies. “We’ve been using it in conjunction with BlackBerry 10 smartphones, but the integration was limited.
“We needed a solution that gave us the security of BlackBerry and the efficiency and productivity of iManage Work. Rubus was the only application we found that really does the job.”
A major problem for lawyers can be the issue of version control – making sure you have the latest version – and at Brodies sending a NRL Link to a document, rather than a copy of it, is standard practice. However, NRL links are not supported on standard smartphones, which can lead to frustration when a mobile worker can’t access the document, or when a copy has to be sent, which can lead to confusion and branching of versions. Rubus bridges the gap between iManage Work and the smartphone platform, helping to reduce the risk by allowing the sender to attach links without worrying whether the recipient is in the office or out and about.
Rubus was developed as a native app for Android and BlackBerry 10, with iOS planned for 2017. It gives users full iManage integration into the native email client, with familiar features such as ‘send and file’, ‘file from inbox’, ‘search Matters’ and others, all integrated on the smartphone.
“We were impressed with Rubus even in the early stages of the trial,” says Damien Behan. “The Appurity team took the time to work with us and understand the business, to make sure we were getting the capabilities we needed.
“They listened and took an agile approach; I know that some of our suggestions have already been adopted as standard features within the application. The whole process was smooth and quick, and even our most exacting users were immediately positive about the solution.”
Rubus has proved effective everywhere, not just when scaling a Munro. Lawyers in meetings can access files instantly from their smartphones, safe in the knowledge that they are always dealing with the latest version. They can also browse matters, which means they always have essential information at their fingertips, without having to start up a separate device.
As the lines between working lives and personal lives become increasingly blurred, technology also has a key role to play in minimising the disruption caused when professional issues intrude too deeply into private time.
“Rubus has been a great solution for managing the work/life balance, because our colleagues can resolve work matters much more quickly, regardless of their location.”
It is in the nature of lawyers to question things, and new technologies can often struggle under the rigorous scrutiny of sceptical users. Rubus, however, was readily adopted by Brodies’ users, because it maintains the familiar user experience and adds immediate value.
“One of our partners told me it had changed his life,” says Damien Behan, “and we’ve had very little resistance from anywhere. Our Lawyers were getting value from Rubus in minutes, with minimal support from the IT team.”
For Brodies, rapid, secure access to the right documents has quickly translated into excellent client experiences.
“Most of our clients have made mobile working a core aspect of their operations,” concludes Damien Behan, “and they expect the same from their suppliers. Rubus has added an extra dimension of efficiency to our business, which helps to keep clients delighted with our service.”