| The components of a computer system are often referred to as the "hardware", "software", and "underware", (with "underware" being training). Just as underwear is invisible from outward appearances, yet is vital to the comfort and overall performance of your attire, "underware" is vital to the overall performance of a computer system. A new computer system is only metal, plastic, and silicone unless it is properly installed, set up, and configured. Even when it is properly installed, set up, and configured, it is still just metal, plastic, and silicone until someone can use it.
Because the purpose of any office system is to become more efficient, productive, and profitable, training your staff to use the computer system properly is just as important. Training is many times the first thing that law firms consider cutting when budgeting for new technology. Design One believes that it is better to spend less on a new system and cut out some additional functionality than it is to have a lot of potential functionality that no one knows how to use well. Cutting back on training can also cause frustration, decreased staff moral, and a general lack of willingness to try anything new in the future.
Do not overlook training for the lawyers in your firm. Some of the new systems' greatest appeal is their use by lawyers at their desks. For example, with a CD ROM tower on your network that holds all of the CDs you use for legal research, your attorneys can perform legal research from their desks. In addition to being more convenient, they will tend to do more of it because they can do it more quickly. They can answer a question from a client while on the telephone quickly and knowledgeably, giving the client the information they need more quickly. In this day of instant gratification, clients are very impressed when they can get their answers and their work done quickly. They are also willing to pay for good, quick service, so you can charge a minimum fee for such work, despite it only taking you a few minutes.
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