Data is a critical asset for any law firm in the digital age, but manually rekeying data comes with significant risks that can harm a firm’s operations and bottom line. In this article, we will explore the risks associated with manual data rekeying and suggest some measures law firms can take to mitigate them.
Human Error: One of the biggest risks associated with manual data rekeying is human error. Even meticulous data entry professionals can make mistakes, resulting in inaccurate data that can impact a law firm's decision-making processes. Simple errors such as entering incorrect data or transposing numbers or letters can have significant consequences, especially when dealing with financial or legal data. This can lead to costly errors and potential legal liabilities.
Time and Cost: Manual data rekeying is also time-consuming and costly, requiring staff members to spend hours manually entering data. This can take away valuable time from other strategic tasks and can result in wasted time and resources correcting errors. Additionally, the cost of labor and resources can quickly add up, especially for larger firms.
Data Security: Manual data rekeying can pose a risk to data security as sensitive data can be exposed or lost during the data entry process. When data is manually entered, it may be susceptible to unauthorized access, theft, or misuse. This can make it more difficult to track who has accessed or altered the data, making it harder to detect and respond to security breaches.
Compliance and Regulatory: Law firms handle sensitive or regulated data, and therefore must comply with strict regulations and guidelines. Manual data rekeying can increase the risk of non-compliance, resulting in hefty fines, legal action, and damage to the firm's reputation.
Lack of Scalability: Finally, manual data rekeying is not scalable, limiting a law firm’s ability to manage data as its business grows. This can hinder the ability to expand and take advantage of new opportunities.
Mitigating the Risks:
To mitigate the risks associated with manual data rekeying, law firms can automate data entry processes wherever possible to reduce the risk of human error and save time and resources. They can invest in a solution that captures the data once, but then uses that data to automatically populate other systems. Comprehensive training for staff members can minimize the risk of data entry errors and ensure compliance with regulations and guidelines.
Manual data re-entry can be a risky process that can have significant consequences for law firms. By taking steps to mitigate these risks, firms can ensure data accuracy, protect against security breaches, and comply with regulations and guidelines. Automating data entry processes, implementing a solution that captures the information once, but has the ability to populate other systems using that data captured, and providing training can all help reduce the risks associated with manual data rekeying.
To find out more about simple document automation, generation and data-capture, watch the Kim webinar hosted by Samantha Jefferies, VP of Business Development, and Karl Chapman, CEO at Kim.
To register, click here.
Kim – providing your teams with Knowledge, Intelligence and Meaning