NetDocuments PatternBuilderMAX: Revolutionizing Legal Document Creation
In a world where technology is rapidly reshaping various industries, the legal and corporate legal sectors are no exception. NetDocuments, a pioneer in document and email management, has set the stage for a transformative revolution with the release of PatternBuilderMAX, their generative AI platform. This innovation has the potential to change the way cases are studied and documents are created, bringing unparalleled efficiency and accuracy to the legal profession.
PatternBuilderMAX builds upon the success of its predecessor, PatternBuilder, which was initially released in August 2022.
Jeff Alluri, Element’s Chief Revenue Officer, has a strong technical background, particularly in the realm of law firm technology. On the other hand, Janice Van Arnam, who works with Jeff as the Executive Assistant and Director of Marketing, does not possess a legal or technology background. Jeff and Janice teamed up together as speakers at Inspire 2023 showcasing the remarkable journey of getting started in PatternBuilder, demonstrating that PatternBuilder is designed to be accessible to a diverse audience, regardless of their previous experience or expertise, making it a versatile tool for both non-technical and technical professionals alike.
Why PatternBuilder is a Game-Changer
PatternBuilder offers a host of advantages, allowing users to maximize their investment in the platform. Here are some key takeaways on what makes PatternBuilder a big deal:
ROI Enhancement: The time that PatternBuilder can save a firm or corporate legal department in document creation can offset people resources so they may be re-allocated to other roles or functions.
Automation Benefits: PatternBuilder streamlines operations by enhancing accuracy, eliminating redundancy, and automating mundane tasks. AI technology levels the playing field between law firms and large corporations, and embracing available technology is no longer optional.
Eliminating Other Software: By centralizing your document creation in PatternBuilder, you can eliminate the need for multiple software tools and ensure consistency throughout.
Firm Standards: PatternBuilder promotes consistency, ensuring that everyone in your organization follows the same procedures. This simplifies the onboarding process for new employees as well as helps avoid mistakes and errors when handling NDAs, contracts, and standard templates.
Is PatternBuilder User-Friendly?
One of the key questions surrounding PatternBuilder is its user-friendliness. It’s important to understand that you don't need an IT background to utilize this platform. Janice did not have any form of technology experience, but with a little training and a willingness to learn new technology, she was able to embrace the platform. NetDocuments designed PatternBuilder to be accessible for all users.
No Code Required: You don't need to be a coding expert to use PatternBuilder. If you have some familiarity with NetDocuments but lack coding skills, you can easily navigate and operate the platform.
Critical Thinking: Creating PatternBuilder apps requires a critical thinker. App building requires you to be able to solve puzzles and find creative solutions to document creation challenges.
Ease of Correction: Making mistakes is a natural part of any learning process. With PatternBuilder, you can make edits and corrections while building, testing, and revamping your apps until the apps and documents meet your standards.
Scalability: PatternBuilder accommodates any size or complexity of documents, applications, and more. Whether you're handling simple documents or intricate workflows, this platform is flexible enough to meet your needs.
You Purchased PatternBuilder, Now What?
Once you've acquired PatternBuilder, it's crucial to understand how to make the most of this powerful tool. Here's what you should do:
Identify the Main Point Person or Team: Appoint someone or a group of people who grasp the functionality of NetDocuments and understand the general workflow of documents within your organization or a specific department to lead your efforts. It would be extremely helpful if this group embraced new technology and adopted new methodologies.
Overview Training: Before starting, get a short training on the functionalities of PatternBuilder allowing your team to get a comprehensive overview of how it works so you can create a plan.
Make a List of Potential Automation: List out all the areas where you could potentially automate tasks. Things that require a lot of time, repetitive documents, or templates that need to stay without edits.
Build a Plan: To start using PatternBuilder effectively, you should create a plan that aligns with your firm's goals. Begin simple. While it's okay to dream big, starting with simple document workflows is advisable. This approach helps you gain confidence and experience. Start with a Single Practice Group. Begin with one practice group or department within your organization. Once you've figured out one department, you can expand to other areas.
Detailed Training: Collaborate with a trainer to thoroughly review your plan and process, ensuring you're on the right track. At Element, we are ready to help you walk through the process of building apps and creating workflows. Our trainers have learned that training exercises are the best way to learn how to build and maintain apps. Practical exercises help users become familiar with the platform's features and capabilities.
PatternBuilder Use Cases
Here are some use cases that your legal or corporate legal departments could consider:
Internal Uses: Start by implementing PatternBuilder for internal purposes, such as creating employee contracts, onboarding information, marketing documents, CVs, incentives, and more.
Document Automation: PatternBuilder can streamline the creation of various documents, including client intake forms, engagement letters, NDAs, fee structures, retainer agreements, contracts, service agreements, proposals, and documents related to real estate, trust and estates, and settlements.
When to Seek Assistance
When it comes to using PatternBuilder effectively, it's crucial not to follow Janice's example, who initially dove in with little training. Fortunately, Element is stepping in to offer workshops that provide hands-on experience and guidance, ensuring that firms get off to a strong start with PatternBuilder. There are some distinct times that you may want to hire trainers or engineers to assist you:
Before creating your first app or workflow. This will help ensure you know what you are doing and not get frustrated.
Data tables are relatively easy to populate with information, however, the real challenge lies in extracting and combining this data into other documents.
The use of webhooks can be a game-changer, but it may take a trained engineer or developer to make them work properly.
NetDocuments' PatternBuilder represents a significant leap in legal document automation and streamlining. With its user-friendly interface, scalability, and potential for transforming document creation workflows, PatternBuilder is poised to become a game-changer for the legal industry. Once you understand the functionalities of the core product of PatternBuilder, you will be able to embrace PatternBuilderMAX, their AI-powered platform. So, if you've purchased PatternBuilder, it's time to reach out to Element to embark on your journey toward a more efficient and effective document creation process. If you are interested in the platform, we are happy to work with you and our partners at NetDocuments to schedule a demo of PatternBuilder and PatternBuilderMAX.
