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Cripps Harries Hall, one of the South East's leading regional law firms, has recently rolled out BigHand's TotalSpeech DDS system to over 150 users and found there has been an immediate increase in firm wide work sharing and productivity.



Cripps have used TotalSpeech's suite of management reports to analyse 'work load' distribution across the firm, including the degree to which secretaries from different departments help each other out in busy periods. The firm found that over 8 weeks there was a 10% firm-wide increase in inter-department work sharing due to TotalSpeech, with secretaries that had spare time actively searching other departments for outstanding work. Document turnaround time has been cut dramatically as a result. The increase is set to rise further as users become more sophisticated in their use of TotalSpeech and Cripps' City office receives the system in the next 2 weeks.



Tanya Collett, Head of IT at Cripps Harries Hall, described:



"The impact BigHand have made on work sharing and overall team working - particularly in support - is remarkable and there is no doubt productivity has improved. We have the figures that prove this."



At the pilot stage BigHand consultants meticulously assess current working practices and are able to tailor the workflow in TotalSpeech to both suit current habits at the firm and gradually increase efficiency. Secretaries at Cripps immediately accepted the technology (and the new working practices) and their enthusiasm was key in making the project a success.



Overall Cripps Harries Hall fee-earners benefit from the speed at which their clients receive documentation or correspondence, and also are offered flexibility through TotalSpeech's remote working options. Lawyers at Cripps use a combination of laptop use, Citrix, VPN and mobile handsets for remote working via TotalSpeech.



As Tanya Collett, continued:



"The pilot went so well we rolled out a month ahead of schedule. Even the roll out was technically quite straightforward and we were able to manage it ourselves. TotalSpeech helps as it is extremely stable.



But in my opinion the success of a digital dictation workflow project lies in the initial adjustment in working practices, workflow reengineering and making the 'cultural' transition - BigHand have no peers when it comes to understanding these issues and guided us in the right direction. After that, they step away and let TotalSpeech bring efficiency improvements - as it has certainly done here."



ENDS



Notes



Cripps Harries Hall



Cripps Harries Hall is a leading regional law firm based in the SE. We have 38 partners and more than 300 staff.



The firm is recognised for its expertise in the core areas of commercial property, corporate/commercial, dispute resolution and private client.



Cripps Harries Hall won the award for 'Best Use of IT by a UK Law Firm (Regional)' at the Legal IT Awards 2002.





BigHand



BigHand's leading product 'TotalSpeech' recently won the Society for Computers & Law 2003 Award for "the most outstanding application of information technology to the law in UK and Ireland". TotalSpeech was also voted Best Legal Office Automation System at the Legal Office Technology Awards 2002.



BigHand is the leading independent digital dictation and speech recognition consultancy in the UK legal market, maintaining the highest number of digital dictation installations in the sector. BigHand is a leading supplier of IT services to City law firms. Further information is available at http://www.big-hand.co.uk



Contacts:



Dan Speed, Marketing Manager, 020 7793 3076, danspeed@big-hand.co.uk