There must always be a base from which to innovate. With the underlying analysis, shifting funds from infrastructure to innovation is possible. If not, your infrastructure is at risk. In many situations, innovation may necessitate new corporate investment.
IT transformation is the comprehensive review and reworking of an organization’s IT infrastructure to increase effectiveness and delivery in a digital economy. Business leaders, such as the CIO, are in charge of IT transformation, which is the cornerstone of an organization’s overall digital transformation plan. It may entail updating and changing network infrastructure, hardware, software, IT service management, and the methods used to store and retrieve data. Informally, the motto “rip and replace” may be used to describe IT transition.
Table of Contents
The majority of consumers in the modern market want to feel exactly the same way when using technology for work as they do when using it for personal interests. However, a firm may find it challenging to accomplish this. Because of this, businesses are calling for more hybrid IT solutions that will ensure that customers receive the best possible service.
The ultimate goal of every corporate CEO is to increase staff productivity and effectiveness. This justifies the necessity of IT transformation. It offers significant solutions for crucial corporate processes, including finance and human resources.
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Businesses must take action to keep up with a market that is becoming more digital and competitive by not just improving their current systems but also developing and acquiring new applications and services that provide deeper insights into their operations, industry, and clientele. IT transformation frequently seeks to transition the IT department from a reactive, rigid organization to a proactive, adaptable component of the company that can react fast to shifting digital business requirements and make better-informed decisions.
The ultimate objective of these efforts, according to Deloitte, is to “reimagine IT development, delivery, and operating models, and to enhance IT’s ability to collaborate effectively within the enterprise and beyond its traditional boundaries.”
Making substantial changes to the way a corporation or organization operates is referred to as “business transformation.” Personnel, procedures, and technology are all included in this. Organizations that undergo these changes are better able to compete, become more efficient, or completely change their strategic direction.
Business transformations are large-scale, seismic adjustments that firms implement to spur development and change beyond the bounds of incremental improvements. The focus is broad and strategic, including changing to new operational or commercial models.
Business transformations are undertaken by organizations to increase value. To maximize the potential of the business, it can be necessary to optimize personnel potential, harness intellectual property and proprietary technology for other uses, or improve efficiency.
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Application transformation is the process used to analyze old software in a firm and evaluate whether applications can be modernized or moved to the cloud. The apparent first step is to take stock of what you already have, but for larger firms, some legacy systems contain layers of out-of-date languages with lost KT.
Plotting the application depending on its complexity and importance to the client and the organization’s future can therefore be the first step. From there, your “initial wave” efforts toward modernization will be those that are high-value and low-effort. The discovery process for application transformation makes it possible to choose the most appropriate course for modernization.
In order to supply automated services, cloud computing, and new operating models, successful IT transformation creates a strong core infrastructure. Additionally, it streamlines and quickens the deployment of IT services while lowering deployment risk. IT transformation paves the way for more affordable, flexible, and innovative IT as a service delivery.
Organizations may free their IT budget from operational costs and allocate more money for digital transformation by optimizing existing IT cost models. Better business-IT alignment is another benefit of IT transformation.
Since many firms were not founded in the digital era, they lack the freedom to quickly and totally take out and replace all current IT systems. These businesses must contend with outdated business models, software, and systems that limit their ability to transition while planning how to adopt contemporary techniques and methods. This involves diverting funds and resources from established programs to fresh IT transformation projects.
Like any significant organizational change, IT transformation has an impact on corporate culture, business standards, and workflow. In order to successfully convert an organization into a digital business, CIOs must first successfully navigate culture, according to research firm Gartner. In addition to organization-wide communication and training about new IT processes and technology, having a shared vision of the organization’s future state is crucial.
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If you’ve ever seen The Office, you’ve already witnessed (a drawn-out and undoubtedly imperfect) digital revolution over the course of 10 seasons. Although the purpose of this humorous example from pop culture was not to impart knowledge, it is a great illustration of how a traditional company and its workforce handled the transition to digital. Mike was not a strong supporter of the shift, but we shouldn’t dwell on that for too long; instead, we should move on to other examples of IT transformation in action.
One of the sectors affected most significantly by the development of digital technology is unquestionably logistics. UPS is a supply chain management and worldwide shipping business. Given that it was established in 1907, we believe that the digital revolution was simply one change in a lengthy series of changes. Although UPS shows it is not always true, established businesses often have greater trouble implementing IT transformation.
They created a fleet management solution in 2012 that employed machine learning to plan the most efficient delivery routes. The device markedly enhanced driver productivity while lowering fuel costs and carbon emissions. Software development is thought to be saving UPS $300M to $400M annually.
The implementation of numerous data-driven solutions to improve UPS’ internal operations is another illustration of the company’s IT transformation efforts (such as sorting packages, loading trucks, etc.).
UPS never stops and consistently takes on new tasks associated with its IT transformation. The company has saved hundreds of millions of dollars and is still one of the biggest shippers in the world since it actively adopted the shift.
The international behemoth Ikea creates and markets ready-to-assemble furniture and home decor. Ikea made the decision to go digital in 2018 after operating an analog business for over 80 years and becoming one of the most recognizable brands in the world.
The business made a choice to bring on board a digital guru to guide it through the procedure. At the beginning of 2018, former Google and Samsung advisor Barbara Martin Coppola joined the Ikea team as the Chief Digital Officer.
Ikea made the decision to modify its stores and use them as fulfillment centers in order to adapt to the new business model. They employed algorithms to manage the supply chain in order to run two businesses concurrently from the same location (from thousands of locations, including Ikea shops and delivery centers). Additionally, they concentrated on creating analytics and incorporating them into decision-making.
Ikea has the same clientele, both in-store and online. The business made the decision to link in-person and online contacts with customers in order to improve customer experience and maintain consistent branding across all channels. For instance, one may begin planning their new kitchen on the Ikea website before visiting the shop. They can locate themselves by connecting to a remote customer meeting location in the store.
Ikea, a retailer, concentrated on growing its online business. Running a traditional store and an internet store are completely different tasks. Running both at once is a very different matter. It is impossible to define the boundary between one phase of the IT transformation and another.
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IKEA must incorporate digital into every facet of its business, as stated by Barbara Martin Coppola. While the company’s ideals remain constant, the methods of operation change to reflect the evolving business and lifestyle environments.
American software business Adobe was established in 1982. Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and Illustrator are some major products you have definitely used.
Adobe Systems, the company’s previous name, offered boxed software back then. The business took a big risk by switching from a license-based approach to a subscription-based model when the 2008 financial crisis hit. It reorganized its service portfolio into three cloud-based solutions: Experience Cloud, Document Cloud, and Creative Cloud. This is how Adobe evolved into a cloud business using the now-ubiquitous SaaS (software-as-a-service) model.
In the meanwhile, they bought an e-commerce platform and a web analytics firm (Omniture) as part of their IT transformation (Magento) efforts. The business also understood that only with the top talent would they be able to accomplish their objectives. As a result, Adobe concentrated on ensuring employee satisfaction and made investments in developing an employer brand and employee-focused work culture. In order to keep track of the company’s health, they also used a data-driven operation model.
Rethinking and changing business models while keeping the client at the forefront of our attention is a part of digital transformation. The practice of utilizing digital technology in all business domains to either develop new processes and customer experiences or adjust existing ones will fundamentally enhance how firms provide value to their consumers.
It is essential to comprehend what digital transformation is not in order to have a greater understanding of what it is. Digital transformation does not just entail boosting your social media presence and engagement but also means overhauling your current business procedures. Every aspect of the business is affected by digital transformation, which goes beyond processes and products to affect the organization’s culture as well. This includes how decisions are made, who is hired, how post-sales service is provided, and even how employees interact with one another internally.
It’s wise to clarify right away that IT transformation is distinct from digitization, which is the process of converting anything from analog to digital, and distinct from digitalization, which is the efficient use of data to streamline tasks. The CTO and the CIO are typically in charge of leading digital transformation, and they may collaborate with suppliers to partially or wholly outsource their transformation process.
These two names are frequently confused with one another and used interchangeably. Let’s examine the distinctions between the two so that you may develop a digital transformation strategy that is appropriate for your company.
The overall approach for digital transformation must include IT change. This simply suggests that IT transformation is necessary for digital transformation to occur. A digital transformation’s foundation is formed through IT transformation.
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The digital transformation of a business affects its people, processes, products, and culture. The digitization of information systems like ERP and others, in contrast, aims to boost productivity and automate more processes. The approach behind digital transformation is customer-driven, with a focus on the preferences and happiness of the customer. IT transformation may not have a strong customer-centric focus and instead focuses mostly on enhancing the IT infrastructure by utilizing the advantages of the most recent technologies.
While IT transformation primarily falls under the purview of IT managers and teams, a digital transformation project necessitates the effort and participation of the entire business. Unlike IT transformation, which is driven by one function, digital transformation is a company-wide progression.
The size of their spheres of influence is another distinction between the two. The scope of IT transformation is restricted to changes in infrastructure, such as cloud computing, network needs, hardware, software, and data management. On the other hand, digital transformation uses all of these tools and covers every aspect that has an impact on an organization, making it far more comprehensive.
Digital transformation lacks an “end state,” whereas IT transformation has a well-defined ending state and aim. This is due to the fact that the process of digital transformation is constantly changing and requires good long-term management of changes in technology, business, and consumer behavior.
There will always be a need for creative strategies that foresee and satisfy client expectations as a result of emerging technologies and changing market dynamics. You may promote a culture of constant change that fuels the expansion of your company by looking at chances to provide relevant solutions for stakeholders and boost operational efficiencies with the cloud.
Despite the numerous advantages of digital transformation, firms frequently fail to realize them for a variety of reasons, one of which is failing to select the appropriate strategic partner to assist with the process. For a long-term, cost-effective, and significant transformation, you must work with a seasoned organization that matches the digital transformation techniques with your unique business demands.
The Treehouse Tech group, which has years of experience in digital transformation and automation, is committed to creating data-led digital transformations that keep businesses ahead of the curve by combining big data with cutting-edge analytical software and cloud architecture.
IT transformation is the process of using digital technologies to reinvent your company for the benefit of both you and your consumers. Running it effectively requires a fundamental change in perspective, yet there don’t seem to be many other options. The clientele has already embraced the digital era; therefore, going digital offers more benefits than just a strategic advantage.
Because of the quickly changing environment (VUCA) and the gradual adoption of technology, businesses are under tremendous strain. In light of this, a well-planned and executed digital transformation strategy may alter one’s place in the race while also leaving one with an open mind and the foundation for future success.
One of the biggest advantages of IT transformation is that it will enable your company to gather and analyze data that it can turn into insights that generate money. In the past, you may have collected and used no data, or your data may have been dispersed over numerous disconnected platforms. Strong data collecting, centralized data storage, and the development of technologies to evaluate and transform data into information that supports informed business decision-making will be made possible by digital transformation.

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October 26, 2022 06:55 ET | Source: Garrett Motion Inc. Garrett Motion Inc.
Wilmington, Delaware, UNITED STATES
Third Quarter 2022 Highlights

YTD 2022 Highlights
ROLLE, Switzerland, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Garrett Motion Inc. (Nasdaq: GTX, GTXAP), a leading differentiated technology provider for the automotive industry, today announced its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2022.
* See reconciliations to the nearest GAAP measure in pages 5-13
“I am very pleased with third quarter results. The expected recovery in third quarter volumes, along with strong operating performance, helped to offset inflation while driving robust third quarter cash generation. This is another proof point of our ability to perform well despite a volatile environment. Garrett’s consistent track record of strong performance enabled us to recently pay our first cash dividend on the Series A preferred stock, as we continue to make progress toward a full normalization of our capital structure,” said Olivier Rabiller, Garrett President and CEO.
“While there are still uncertainties on a macro level, we now expect stable fourth quarter demand in-line with third quarter’s increased volumes. We remain confident in the strength of our core business even as we anticipate the need to flex our highly variable cost structure to address the risk of potential recession.”
Results of Operations
Net sales for the third quarter of 2022 were $945 million, representing an increase of 13% (including an unfavorable impact of $105 million or 12% due to foreign currency translation) compared with $839 million in the third quarter of 2021. The increase in net sales was driven by successful recoveries on inflation pass through and higher volumes which were impacted last year by the global semiconductor shortage.
Cost of goods sold for the third quarter of 2022 was $767 million compared with $676 million in the third quarter of 2021 primarily due to higher volumes, unfavorable product mix and inflation on commodities, transportation and energy which contributed to an increase of $84 million, $34 million and $52 million, respectively. In addition there was a $7 million increase in Research and development (“R&D”) costs which reflects our shift in investment in new technologies and headcount increase year-over-year. This increase was partially offset by favorable foreign currency impacts which contributed to a decrease of $72 million and continued focus on productivity of $14 million.
Gross profit totaled $178 million for the third quarter of 2022 as compared to $163 million in the third quarter of 2021, with a gross profit percentage for the third quarter of 2022 of 18.8% as compared to 19.4% in the third quarter of 2021. The increase in gross profit was primarily due to higher sales volume which impacted gross profit by $37 million and $43 million of inflation recoveries from customer pass-through agreements net of pricing reductions. Gross profit also increased by $22 million from higher productivity and $6 million due to a favorable product mix. These increases were partially offset by $52 million on commodities, transportation and energy costs inflation, $7 million of higher R&D costs and $34 million of unfavorable foreign currency translational, transactional and hedging effects.
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the third quarter of 2022 decreased to $57 million from $60 million in the third quarter of 2021 primarily due to $6 million of favorable impact from foreign exchange rates, $3 million lower professional service fees partially offset by increase in bad debt expenses. As a percentage of net sales, SG&A for the third quarter of 2022 was 6.0% down from 7.1% in 2021.
Interest expense in the third quarter of 2022 was $18 million as compared to $25 million in the third quarter of 2021. The decrease is primarily due to $11 million of lower accretion on our Series B Preferred Stock, which as of June 30, 2022, has been redeemed in full, partially offset by $3 million of higher interest expense on our current Dollar term loan facility.
Non-operating income increased to $29 million in the third quarter of 2022 from $4 million in the third quarter of 2021. The increase in income is primarily related to $25 million of interest income recorded in 2022 from unrealized marked-to-market gains on interest rate swaps.
Reorganization items – net was nil in the third quarter of 2022 related to professional services for the Company’s Chapter 11 cases. In the third quarter of 2021, Reorganization items – net amounted to $9 million gain, representing the reversal of excess accrual of professional service fees related to the Chapter 11 Cases.
Net Income for the third quarter of 2022 was $105 million as compared to $63 million in the third quarter of 2021. The increase of $42 million is primarily as a result of $15 million of higher gross profit and $25 million of higher non-operating income, as discussed in the above sections. The net income margin increased to 11.1% in the third quarter of 2022 as compared to 7.5% in the third quarter of 2021.
Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $61 million in the third quarter of 2022 as compared to a usage of cash of $55 million in the third quarter of 2021, primarily due to favorable impacts from working capital of $31 million and $42 million from net income as mentioned above.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA increased to $146 million in the third quarter of 2022 as compared to $134 million in the third quarter of 2021. The increase was mainly due to a 15% increase in volume, improved productivity and inflation pass-through net of pricing, partially offset by commodities, transportation and energy inflation, as well as unfavorable foreign exchange impacts. The Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 15.4% in the third quarter of 2022 as compared to 16.0% in the third quarter of 2021.
Adjusted free cash flow, which excludes reorganization items, repositioning charges (primarily severance costs related to internal restructuring projects) and stock compensation expense, was $120 million in the third quarter of 2022 as compared with a usage of $63 million in the third quarter of 2021. The increase in adjusted free cash flow was primarily due to increased volumes and higher cash flow from working capital.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2022, Garrett had $634 million in available liquidity, including $159 million in cash and cash equivalents and approximately $475 million of undrawn commitments under its revolving credit facility. As of June 30, 2022, Garrett had $621 million in available liquidity, including $146 million in cash and cash equivalents and approximately $475 million undrawn commitments under its revolving credit facility.
As of September 30, 2022, total principal amount of debt outstanding totaled $1,146 million, down from $1,180 million as of June 30, 2022.
Emergence from Chapter 11
As previously announced, on April 30, 2021, Garrett emerged from its pending Chapter 11 cases, successfully completing the restructuring process and implementing the Plan of Reorganization that was confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.
Full Year 2022 Outlook
Garrett is providing the following outlook for the full year 2022 for certain GAAP and Non-GAAP financial measures.
* See reconciliations to the nearest GAAP measure in pages 5-13.
Garrett’s full year 2022 outlook, as of October 26, 2022, includes the following expectations:

Conference Call
Garrett will host a conference call on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 at 8:30 am Eastern Time / 2:30 pm Central European Time. The conference call will be broadcast over the Internet and include a slide presentation. To access the webcast and supporting materials, please visit the investor relations section of Garrett’s website at http://investors.garrettmotion.com/. The webcast will be archived on Garrett’s website for replay.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements including without limitation our statements regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, inflationary pressure on Garrett’s business and management’s inflation mitigation strategies, financial results and financial conditions, industry trends and anticipated demand for our products, Garrett’s strategy, anticipated supply constraints, including with respect to semiconductor, anticipated developments in emissions standards, trends including with respect to production volatility and volume, Garrett’s capital structure, anticipated new product development plans for the future including expected R&D expenditures, anticipated impacts of partnerships with third parties, and Garrett’s outlook for 2022. Although we believe forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which may cause the actual results or performance of Garrett to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, as well as our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This release includes the following Non-GAAP financial measures which are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”): constant currency sales growth, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow. The Non-GAAP financial measures provided herein are adjusted for certain items as presented in the Appendix containing Non-GAAP Reconciliations and may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other companies in our industry, as other companies may define such measures differently. Management believes that, when considered together with reported amounts, these measures are useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and analysis of ongoing operating trends. Garrett believes that the Non-GAAP measures presented herein are important indicators of operating performance because they exclude the effects of certain items, therefore making them more closely reflect our operational performance. These metrics should be considered in addition to, and not as replacements for, the most comparable GAAP measure. For additional information with respect to our Non-GAAP financial measures, see the Appendix to this presentation and our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022.
About Garrett Motion Inc.
Garrett Motion is a differentiated technology leader, serving customers worldwide for more than 65 years with passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, aftermarket replacement and performance enhancement solutions. Garrett’s cutting-edge technology enables vehicles to become safer, more connected, efficient and environmentally friendly. Our portfolio of turbocharging, electric boosting and automotive software solutions empowers the transportation industry to redefine and further advance motion. For more information, please visit www.garrettmotion.com.


GARRETT MOTION INC.
CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


GARRETT MOTION INC.
CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME


GARRETT MOTION INC.
CONSOLIDATED INTERIM BALANCE SHEETS


GARRETT MOTION INC.


Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾
(1)  We evaluate performance on the basis of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. We define “EBITDA” as our net income calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, plus the sum of net interest expense, tax expense and depreciation. We define “Adjusted EBITDA” as EBITDA, plus the sum of net reorganization items, stock compensation expense, repositioning costs, net foreign exchange (gain)/loss on debt, loss on extinguishment on debt, discounting costs on factoring and other non-operating income. We believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are important indicators of operating performance and provide useful information for investors because:
In addition, our management may use Adjusted EBITDA in setting performance incentive targets to align performance measurement with operational performance.
(2)  The Company applied ASC 852 for periods subsequent to the September 20, 2020, the date the Company and certain of its subsidiaries each filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code, to distinguish transactions and events that were directly associated with the Company’s reorganization from the ongoing operations of the business. Accordingly, certain expenses and gains incurred during the Chapter 11 cases are recorded within Reorganization items, net in the Consolidated Interim Statements of Operations.
(3)  Stock compensation expense includes only non-cash expenses.
(4)  Repositioning costs includes severance costs related to restructuring projects to improve future productivity.
(5)  Reflects the non-service component of net periodic pension costs and other income that are non-recurring or not considered directly related to the Company’s operations.
(6)  Professional service costs consist of professional service fees related to strategic planning for the Company. Costs incurred in 2021 relate to strategic planning activities for the Company which occurred following the Effective Date. We consider these costs to be unrelated to our ongoing core business operations.
(7)  The canton of Vaud, Switzerland generally provides for crediting the cantonal corporate income tax against capital tax. There was no income tax payable for the period ended September 30, 2021 and therefore the 2021 capital tax due of $2 million was recorded in SG&A.
(8)  Adjusted EBITDA margin represents Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales.


Reconciliation of Constant Currency Sales % Change⁽¹⁾
(1)  We previously referred to “constant currency sales growth” as “organic sales growth.” We define constant currency sales growth as the year-over-year change in reported sales relative to the comparable period, excluding the impact on sales from foreign currency translation. This is the same definition we previously used for “organic sales growth”. We believe this measure is useful to investors and management in understanding our ongoing operations and in analysis of ongoing operating trends.


Reconciliation of Cash Flow from Operations to Adjusted Free Cash Flow⁽¹⁾
(1)  Chapter 11 related cash interests increased by $21 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 after full reconciliation of all reorganization items done in 2021.
(2)  Q1 2021 Adjusted free cash flow was restated to reflect updated definition which excludes liquidity actions such as sales of receivables.
(3)  Adjusted free cash flow reflects an additional way of viewing liquidity that management believes is useful to investors in analyzing the Company’s ability to service and repay its debt. The Company defines adjusted free cash flow as cash flow provided from operating activities less capital expenditures and additionally adjusted for other discretionary items including Chapter 11 related items and cash flow impacts for factoring and guaranteed bank notes activity.


Full Year 2022 Outlook Reconciliation of Reported Net Sales to Net Sales Growth at Constant Currency


Full Year 2022 Outlook Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA


Full Year 2022 Outlook Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Adjusted Free Cash Flow

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by Elizabeth Gonzalez | Updated Aug. 5, 2022 – First published on May 18, 2022
Image source: Getty Images
Managing people effectively is a critical function of any human resources (HR) department. But managing the mountain of paperwork that comes along with it is just as important to the success of your business.
A successful HR document management strategy protects sensitive data, enhances administrative efficiency, and protects your business from risk. It also empowers your leadership teams with data to drive better decision making.
With the following steps, your business can cut the HR paper mountain down to size and make your HR documents work for your teams.
HR document management involves managing the entire lifecycle of employee documents to ensure proper storage of required records, controlled access to documents and information, and timely disposal of obsolete files.
While it takes time to create file management strategies for your small business, your investment will pay off in the following benefits.
The most compelling reason to have a formal, effective document strategy in place for HR is the law. Numerous federal laws require employers to store certain employee records.
Some must be stored in a secure environment. Many have specific retention periods. Your document storing system helps ensure that you comply with all of the relevant requirements.
In addition to federal requirements, you need to be able to readily access employee documents to answer regulatory audits and inquiries, employee complaints, and lawsuits.
For example, if an employee lodges a discrimination complaint, you may need to access performance appraisals, compensation data, time and attendance records, hiring documents, and more.
If the complaint grows into an investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), you may need to provide similar documents covering an entire class of employees. Often these requests are time-sensitive.
A document management policy ensures that you can produce the full HR records you need promptly.
Employers are also legally required to secure sensitive employee data, including medical information, information on disabilities, Social Security numbers, and other personal information.
A document management system prescribes security protocols to meet those requirements. Examples include locking physical files, securing computers and other information technology (IT) equipment when not in use, and protecting electronic data with passwords and encryption.
The only thing worse than working through a mountain of administrative paperwork is climbing that mountain over and over again, hunting for documents and recreating lost data. A document management plan is critical for efficient, organized HR administration.
An effective document management policy streamlines document access and sharing for efficient workflows. When you have a clear location and path for every document, you can ensure that the right documents are available to the right people on demand.
HR electronic document management further enhances data flow and access.

Software such as DocSend makes document management easier. Image source: Author
No matter the size of your business, you can create a working document strategy that will save you time and headaches using the following steps:
Start by identifying all of the human resource documents your business collects. These are the typical documents needed to manage HR functions:
For every HR document you collect or create, ask yourself:
Next, you need to assign expiration dates and triggers for your documents. Triggers are events that would start the expiration clock ticking on a document. For example, many documents must be retained for a year following an employee’s departure, so termination would be a trigger for those documents.
When setting retention parameters, some questions to consider include:
Another aspect your document management plan needs to encompass is security. Some areas to evaluate include:
Now that you’ve gathered all of this information for each document type, you can begin to group it to create storage, access, workflow, and archiving plans. The following steps will help you convert your data into a working plan:

M-Files is another highly-rated document management software. Image source: Author
Many of your documents and records may already be managed via payroll or HR software. You may also want to consider dedicated HR document management software to automate document generation, access, and workflows.
Many document management systems provide automatic notifications of trigger events and other features to make it easier to manage your HR paperwork.
Digital document management also makes it easy to ensure data security with encryption, password protection, and periodic audits.
A comprehensive, organized data management system does more than save you administrative time and headaches; it gives you control.
When complaints or legal challenges arise, you have the evidence at your fingertips to respond promptly and defend your business. When your HR team is planning and strategizing, you have ready access to data to illuminate opportunities and inform decisions.
If you have questions about how you’re doing, you’ll have the tools to get quick answers. That’s an outcome worth planning for.
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Elizabeth Gonzalez is a legal and regulatory expert writing for The Ascent and The Motley Fool.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
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Beachwear Market Size
Beachwear Market Analysis By Key Players Industry Growth Size Share Trends Sales Forecast And Supply Demand & Forecast By 2031
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, October 27, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — This comprehensive analysis of the fastest-growing Beachwear market provides insights that will help stakeholders identify both opportunities and challenges. The 2022 market could see another significant year for Beachwear. This report provides insights into the company's activities and financial status (company profiles are needed if you are looking to raise capital or win investors), recent developments (Mergers and Acquisitions), and the most up-to-date SWOT analysis. This report focuses on the Beachwear market during the 2031 evaluation period. This report also includes a Beachwear market growth analysis that incorporates Porter's five-factor analysis as well as supply chain analysis.
The industry's behavior is discussed in detail. It also outlines the future direction to help businesses and other stakeholders make informed decisions that will ensure strong profits over the coming years. This report will provide a practical overview of the global market and its changing environment to help readers make informed decisions about market projects. This report will focus on growth opportunities that will allow the market to expand its operations in existing markets.
Get Sample with Latest Trends and Future Advancements at: https://market.us/report/beachwear-market/request-sample/
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This report helps both major players and new entrants to analyze the market in-depth. This will help the leading players decide on their business strategy and set goals. This report provides critical market information, including Beachwear market size, growth rates and forecasts in key regions and countries, as well as growth opportunities in niche markets.
The Beachwear report contains data based on rigorous primary and second-level research using proven research methods. This report provides all-around information that aids in the estimation of every part of the Beachwear market. This report was created by considering several aspects of market research and analysis. These include market size estimates, market dynamics, company and market best practices. Entry-level marketing strategies, positioning, segmentation, competitive landscaping and economic forecasting. Industry-specific technology solutions, roadmap analysis, targeting key buying criteria and in-depth benchmarking of vendor offerings.
The following Top manufacturers are assessed in this report
Aimer
American Apparel
Diana Sport
Equatorsun
Jantzen
La Perla Group
MOONBASA
NOZONE
ONeill Inc
PARAH S.p.A
Pentland Group
Perry Ellis
PVH
Quiksilver
Seafolly
Seaspray
Swimco
The Wet Seal
TYR Sport
VF Corporation
Wacoal
Worldwide Beachwear Market Statistics by Types:
Swimsuits
Bench Dress
Worldwide Beachwear Market Outlook by Applications:
Men
Women
Kids 
Some of the major geographies included in this report are:
– North America (the U.S and Canada and the rest of North America)
– Europe (Germany, France, Italy and Rest of Europe)
– Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
– LAMEA (Brazil, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Rest of LAMEA)
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The key highlights of the report:
1. Industry trends (2015-2020 historic and future 2022-2031)
2. Key regulations
3. Technology roadmap
4. Intellectual property analysis
5. Value chain analysis
6. Porter’s Five Forces Model, PESTLE and SWOT Analysis 
These are the questions that the research document will answer:
How is the Beachwear market along with regions like North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and the Middle East and Africa are growing?
What cutting-edge technologies are responsible for driving market growth?
What are the major applications of Beachwear market? What growth prospects are there for the market applications?
What stage are the key products on the Beachwear market?
What are the challenges that the Global (North America and Europe and Asia-Pacific and South America) must overcome to be commercially viable? Are their growth and commercialization dependent on cost declines or technological/application breakthroughs?
What are the prospects for the Beachwear Market?
What is the difference between performance characteristics of Beachwear and established entities?
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These are the reasons to invest in this report
1. Beachwear market provides an analysis of the changing competitive environment.
2. Analytical data and strategic planning methods are involved to help businesses make informed decisions.
3. 10-year assessment for Beachwear Market.
4. It allows you to understand the key product segments.
5. Market.us team shed light on market dynamics such as drivers and restraints, trends and opportunities.
6. It provides a regional analysis of the Beachwear Market as well as business profiles for several stakeholders.
7. It provides massive data on trending factors that can influence the development of the Beachwear Market.
View Detailed of Beachwear Market Research Report, Click The Link Here : https://market.us/report/beachwear-market/
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Adobe introduced an e-signature software designed specifically for small businesses to the Adobe Document Cloud lineup. Adobe Sign intends to help small businesses digitize when used in conjunction with other Adobe document technologies.
Adobe Sign is directed at pen-and-paper processes that slow down business like contracts and approvals, payments and invoices, and customer onboarding. 
According to research from Adobe, paper-based processes are the No. 1 impediment to business operations for small businesses, and 75% still use pen and paper to sign documents.
Adobe Sign for small businesses intends to simplify these processes with just enough features for SMB operations without the bulk and cost of Adobe Document Cloud for Enterprise. The small business offering brings the following capabilities:
Small business Adobe users reported that they did not need many features offered in the enterprise edition, such as some PDF services, automated workflows and prebuilt integrations, among others. According to the vendor, Adobe Sign has just enough capabilities to help SMBs digitize at a lower cost and less commitment.
According to Gartner, digitization is crucial for growth and to remain competitive, and Adobe Sign might be that first step for SMBs, according to the vendor. In an Adobe survey, 84% of small businesses agreed that going digital is important, but only 3% have begun to digitize.
Other commonly used e-signature software such as DocuSign, SignNow and SignRequest offer many of the same sign-request capabilities as Adobe, but the vendor claims its suite of document software — such as Reader and Scan — and its research on and targeted development for small businesses distinguishes itself from competitors.
E-Handbook: Adobe Sign business workflows bypass COVID-19 restrictions
Up Next
Adobe Sign’s automated digital processes help businesses transition from in-person pen-and-paper signings to e-signature processes amid lockdowns and social distancing.
As part of its 2022 digital strategy, TSB has begun rolling out electronic forms designed in Adobe XD and processed using Adobe Sign
To offer a simpler e-signature software, Adobe introduced Adobe Sign for small businesses.
Some tips to think about when creating an e-signing process include cataloging documents requiring signatures, building user stories and determining necessary software features.
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The graph database vendor moves to support openCypher to attract customers unfamiliar with its GSQL query language while the …
InfluxData updated its InfluxDB Cloud database service with a new engine, new storage and real-time data capabilities and …
Data quality challenges pose a threat to organizations’ decision-making. Inaccurate, inconsistent, missing and duplicate data …
PostgreSQL database-as-a-service vendor launches a cloud service that integrates features designed to accelerate data migration …
In this Q&A, Stephen Keys of IFS discusses why sustainability projects for organizations are complex undertakings, but the data …
Some companies may require CRM software in addition to their ERP system. Learn more about CRM vs. ERP and whether your company …
The industrial sector has a massive carbon footprint. That’s why some companies are working to clean up steel and cement and find…
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Oracle plans to acquire Cerner in a deal valued at about $30B. The second-largest EHR vendor in the U.S. could inject new life …
The Supreme Court ruled 6-2 that Java APIs used in Android phones are not subject to American copyright law, ending a …
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Over its 50-year history, SAP rode business and technology trends to the top of the ERP industry, but it now is at a crossroads …
Third-party support providers make a pitch that they can provide greater flexibility at a lower cost, but customers should think …
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Legal operations have evolved drastically in recent years.  Given the ongoing embrace of digital transformation, organizations must embrace automated contract management software tools that support remote contract collaboration and intelligent workflow automation.  As such, here are the top three legal technology trends of 2022.
Legal Technology
Legal technology can be understood as any digital tool used to automate legal operations, including contract lifecycle management processes.  Legal technology has become critical for organizations to maintain efficiency and control as contract complexity and contract volume grow.  Organizations that fail to embrace digital transformation with legal technology risk falling behind and losing value from their contracts.
# 1 – Web-Based Contract Management Tools for Remote Legal Operations
The capacity for organizations to support remote operations has proven essential.  Organizations managing their contracts must consistently improve and evolve for ever-increasing support of remote legal operations.  Efficient contract collaboration is nothing short of critical.
Luckily, leading contract management software solutions have immensely helped organizations from myriad industries in public and private sectors with remote work.  To that end, trusted contract management software solutions offer:
A highly effective way to support remote contract collaboration as its need becomes ever more apparent is to adopt and implement robust, web-enabled CLM software.
# 2 – Online, Web-Based Document Editing
Naturally, the need for organizations to support remote contract management operations has greatly affected contract collaboration and contract document editing.  Luckily, organizations can leverage a leading-edge contract management software solution to edit contract documents online collaboratively.
Fortunately, leading contract lifecycle management software supports in-system online document editing that grants organizations a low-friction and centralized document management experience.  Organizations can:
create new documents straight from one of their contract record information pages. import new .docx and PDF documents straight onto a contract record information page. and edit existing documents within a contract record information page with virtually no friction.
During the document editing process, organizations can easily insert clauses from their pre-approved clause library.  Files are then automatically attached to the relevant contract record information page – while subsequent edits made to documents are automatically tracked as updated versions.

Moreover, seamless Google Workspace and MS Office 365 connectors can enhance online contract collaboration.  Such connectors can support concurrent and web-based online document management. Organizations can enjoy a splendidly low-friction process – which is especially helpful for working with multiple disparate stakeholders!
# 3 – Contract AI With Machine Learning for Intelligent CLM
Even before the need for seamless support of remote work arose, organizations needed to embrace digital transformation to automate the contracting process.  Thankfully, robust contract management software is built on contract artificial intelligence with machine learning.
AI-based contract management software built on a foundation of machine learning can allow organizations to "drag and drop" contract documents into their CLM system – automating and streamlining contract data extraction processes and classifying contract data.
For managing multiple documents for "drag and drop" record creation, AI-based CLM software allows users to manage multiple documents for processing via a convenient queue.
Contract intelligence can also support natural language processing (NLP) for automated data extraction, data pre-processing, and auto-fill of important information within organizations' contract records.  With automated document clause detection, organizations can easily compare the similarity of newly introduced clauses to those within their pre-approved clause library.  From there, clauses can easily be added to said library or training data for an ever more intelligent CLM process.
Organizations can leverage contract AI to configure rules to identify and secure sensitive contract data points for enhanced data classification and data protection.  This data protection process can help organizations establish data parameters for specific data points while consolidating and classifying that data.  Organizations can save time by allowing contract artificial intelligence to process such tedious tasks and data import analysis.
Organizations around the world have improved their contract management risk response plans.  Contract management software users can leverage graphic-based risk rating and risk mapping features with contract artificial intelligence.  Such tools provide valuable insight for assessing risk variables.  For example, a visually engaging risk assessment matrix can present organizations with risk exposure and risk probability patterns at a glance.  This risk visibility can help organizations enact their risk response plans quickly and effectively.

The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of seamless contract data searching for organizations around the world.  For example, the ability for organizations to find force majeure clauses has been proven essential – given the "acts of God" that organizations have beyond their control.
User-friendly contract management software powered by contract AI allows organizations to search for contract documents, contract data, contract clauses, contract counterparties, contract key dates, contract status, and so much more.  Advanced contract lifecycle management software solutions offer all of the aforementioned tools as well as the ability to access search history, saved searches, and more.
A leading contract intelligence engine with machine learning also allows organizations to manage contracts from their MS Outlook email interface.  Organizations can create contract record information pages from email attachments, "drag and drop" contract documents attached to emails for the intelligent data extraction and classification processes mentioned above, and so much more!
Implement 2022 Legal Technology Trends With Leading CLM Software
To face the evolution of digital transformation, the need for remote work, and any other changes, organizations must choose a contract lifecycle management platform that can maximize the legal technology trends of 2022 and beyond.
To see future-minded CLM software in action, click here.
To stay up to date on contract lifecycle management best practices, industry news, and legal tech innovations, click here.
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Cyber Warfare
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Attackers could ‘take full control of the infrastructure’, warn researchers
UPDATED A vulnerability in Free IPA could lead to XML external entity (XXE) attacks, researchers have warned.
FreeIPA is a free and open source identity management system and is the upstream project of Red Hat Identity Management.
A flaw, tracked as CVE-2022-2414, was found in the pki-core package, a security advisory from Red Hat warns.
Read more of the latest news about security vulnerabilities
“Access to external entities when parsing XML documents can lead to XML external entity attacks.
“This flaw allows a remote attacker to potentially retrieve the content of arbitrary files by sending specially crafted HTTP requests.”
XXE allows injecting arbitrary entities into an XML document and performing malicious actions such as local file reading or sending HTTP requests into an internal network.

The latter could lead to remote code execution (RCE) if there are unpatched applications inside an internal network.

The vulnerability, which has a severity rating of 7.5 (high), was discovered by researcher Egor Dimintrenko of security research team PT Swarm.

The security flaw takes place in the certification system, called DogTag, Dimitrenko told The Daily Swig.

“DogTag can be used as a PKI service for any project, but it’s well known as a part of FreeIPA system. Since DogTag is integrated into FreeIPA, FreeIPA is vulnerable if still unpatched,” he said.

“It’s also worth mentioning that main impact of the vulnerability is a risk of configuration file reading, which contains password for Directory Manager user,” Dimitrenko said.

“Directory Manager is a main entity in the application and control Directory Server. By compromising this user, an attacker is able to connect to directory server and read any high sensitive data like user credentials and then make a lateral movement in infrastructure.

“Particularly in FreeIPA this configuration file doesn’t contain a Directory Manager password by default, but in some cases it takes place, for example when an administrator change Directory Manager password.”

The vulnerability affects Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6-9 and Red Hat Certificate System 9 and 10.

Dimitrenko said that exploitation of the bug is “extremely simple” due to the fact that it doesn’t require any credentials and an attacker just has to find an accessible endpoint.

The vulnerability has been patched by Red Hat in all versions apart from Linux 6, which is out of scope. There are no known mitigations available and Red Hat urges users to update.

Dimitrenko commented: “It’s nice to see that there are many companies which support responsible disclosure and communicate with researchers, instead of ignoring them and hiding their problems.”
This article has been updated to include further comment.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Secure Open Source Rewards program launched to help protect critical upstream software
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Most people have grown up using Microsoft Office softwares, and they cannot believe there are other different softwares that can perform the same functions. The WBS alternatives are suites that contain tools that may include spreadsheets, presentations, and writers. WPS Office has grown in popularity because it is free, lightweight, and feature-rich. However, if WPS does not work for you, there is no need to worry because there are many other alternatives to choose from.
Since more and more work is being done online, the demand for office suites has grown sharply in recent years. With the new software, developers have focused on coming up with smaller, more efficient, less expensive products.
In most cases, WPS alternatives are office suites, but others are just word processors or spreadsheet applications. This means if you have to choose a WPS alternative, you must consider its functionality before doing so. According to Rigorous Themes, below are the top 10 WPS alternatives:
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This is the most popular office suite and usually comes preinstalled on most devices. It is also the best because it is reliable and secure. Users are assured of high-end security when using Microsoft Office. It has a wide range of tools that can be used for personal and business purposes.
The software has also evolved and is frequently updated with modernized toolsets. There are always new features being added. Some of the latest tools it offers include modern visuals, improved navigation, and search functions. The biggest setback for Microsoft Office is that it costs even for personal use. However, it gives value for money because users get 1TB of file storing and sharing and dedicated support.
As far as WPS alternatives are concerned, Google Workspace is among the easiest to set up and use. It is also more reliable and organized. The software was initially known as GSuite before being rebranded and Google Workspace. The tools offered by Google Workspace are available directly in the cloud, so you don’t have to install them. It, therefore, works best for people who are in a hurry to get things done quickly.
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One advantage of Workspace is that it has more tools and applications than WPS. Some tools available here are Calendar, Gmail, Sheets, Docs, Forms, Slides, Chat, Sites, and Meet. It also has security features such as Endpoint, Vault, Admin, and Work Insights. With Google Workspace, it is easy to collaborate in real-time and share everything with other Gmail users.
OfficeSuite is the best software for people who want the same features as those in WPS Premium or Microsoft Office but on a budget because it is free. The tools that are available in the free OfficeSuite are Documents, Sheets, Slides, Mail, and PDF. The PDF feature makes OfficeSuite better than WPS because the latter does not have it.
The OfficeSuite software is designed to work with all standard formats from other tools like OpenDocument formats, Microsoft Office formats, and other formats such as ZIP. It is also great when it comes to shareability because it supports third-party integrations, including Google Drive and Dropbox. Even more, features can be found in the paid version of OfficeSuite, which costs $29.99 per year.
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Docs to Go is among the most effortless WPS alternatives, and it is free. It is supported by an app that allows users to work on documents from anywhere they go. It comes with Doc, PPT, XLS, and PDF tools. It is, therefore, most suitable for individuals who want to view, edit and create documents from scratch. In addition to storing documents on your device, you also have the option of keeping them in the cloud.
The files created using Docs to Go are compatible with other office suites; hence issues cannot arise from sharing them. Another cool thing is that changes can be made to the document while in the cloud. The software has a file manager that is intended to make navigation easy.
This WPS alternative is excellent for people who want to manage files on their smartphones. It is a smartphone office suite app that comes with features such as Presentations, Documents, Spreadsheets, and PDFs. It is compatible with other office suite formats; hence there won’t be a problem when sharing documents created using it.
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SmartOffice is a light app since it is designed for mobile use. It is equipped with features that can view, edit, convert, share and print from your smartphone. The application can also be beneficial to enterprises because it can be integrated into other tools and customized.
WPS may not be best suited for Apple computers and laptops, which is why iWork is the best alternative created for the Mac Operating System. It is Apple’s native office app designed to work with documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other files on the Apple computer. Some of the top apps in the software include Numbers, Pages, and Keynotes.
iWork has other design tools and templates that can simplify your work. When connected to the internet, you can easily work and collaborate with other iWork users in real-time. Other valuable features include shapes, photos, charts, and pictures. This software costs $79, but it is also possible to purchase specific apps separately.
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Polaris Office is a suite that has Sheet, Word, PDF, Slide, HWP, and ODT. Polaris Office apps can be used online without the need to install them. It is complemented by a smartphone app that can facilitate working even when one is away from the computer. It has more features than WPS, including the ability to improve content styles and the tracking of changes.
The tools available on Polaris Office load faster, which makes it a good option for scrolling through large files. This also makes it practical for editing large-sized documents regardless of the device used. The software ensures the security of your documents both on your device and in the cloud. Polaris is not free, but it is affordable.
Collabora Office is a WPS alternative that caters to the needs of enterprises and businesses. The suite has tools specifically designed for enterprises who want to install the tool on-premises, thus allowing them to keep all their data on the company servers. It is an enterprise version of LibreOffice.
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Some of the tools available in the software include centralized deployment management, LTS support, support & service, mobile app, cloud, and constant updates to keep the software up to date. Its features include Presentations, Spreadsheets, Text, and Databases. With Collabora Office, it is possible for a company to have custom features depending on its needs.
The SaaS provider, Zoho Workplace, provides a workplace environment that blends office suite and team management systems. As a result, it facilitates the collaboration of teams in addition to the tools for working with files. Some of the tools that can be used here are Word Processor, Spreadsheet, and Presentation.
Other extra features in Zoho Workplace include Email, File Management, and Online Meetings. It provides context to your work, continuity for your team, convenience for all involved, and collaboration for enterprises. Through the software, it is possible to work on files and documents anywhere you go.
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Hancom Office is great because of its sharing and collaboration features, especially for those working in teams. The tools are available not just for desktops but also for smartphones and even for web browsers. As a result, it is easy for people to collaborate and work together from wherever they are.
Among the top tools available in Hancom Office are Cell, Word, Show, and PDF. This enables users to process word documents, keep spreadsheets or even work with PDFs. In addition, files can be imported from other formats and edited with powerful tools that are easy to use.
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You don’t have to get stuck with your office needs just because a single software is not working. While many top office suites are paid for, many equally reliable ones are free. Most WBS alternatives are compatible with major operating systems and have many office features. It is also essential to consider your needs before selecting office software because if you are handling sensitive information, you may require one that is more sophisticated than WPS.
Tuko.co.ke shared an article about AdwCleaner alternatives. Some companies are slowly turning to advertisement-supported software to market their products and services. While some hardware programs are legitimate, most are malicious and pose a threat to a user. In most instances, they may spy on users or intentionally install viruses into one’s device.
AdwCleaner is among the best freeware tools known for keeping internet browsers free from sneaky malware such as adware. The program eliminates strange pop-ups and unwanted programs that may slow down your computer or smartphone. Its alternatives make the internet even safer to browse.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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Lawyers have a disparate array of technology tools and systems at their disposal – for email, documents, billing, invoicing, CRM, and much more.
The problem, however, is exactly that – that they are disparate. If a client emails the lawyer in Outlook asking for a copy of its invoice, the lawyer has to stop and think about where to find that, then go to that application, get it, and return to Outlook, or get an assistant or someone else to do it.
It is a problem that hinders technology adoption in law firms and creates platform fatigue – or platform confusion – among lawyers and staff, not to mention the waste of time.
Imagine, then, if you could have a digital assistant that could do this all for you at your request – that would be the intelligent go-between that connects you and your workflow to all your firm’s technology systems, all from a familiar messaging platform.
That is the idea of Termi, an AI-enabled chatbot that aims to solve the problems of slow tech adoption and platform fatigue by allowing attorneys and staff to simply ask it natural-language questions or request tasks that they might otherwise have to send to a human assistant or the IT department.
It was developed by Helm360, a full-service IT company with offices in London and California that specializes in technology solutions for legal and professional services firms.
Read more about Termi on the LawNext Legal Technology Directory.
“The genius of Termi is that it actually relies on the ingrained law firm habit of sending an email or text to support staff to solve a problem or access records and data,” the company says. “Instead of doing that, users write an instant message to Termi, which leverages AI to respond to the request, either with information or by triggering an action.”
Termi’s no-code backend system features a drag-and-drop interface that firms can use to map out how the software responds to requests. If the system fails to understand a particular user request, the information is logged and IT staff can use it to enhance the list of trigger phrases Termi will recognize.
“There’s usually a pattern to poor tech adoption in firms,” said Bim Dave, Helm360’s executive vice president. “When a new tool is introduced, many lawyers feel they don’t have time to learn it, so they send off an email to their assistant or IT support to get what they need from the system.
“Then the process breaks down because assistants and tech support are overwhelmed, help is delayed, other crucial projects are ignored, and then the firm abandons the software because it’s causing problems.”
Recently, Dave and Kiran Gill, customer success manager at Helm360, provided me with a demonstration of Termi.
Interact with Any Third-Party System
“From our experience of working with so many law firms around the world, we find that there’s so much information across different parts of the organization that, from a lawyer’s perspective, it can just be so time consuming and frustrating to get the information they need so that they can actually do their job,” Gill said.
“So we wanted to introduce and build a tool that would try and give them back some of that time so that they can focus on what their actual profession is, because we know in this industry every minute counts.”
Termi works on desktop, mobile and tablet, and on both PCs and Macs.
Given that, she said, the idea of Termi is to deliver the answers to your questions, wherever you are, whenever you need them, whether on a mobile device, in Microsoft Teams, in Microsoft Office, or on the desktop.
“Termi is able to interact with any third-party system through its advanced plugin framework,” Dave said. “This means it has tremendous potential to transform technology usage and adoption within a firm and drive success.”
Among the products it works with are the Microsoft Business suite, a wide variety of document management systems, and many practice management systems such as ProLaw, Elite 3E and Aderant.
Termi can send alerts, such as regarding missing time entries.
Some of the ways in which law firms are already using Termi include:
“Our goal was to deliver a solution that would connect business systems to their users in a way that is so intuitive and easy to use that they actually want to use it,” Dave said.
There When You Need It
In law firms that deploy Termi, lawyers and other users see it pinned to the taskbar on their computers. In whatever system they are working, they can click on Termi to get the information they need.
It can also be embedded as an add-in within various applications, including Outlook, Teams and Slack.
Say you are that lawyer who just got the email from a client asking for the latest billing statement. In the normal course, you might hunt around for it yourself, call your finance department, or ask your secretary to get it.
With Termi, simply type, “Send me the latest billing statement for Client X.” Termi goes into your billing system – say Elite 3E – and pulls the statement and delivers it to you.
But maybe you also want to know the total costs you have billed for a particular matter. Termi knows that there are multiple matters that include the name you provided in your query, so it presents a drop-down and lets you select the matter you want.
That may raise the question for the lawyer of whether the invoice has been paid. Simply ask Termi, “Has invoice 6688 been paid?” Termi answers, “Invoice 6688 has been paid in full, an amount of $500 by automatic check 30001.”
In all of these questions and responses, Termi is connecting directly to 3E through its API and generating a preview of an invoice or pulling information. But, in a nod to security, the actual information remains in 3E and is never stored in Termi.
Other examples of using Termi:
Search and Dashboard Functions
Termi also includes a search function that allows users to search for specific information, whether within a specific system or across systems. A user could, for example, search for someone in the firm directory directly from within Termi.
The search function can also be used to conduct research. Enter a query, for example, and Termi may take you to Westlaw or to a third-party source to which the firm subscribes such as The New York Times.
Forget your firm’s New York Times login? Termi can get you that, reducing the need for routine calls to the help desk.
Termi can be configured to deliver training videos in response to questions.
In fact, one firm is currently configuring Termi to be the first step in all support queries, hoping to cut down on the high numbers of requests that were bombarding their support desk.
While this article has focused on the chatbot, a second key component of Termi is its dashbard. This can be used to generate customized reports or drill into data from across applications.
Termi also can be used to deliver notifications. It could be set so that, on a certain day and time, a notification would go out. For example, it could deliver a daily briefing including the schedule for the day and a summary of the user’s dashboard.
It can also be used to consolidate all notifications across the firm, such as approvals or when there are new hires.
Preconfigured Out of the Box
The standard version of Termi comes preconfigured out of the box to handle a range of questions, but firm administrators can add questions of their own to the module and customize it in a number of ways. If a firm has preferred terminology it uses – such as “engagement” rather than “matter” – Termi can be pre-trained to the firm’s preferences.
“You don’t have to be a coder to be able to do that,” Gill said. “You can be an admin person who has had the relevant training and can go into the backend and use a simple step-by-step process to be able to add questions to the library.”
Termi can be delivered via the cloud or through an on-premises deployment. Most small or mid-sized firms use the cloud version while some large firms prefer the on-premises deployment.
Termi uses a variety of connectors – APIs, web services, custom DLLs – to enable it to connect to virtually any system within a law firm, whether SharePoint, CRM, document management, HR, or others.
For SharePoint or a DMS, for example, a lawyer may ask Termi, “Show me documents related to software agreements.” Termi retrieves them and lets the user toggle through documents or open any directly from there.
As of the time of my demonstration, Termi had been deployed or was being implement in 12 firms in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, including three Am Law 100 firms and the rest small to mid-sized firms.
It is sold on a per-user subscription basis.
The Bottom Line
While there are other chatbot providers in the legal market, Dave said that the problem he has seen with them is that they typically do just one specific thing, while firms have a series of best-of-breed systems. There was nothing that provided a unified experience that connects those systems.
“Ours is probably the only chatbot out there that you could plug into all of the best-of-breed systems, configure and get up and running pretty quickly, and allow you to have a one-stop shop,” said Dave.
“And that’s really what it’s designed to be – it’s designed to be a bridge between all of those systems and all of that knowledge that you have within the firm.”
While Termi indeed serves as a bridge connecting systems, my takeaway after seeing it demonstrated and reading more about its capabilities is that it is also something more.
My impression is that Termi could well be the missing link in driving greater technology adoption at law firms – particularly at mid-sized and larger law firms with multiple sophisticated but disparate systems.
By uniting those systems through an intuitive, chat-based interface, Termi makes interfacing with those systems a no-brainer for law firm professionals – as easy as asking a question.
Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.

Bob Ambrogi is a lawyer and journalist who has been writing and speaking about legal technology and innovation for more than two decades. He writes the award-winning blog LawSites, is a columnist for Above the Law, hosts the podcast about legal innovation, LawNext, and hosts the weekly legal tech journalists’ roundtable, Legaltech Week.

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ABOUT LAW SITES
LawSites is a blog covering legal technology and innovation. It is written by Robert Ambrogi, a lawyer and journalist who has been writing and speaking about legal technology, legal practice and legal ethics for more than two decades.

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