Print

"As [Kevin] Harrang's [of Microsoft] experience demonstrates, an e-billing system's invoice-auditing function alone can save substantial dollars simply by ensuring that law firms are following the department's billing rules." InsideCounsel April 2006

Value Improves productivity by automating actions normally performed manually by users Improves compliance of corporate billing guidelines by outside counsel Improves ROI through improved policy enforcement

DataCert's Guide, a new advanced rules and compliance engine, automates actions by consuming client-defined business rules. Guide works hand-in-hand with DataCert's Advanced Invoice Management System (AIMS). AIMS provides an intuitive interface for simplified invoice review and payment while Guide is a back-end engine that performs complex rule validations, invoice adjustment and alerts reviewers of specific rule violations.

With Guide, billing clerks have the necessary tools to take control of managing the invoice adjustment process. Invoice and adjustment activities previously handled manually are automated where the value is high and the risks are low. For example, adjustments to billing rates in excess of the allowable rate is high value, while the risks associated with the adjustment is low, so an adjustment down to the agreed rate can be made by the system without user intervention. Reporting can be automated based on established criteria, workflow can change based on complex criteria, reminders can engage users where human intervention is required and corporate
professionals can be freed to focus on higher value legal
risk management tasks.

How it Works
The Guide engine is installed on the AIMS server and takes action on invoices as invoices are received and processed. Guide can apply rules, take action on invoices, generate alerts and warn users of specific violations. System-generated alerts and warnings allow the system to monitor vendor behavior and then notify users and administrators when activities may be warranted.

Examples of how Guide can work for you:

• Enforce bulk discount agreements
• Enforce fast pay agreements
• Enforce timekeeper rates
• Enforce fixed fee agreements
• Perform invoice validation rules across multiple or historical invoices
• Adjust fee or expense items to correct rate
• Adjust violating fee or expense items to zero

Guide can provide alerts for:

• Vendors that have submitted invoices against a matter that does not have an approved budget
• Matters that are over budget or are within some percentage or dollar amount of being over budget