Many firms still run practice management on a server in the office. Moving to a cloud system can improve remote work, security and reliability, but the migration itself is where the risk lies. Here is what to plan for.
Before you choose
- List what the current system does for you, including the reports and workarounds staff rely on.
- Check how each option handles New Zealand trust accounting, and test it during any trial.
- Ask vendors for a written migration scope: contacts, matters, documents, financial and trust records, and history.
Prepare your data
- Close or archive matters that no longer need to be active.
- Reconcile trust accounts before the cut-over, not after.
- Tidy document folders and naming so they map cleanly into the new system.
Plan the integrations
- Outlook and Word add-ins, precedents and templates.
- Scanning and multifunction printer workflows.
- Accounting links, such as Xero for general accounts.
- Dictation, e-signing and anything else that touches matters.
Go-live
- Pick a quiet period and allow a parallel-running window.
- Train staff on the everyday tasks first.
- Keep read-only access to the old system for reference.
- Check trust balances match on day one.
We can plan and run the technical side of your migration. Call 04 282 0045 or read about IT for law firms.