Traditionally, there were two main types of software: monolithic systems and point solutions.

In a monolithic system, all functions are interwoven architecturally — entire applications are built as a single unit. Think of the legacy systems you may often hear of or even use: they're privately built, controlled, hosted, and maintained. You get ownership, in-house security, and continuity, but you also get rigidity, bulkiness, and long implementation times.

Although once simple, these systems became more complex as business needs grew and applications got larger. They got bogged down by complicated layers and became massive and immovable. It’s become clear with time that scaling those singular systems is messy and can create bottlenecks.

Enter point solutions. These niche technology solutions were aimed to solve small, but important, pieces of the larger puzzle. The idea was more to divide and conquer versus to build a large army housed in an impregnable castle.

But these boutique solutions also came at a cost. They are completely separate software sets that don’t talk to each other at all. Their requirement of different user credentials, interfaces, and workflows creates more administrative work for teams. A proliferation of vendors and lack of communication between apps meant a lot of costly, time-consuming trial and error required to find the pieces that fit with your business’s puzzle.

These two types of software systems exist at two ends of the spectrum. When we began brainstorming the best way to use technology to refine law firm operations, we thought, what if we stopped thinking of extremes and started meeting in the middle?

Enter Litify: the comprehensive and open alternative

Litify introduces a whole new way to optimize your firm’s operations: loosely coupled cloud integrations. This system provides central management of data center resources through smaller software solutions. You get agility and the ability to tap into pre-built services as-needed.

In a loosely coupled system, components use little or no knowledge of the other separate components, which means they can be replaced by alternative applications that provide the same services. These loosely coupled cloud integrations have one job: they’re responsible for a single functionality. Because they’re independent, they can be built by any set of tools or languages.

But unlike point solutions, they are built to mesh with the pieces around them. They fit together like lego blocks: designed to come together for a greater purpose, but easy to take apart if needed and left unchanged.

Cloud computing is cheaper, more flexible, and faster to deploy than any previous method. It allows applications to be continually updated and new features can be rolled out very quickly. Cloud solutions also tend to be more secure, since providers are more adept and better equipped to protect their computing systems against hackers than individual businesses.

Your users can access their files across devices instantly with just a secure internet connection, making them more mobile and available to clients. Meanwhile, data is continuously and automatically backed up. In short, a loosely coupled cloud solution is the law firm’s opportunity to "meet in the middle" of the two previous extremes.

Litify provides a comprehensive legal solution that is also open for integration with other applications that are easy to configure, interoperable, and scalable.

Whereas monolith systems are out of reach for small law firms to develop or use both because of cost and complexity, solutions like Litify level the playing field and allow small law firms to effectively compete against bigger firms and non-law firm legal service providers that use cloud technology.

Get your head in the cloud

We’re already well past the cloud computing tipping point. Computing power has gone the way of electricity — instead of generating it individually and on-site, we now tap into a network for power. Basically, if your head isn't already in the cloud, you're in the past.

The world is in constant flux, and the demands on data are flowing with it. Cloud-based software is a revolutionary innovation for the delivery of legal services. Increased efficiency not only allows attorneys to redirect their time to tackle new problems, but also enables firms to serve a broader group of consumers, which expands access to justice.

Litify is one way you can adopt an adaptive and proactive business strategy. It provides a platform built for loosely integrated components that law firms can integrate to streamline their operations, increase team productivity, and increase growth.