What is the appeal of dna*?

Axxia dna*'s great advantage is that it works equally well as a macro and micro level tool - it's both a powerful business management solution for the executive and a comprehensive fee earner suite for the lawyer. It does an excellent job in both roles.

Applications on this scale obviously offer a functionally rich environment in which to operate. But this breadth and depth has not been at the expense of the user - on the contrary, dna* is as much of an ally for the user as it is for the business.  

For all the cleverness and complexity that exists within dna*, its proper utilisation - and ultimate success - is always going to be determined largely by its appeal to the user. The "what's in it for me/does it help me in my job/do I really have to work with this software" problem often compromises the success of any IT deployment - hence the creation of an environment that is sympathetic to the way staff work and that effortlessly supports them in everything they do.

dna* boasts a single window on the world, a user-defined portal that is basically a digital version of the user's desktop. There are all the distinct piles brought together in one handy place: to-do lists, emails, timesheets, draft bills, diary, reports, files, et al. There they are on screen, all configurable, all with drill down capability at the click of a mouse.

With dna* a lawyer can now tackle his workload as the logical process dictates and the software will track him through the sequence quite seamlessly, staying in the same window for the duration.

For example, a fee earner starts work by assessing his "to-do list", which generates a phone call, which leads to a letter, which triggers the drafting of a WIP bill, which alerts him to a still outstanding account, which stimulates whatever response the firm has proscribed.  The next item on the list requires the setting up of a new client, which leads to conflict and money laundering checks, the preparation of a client care letter and CRM details being added into the database.  The next item is to deal with an incoming mail that then necessitates a cheque requisition.  A lawyer can go wherever he needs or wants to go. Instead of working up and down within multiple product silos he is guided via defined workflows through and across one system, with every action automatically prompting the appropriate tool, function or document.

But it's not just about user appeal - dna* also delivers for the managing partner. It endows executives with an unprecedented level of command over planning, performance and people, with staff enjoying the same when it comes to workloads, knowledge and targets.  With command also comes control: of standards; of risk; of costs; of expectations.  dna* is designed to sit on every desktop, from the receptionist to the senior partner, allowing a firm to connect as never before, improving access to information, access to clients and access to each other.  And with the ability to connect comes the facility to collaborate, to share knowledge, exploit resources and enable cross-team working.  Most managing partners recognise that one of their main challenges is to tame the complexity that comes of having multiple businesses within a business. With dna* comes order, cohesion and leverage.