What to look for when choosing a practice management system

When running a conveyancing business, staying organised and efficient is one of the most important factors for ensuring success.

In the technical age we’re in, one of the most effective ways of achieving this, is by adopting a practice management system (PMS) that is suited to your firm. With so many options available, finding the perfect fit for your business can be difficult.

To help you make that decision, here are six tips to help on your search for your next PMS:

1. Business needs

Considering your business needs before you start searching is an important first step. If you’re a general practice with a branch of conveyancing or a sole conveyancing practice, you should consider what features you require, such as document management, invoicing, time tracking, and calendar management. You may also consider either cloud- or on-premises solutions in your needs.

2. Research options

Now you’ve got your needs in consideration, it’s time to start researching. A great place to start is of course, the internet.

 However, attending industry events and talking to sponsors or vendors can also be a great avenue if you’re looking to place names to the businesses, you’ll potentially be trusting your success with.

Another option for conducting research into PMS is your industry colleagues. Using your connections with fellow lawyers and conveyancers can result in an un-bias and unfiltered opinion.

3. Consider integration

In today’s technology advancement and innovation, one of the most popular built-in features of many practice management software systems is integration.

Integration is the coordinated use of digital devices, companies, tools together to offer a single solution with multiple uses. For conveyancing PMS specifically, this could include integration with Office 365 for contracts and precedents, ELNOs like PEXA and Sympli, and even billing software like Xero and MYOB.

When considering your PMS, the more integrations in the system, the less time spent in different programs and rekeying information, equalling more efficiency for your workflow.

4. Customisation

No two conveyancing businesses are the same, so it’s important to select a practice management software system which can be customised. While the overall flow of a sale or purchase matter will be the same, each business will use customised precedents, different reporting and a range of different paperless tools.

5. User-friendly

Being able to learn and implement your PMS when its first introduced to your firm will be an important factor. Having an easy to learn and user-friendly software will help not only in the initial transition phase, but also with onboarding new employees and training current ones. The easier the system to learn and use, the more efficient your employees and business will be.

6. Cost

Lastly, the cost of the PMS will need to be a consideration. If you’re a new, early, or established firm, you’ll likely be in a different financial stage. Nevertheless, utilising a PMS can greatly benefit your business.

Weighing up the pricing models that suit your budget while also factoring in business growth and PMS benefits vs cost, will be a key in the decision-making process. An extra tip is to ensure you’re factoring in any additional costs, such as training and support.

Selecting the right PMS for your business will need time and consideration. Many options in the market also offer demonstrations through the business so you can see the platform first-hand. However, while you look for the system which will benefit your business most, consider the needs, options, integration, customisation, functionality, and cost.

triSearch offers its own award-winning property law practice management software, triConvey. The all-in-one solution offers powerful integrations with a built-in precedent library, eConveyancing tools and billing functionality, with a dedicated support team for both software and search. The software also comes at $0 when you conduct your searching through the triSearch platform.