PDF as a Service: More than a fad but a way forward

The Bundledocs team recently hosted a ILTA product webinar and we wanted to provide an additional avenue to recap some of the highlights as well as access the recording in it’s entirety.

Bundledocs was born in the cloud to provide solutions for bundling and binding. Over the last five years or so, especially as the industry’s move to the cloud has accelerated, there’s been a greater need to access and leverage the most popular PDF functions via an integrated cloud service.

Key to Bundledocs’ success in binding and bundling over the years has been the ability to manipulate, edit, and annotate the PDF content within the Bundle or Binder. This PDF functionality described as easy to use and just right in functionality by Bundledocs clients’ has  forced Bundledocs to offer ‘’PDF editing’’ as a service , meaning its applicable either  inside or outside of the Bundle ( i.e. against a single PDF document). Simply stated “PDF as Service” is the delivery of the most popular PDF functions via an Integrated Cloud Service.

Useful Context

According to recent ILTA Technology Survey data, 50% of law firm documents are already residing in the cloud via a cloud-based document management system, with the trend to exceed “90% cloud” within five years. On the contrary, within the last five years, there has been zero change around PDF editing. The same providers are delivering the same legacy functionality so the gap between where documents are localized and where they're going to be addressed via PDF is glaring.

Leading up to ILTACON 2022, Bundledocs asked conference attendees to take a 1-minute survey to help us better understand ILTA members’ PDF editing and binding practices, as well as most used features. We know the UK and Asia-Pacific markets needs and requirements well but wanted to reach out directly to US firms as part of our conference discovery mission.

Of the 57 respondents (thanks again to everyone for making time to help us with this!), 25% consider PDF editing/binding tools as part of a ‘cloud first’ strategy. Surprising to us, 42% said they did not know how this functionality figures into their cloud strategy.

In the UK and Australia, we have seen a surge in cloud adoption around document bundling and now PDF editing so are keen to engage with US and Canadian firms to share best practices and lessons learned around the cloud and the ‘PDF as a Service’ trend … hence the recent webinar. interesting was feedback we received regarding “most widely used features in a PDF Editor after viewing”. Top five responses included:

  1. Splitting/combining/manipulating PDF files (91%)

  2. OCR of PDF files (73%)

  3. Annotating and redacting PDF files (69%)

  4. Converting files to Word or other (69%)

  5. Text editing (42%)

What stood out was the popularity of OCR as part of PDF editing process for firms in the US and Canada. This indicates that users want fully searchable access to the published PDF content and similar functions as part of their document production workflow, and primarily use products they own for core functionality.

Based on this research feedback and what we’ve heard in our numerous conversations with law firm users, our mission, basically, is to address this and position ourselves as a cloud service around PDF.

If you are interested in seeing PDF-as-a-Service at work, please check out our recent webinar including a live demo and related discussion.

Making the Move From Manual

Do you find that your firm is spending too much time and money on extracting, creating and sharing manual bundles? Making the move from paper-based processes to an automated system may seem daunting, even when the changeover is deemed necessary.  

With remote and hybrid working prominent features in firms around the world, companies have begun to digitally transform, looking for ways in which their firms can operate efficiently.   

Here are some of the benefits of making the move: 

Timesaving 

According to the 2019 Legal Trends Report, the average lawyer in the US works only 2.5 hours of billable work each day. When compared to a standard 8-hour workday, the typical lawyer only has a 31% utilization rate. 

Within legal practices there is a requirement for a heavy human element within the workflow process, as a service-based practice. Automation, in short, will not replace lawyers but will assist them in efficiently allocating their time.  

Unnecessary time wasting can be eradicated with information and documents being managed electronically ensuring employees are free to increase billable hours elsewhere within the firm. 

“I created a bundle in two hours the old way, then I did it again using Bundledocs, it only took twenty minutes. This process takes all the pain out of ensuring that bundles are created on time and are paginated properly. It simplified a time-consuming task that used to require too much manpower and supervision.”
— Partner, Kennedy Frewen O'Sullivan 

Reduce paper use 

Utilizing cloud storage accessible online means you no longer need to worry about lugging around reams of paper from place to place. Instead of wasting time on printing and spending money on ink for your printer utilizing digital solutions can save you both time and money. 

By using solutions such as our electronic bundling tool or our PDF Editor you can handle all document preparation and share electronically. A digital solution allows you to draft as many documents as possible without the need to print unnecessarily. 

“Bundledocs is the only alternative I could find to using a fully paperless system. Everything else is cumbersome and places added costs and time in trying to make a truly paperless brief. Bundledocs allows you to run multiple files at once, and using templates allows it to be tailored for different purposes.”
— Owner Manager, Mortgage Choice 

 

Better Document Control and Security 

A study by the American Bar Association found that 76% of large law firms report that their clients want firms to implement more stringent security requirements. Cloud-based solutions have developed ways to protect sensitive data from breaches including features such as password protection to encrypted hyperlinks for sharing.  

At Bundledocs, our cloud-based solution was the first e-bundling tool to be ISO 27001 certified, ensuring that your data is safeguarded from potential security threats. From the moment you share your files, you have full visibility of their status – from delivery to download by the intended recipient.  

“The firm takes security very seriously and Bundledocs has good security around it – for example, you can have two-factor authentication if you want it. ”
— Head of IT and partner, Fisher Jones Greenwood

 

Interested in starting your free trial today? Contact a member of our team to get started today.  

Counting Down: Bundledocs’ First ILTACON is Front & Center

And we’re off … well almost … for our first in person event in a long while and our first ever legal technology conference in the U.S. It’s definitely not any ordinary conference –ILTACON 2022, produced by the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA), will feature 79 educational sessions, four keynotes over four days, numerous CLE sessions, Six Sigma and PMP certifications, presented by 265+ speakers. The beautiful Gaylord National Harbor will host the Big Show from August 21- 25th in National Harbor, Maryland.


Have a coffee on us

Since we’re the new kids on the North American  legal tech block, we have questions. If you can spare a minute (literally 60 seconds) and complete our four question survey, we’ll return the favor with a coffee gift card you can cash in onsite at the Gaylord National or we’ll happily get you caffeinated virtually.


Sessions Galore

ILTACON attendees will be able to choose from four days of educational content spanning 18 ‘areas of focus’ featuring 79 sessions.

Our Favorite ILTACON Things

ILTA has always been about community and networking between members and business partners. This year is no exception with a special twist. This year ILTA is launching the Legal Innovation Hub designed to introduce key buyers of legal services with the providers, the talent, and the investor community. Both the startup and innovation efforts are near and dear to us since less than four years ago we were the new cloud tech startup with everything to prove.

ILTACON’s Monday evening Exhibit Hall Opening Reception is one of participants' favorite social and networking events. This year’s theme is all about superheroes, so we’ll make sure not to disappoint. After all, we only have one chance at a first impression so if you are at the Gaylord National Harbor, please make sure to stop by our stand (#727 ) and let us know how we did. Unless of course, you are afraid of wolves!

Don’t forget … Follow all official ILTACON Conference 2022 tweets here throughout the week and use #ILTACON22 of you’d like to participate.

Bundledocs launch new Cloud PDF Editor as part of their entry into North American market

August 17, 2022 – Bundledocs, the cloud-based document bundling software provider, has today announced the launch of its new PDF editing product, Bundledocs Editor, following their entry into the North American market. The custom-built in-browser editor was developed in response to the demand from customers for an easy-to-use, cost-effective, cloud-based PDF editing solution.

Bundledocs Editor has been designed to allow users to manipulate, OCR, annotate and share PDF documents all from within their web browser. Bundledocs Editor includes all common manipulation and annotation tools while also enabling users to edit text. The solution comes as an add-on to its core e-bundling software or can also be purchased as a stand-alone product.

Commenting on the announcement, Bundledocs CTO James Hogan said: “After months of stringent testing, we are delighted to launch Bundledocs Editor. Our product team has worked over some time to create this product in response to an ongoing need from our customers for an intuitive PDF editor, that fits seamlessly into their workflows and processes.”

Peter Zver, Bundledocs VP of Revenue and Operations, North America provided more context of why firms are looking for PDF editing alternatives: “Law firms are currently using a variety of complex and overly functional desktop tools, so going to a cloud-based editor provides cost saving, security, centralized management, and integration opportunities not available with standalone products. As firms are migrating their Document Lifecycle applications, most notably their document management systems, to the cloud, a PDF editor represents an important part of that journey.”

Bundledocs CEO Brian Kenneally added: “Over the past few years we have experienced immense growth throughout the UK and APAC markets. As a result, we have expanded our team and have expanded into new territories, with our North American operations being the most recent. We are constantly evolving our products to be better and more efficient as evidenced by Bundledocs Editor which provides users with an easy-to-use, cost-effective, cloud solution to address their PDF editing needs.”

Bundledocs has become the market leader in the electronic document production space, working primarily with the legal sector. With over 1,000 clients in over 34 countries, they are the first electronic document bundling tool on the market to receive ISO 27001 compliance.

For more information, visit their website, www.bundledocs.com. If you are interested in a closer look at the new Bundledocs Editor, stop by Bundledocs booth #727 at ILTACON 2022 next week.

The Ultimate Guide for Delivering eBundles

In addition to the creation of ebundles, delivery has become a major part in the overall bundling process. With the time that you will spend preparing your bundles for court, what is the use if you cannot share it with your fellow colleagues, clients or the courts?

For UK-based legal professionals the Judiciary recently released updated guidance on the delivery of ebundles to court. However we would recommend that you contact the relevant courts directly to confirm the type of delivery they will accept. It is important to select a method that will allow you to share your ebundle with the recipient in a way that will not waste critical time. We have outlined the below to give some insight into what delivery options are available to you.

 

1.     Secure Share

With our secure share option, users have the ability to share any bundles created within Bundledocs securely with a third party. From the moment you send the ebundle you have full visibility on the status of the file receiving a notification once it has been sent and downloaded by the intended recipient.

One of the many benefits of this option is that you can send bundles regardless of their size - other options may have a limit on the size of the file being shared which can cause problems if you have a large ebundle to be shared with colleagues, clients or the courts. If it is security around confidential data that you are worried about, this option allows you to share securely via an encrypted hyperlink. In some cases, courts may not be happy to receive files via a third party so make sure to check in before sending.

 

2.     Email delivery

Bundledocs users can share bundles created within the solution with third parties via Microsoft Outlook or alternative email providers. Unlike our Secure Share option mentioned above, final ebundle is sent directly from your email via encrypted hyperlink as opposed to via the Bundledocs platform.

By choosing this option you will still be able to send large ebundles, however the intended recipient will recognise the person the ebundle is being sent by as opposed to it appearing from a third party. This option would be suitable for sharing ebundles with the courts.

 

3.     Direct upload

When preparing ebundles to court, the ability to directly upload your ebundles ensures that your bundle goes directly to the intended recipient. The provision of such a resource by the courts also saves time for your firm as you do not need to look for emails of individuals to share the bundle with.

This option is also suitable when an email is too large to be sent via email. Although the courts may have shared their process for uploading document to their portal with you, it would be advisable to contact the courts directly and confirm how they will accept bundles using this method.

 

To find out more about sharing your ebundles securely contact our support team

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