“Smart data” allows Legal to control work

As a business leader with close ties to the legal industry, I’ve been thinking a lot about data recently. Trends such as legal analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning continue to capture our imaginations and hold promise for transforming how the law is practiced. The implications of data are vast, and as a result, discussions of big data abound in the technology world. But will these trends deliver meaningful insights if what results is simply more or bigger data? What we need is smart data—or better data.

The concept of smart data is one that is becoming increasingly relevant. A couple of weeks ago, we asked this question in a company meeting. The Development team said, “Data itself isn’t smart; the way it’s reported, shared, and used makes it smart.” The Client Support team added, “It’s not the data, but the process and user experience around it that makes it smart.” Our IT team noted, “Data is smart when it’s secure and responsive.” Finally, our sales team said, “Smart data is what the client needs it to be, now and in the future.” These definitions are connected, each representing a critical aspect of what clients value in data.

So, what exactly is smart data? Smart data is:

• Unrestricted and immediately actionable, with the ability to report on and analyze every data element in real-time.
• Configurable to evolve with any new workflow or other business requirements.
• Relevant over time to inform business decisions now and in the future.

By combining these elements, we can ensure that data truly becomes a powerful tool in driving business outcomes, especially within the legal field.

The idea of data has certainly evolved over the years. When I was in college, I remember looking at my tray of punch cards lying on the floor in a pile and thinking these computers weren’t very smart after all. Back then, data storage was cumbersome, and access to data was slow. Then, as I started my career, data was primarily the output of a records management function. We could key in records and then print them out in a specific order on huge green bar computer paper. While this system had its benefits, it was far from efficient or flexible.

We have certainly come a long way in how we interact with data. Today, data is not only easier to access but also easier to analyze. We’ve become smarter about what we expect from it. With the promise of artificial intelligence and its implications for data, I suspect smart data will get even smarter in the next few years. We will stay on top of these changes and continue to find ways to make data more useful for the legal industry.

It is with this perspective that we deliberately seek ways to make data “smarter” when we expand and add to our ASCENT® Enterprise Legal Management software. At DiliTrust, it’s important to us that matter and spend management data is available in real-time, highly configurable, and never requires an expensive “fork-lift” conversion or upgrade. So, we designed ASCENT® to be flexible and user-friendly, allowing it to evolve with our clients’ needs.

Additionally, we recognized that pricing models often create barriers for legal teams, forcing them to worry about finding resources to deal with new reports, templates, or users. This is why we’ve designed ASCENT® to be as inclusive as possible, with no hidden fees for additional features. We built the platform so that clients can scale and grow without encountering unexpected costs.

To provide expert support and stand behind our promises is also critical to us. Our company works together with this as our mission—ensuring our clients have all the help they need to succeed with our software.

We take ASCENT® to the next level with version 8.0, helping legal teams make smarter decisions and achieve better outcomes. For lawyers and legal operations professionals, smart data must answer questions, inform decisions, and build confidence. It should give you control over cases and costs by answering questions like, “What’s happening in my legal department today?”

Additionally, it helps forecast what’s coming next. The way we implement smart data in ASCENT® does exactly that, putting users in control to boost productivity and eliminate obstacles. For example, with just a few clicks, you can see how many open matters haven’t had a deposition in six months and compare that to the previous year. This visibility enables legal teams to make proactive decisions and address bottlenecks before they become critical.

Smart data also lets you drill down into high-level summaries, such as viewing all open invoices older than 30 days. By clicking into the details, you understand what’s driving the costs. Your confidence in the data grows, which, in turn, supports and guides your decisions. That’s the power of smart data, and the control you deserve from your legal management system.

Many legal professionals seek intelligent control over their data. But I believe smart data offers one more critical benefit: it provides a single reference point for sharing information securely. Smart data allows you to share data seamlessly across your legal team, in-house staff, business representatives, and outside counsel. This is invaluable, as it allows everyone to access the same, up-to-date data without redundant data entry or confusion.

Smart data offers answers when needed, from one source. It opens access and enables real-time control, driving collaboration across your legal ecosystem. In doing so, it eliminates information silos. Legal teams, business units, and external partners can all work together more effectively by relying on the same data source. This leads to more informed decision-making and better outcomes.

This concept of smarter collaboration can be termed as “smart collaboration,” where all parties benefit from having access to the same real-time, actionable data. It reduces friction and increases efficiency, leading to better decision-making and stronger results.

Looking forward, the role of smart data in legal management will only grow in importance. As we continue to refine technologies like AI and machine learning, the data we collect will become even more powerful. For legal teams, this means better forecasting, smarter decision-making, and more efficient processes across all areas of law.

The evolution of smart data is not just about managing existing data but transforming it into a tool for proactive management. Legal departments will be able to anticipate challenges and address them before they become problems. As data continues to evolve, legal teams must be ready to harness its full potential to enhance their work and the outcomes they deliver.

Smart data is more than just big data; it’s about creating actionable, relevant, and accessible information that can drive smarter decision-making. By integrating smart data into systems like ASCENT®, legal teams can gain real-time insights, streamline their workflows, and make better-informed decisions that contribute to the bottom line.

As the legal industry continues to evolve, leveraging smart data will become essential in maintaining a competitive edge. With the right tools and processes in place, legal teams can take control of their data, collaborate effectively, and ensure they are always ahead of the curve.