Dechert is first law firm to launch ‘Achiever CRM system

PRESS RELEASE
Immediate Release

Dechert is first law firm to launch ‘Achiever CRM system

This week Dechert law firm launches its new Achiever Customer Relationship Management package sold by Interactive Software Limited.

Dechert is the first law firm to buy Achiever CRM and work with Interactive Software to apply its sophisticated lead generation system to the legal sector. At present Achiever CRM is mainly used by non legal sectors.

Dechert chose the system in preference to other more established systems such as Market Ease and Market Sense. Achiever CRM offers a number of unique advantages over its nearest rivals. A key feature of the system is that it can be linked to the firm financial system. Client data can be downloaded into the system on a daily basis. This provides a one-stop source of valuable client and contact information enabling fee-earners to view the live status of clients, headline details of on-going work and summary financials.

Importantly, the system provides for desktop access for all fee-earners. The appropriate protections are in place so that fee-earners see the whole database but can only edit the details of their own contacts. This type of security is not available with other packages. Remote access is also available so that information can be downloaded and updated off-site and ‘uploaded on return to the office.

Other facilities which offer clear benefits include the ability to link the database to the firms website. Visitors to the site will therefore be able to fill out a web form requesting literature, for example, which will feed into the database and on to mailing lists. It can also be linked to e-mail, word-processing and document management systems so that names and addresses can be loaded straight into letter templates or e-mails.

The system is being piloted in the firms marketing department and is due to be ‘rolled out across the firm in the coming months. Dechert has purchased a concurrent licence i.e. a licence based on the number of users at anyone time. This is very cost effective because it means that although there is a maximum number of concurrent users, the system is available to everyone via their desktop.

Achiever CRM is very user-friendly and limited training will be needed. The system can dial the phone, write letters, fire up e-mail and all information can be downloaded on to a disk or palmtop.

John Rowland, IT directory at Dechert, comments: The adoption of Achiever CRM is in line with our strategy to deploy a best of breed approach to the selection of software products. It has a solid reputation in customer relationship management and is capable of being deployed in a Microsoft SQL server environment in line with our technical strategy."

Simon Leek, Sales & Marketing Director of the Achiever CRM product commented ‘In the legal profession, where time is money, details numerous, and rigorous client management critical for success, firms can clearly benefit from a CRM Systems that help ensure the quality of service to their clients and improves business process efficiencies.
ENDS

About
Dechert is an international law firm with 580 qualified lawyers and a total complement of 1,520 staff. Dechert was formed on 1 July 2000 from the merger of City of London law firm, Titmuss Sainer Dechert, and US law firm, Dechert Price & Rhoads, following a successful six-year alliance. It operates from ten offices: Boston, Brussels, Harrisburg, Hartford, London, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Princeton and Washington.

Interactive Software is a leading supplier of CRM Software. Typically, Interactive Software customers have from 15 to 1,000 individual users, who gain competitive edge from the rich functionality of our products combined with leading technologies. This strategy optimises business process performance, based on international best practices, to consistently reduce costs and improve margins without continuous systems development. In 1999 Interactive Software completed its 8th year of continuous growth built on our consistent investment in people, products and most importantly our customers. Interactive Software supports over 4200 users customers in 42 countries.

For further information please contact Kate Ryder, press officer, Dechert - London, on 020 7775 7425 or by e-mail to kate.ryder@dechertEU.co.uk
Keith Ricketts at Interactive Software keith.rickets@achiever.co.uk or Tel: 0121-456-7200.