What is no-code automation and why is it the future?

If you’ve heard the terms “low-code” or “no-code” thrown around recently and it’s left you scratching your head, we’re here to help.

It may seem like “coding” has nothing to do with the law, but increasingly no-code tools are becoming commonplace, empowering lawyers to create their own digital tools – whether that’s a website or Sharepoint page, a bot or an app that automates the production of a contract. These things are game-changers when it comes to saving time and letting lawyers get on with the business of lawyering.

The best part of no-code tools is that, rather than spending time and money building a team of developers or briefing an external agency, you can take legal knowledge directly from the lawyer and drop it straight into the digital tool you’re creating. No need for a short-course on coding, let alone hiring a team of developers.

No-code puts the power in your hands. You can use your own logic and intelligence to create tools that save time and resources fast.

“No-code” and “automation” are a match made in heaven. Automation is the creation of software and systems to replace repetitive, manual processes. No-code enables everyday “citizen developers” to create the tools that achieve these ends. 

Without writing a single line of code, people with little-to-no tech knowledge can build tools that implement integrations and workflow automations. 

To build a digital tool, you have four options: hire developers to write code; outsource the build to an agency; use low-code tools; or use no-code tools. While developers and agencies are expensive, you do have more freedom to build exactly what you want (if you can afford). Alternatively, no-code and low-code automation are cost-effective and give you power over the tool going forward. 

It’s also super important to note that no-code automation tools are not low-code automation tools. Here are some of the key differences between the two:

No-code

• Little to no coding, meaning anyone can use them
• Removes dependency on developers
• Tools are pre-configured, making it less flexible but easier

Low-code

• Minimal (but necessary) coding 
• Often these tools have more flexibility and power
• Experts are often required to assist in the build

In a nutshell, no code legal automation tools empower you to build solutions specific to the needs of your company or firm. No more trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

Speed to market

The faster you can create and deploy tools that solve repetitive tasks, the faster you implement automation and realize the commercial value of the time and resources saved in the process.

Because anyone in the business can use no-code tools, the opportunity to optimize speed to market is increased exponentially. No more waiting for the IT team or the developer to solve a bug. It’s all hands on deck. 

Speed to competency

Without the need to be trained to use advanced tools, the speed with which team members can become adept using no-code tools is lightning fast.

“Josef’s good for us because it’s a no code platform, we’re able to do these iterations and constantly be improving things and adding extra things. We don’t have a dedicated IT team that we can go to and get them to code new features.” –  George Fellows, Legal Associate, Fnatic.

Reduce Costs

Hiring is expensive. And hiring good people can be really, really expensive. By using no-code tools, you encourage your team to become self-sufficient. So you don’t have to outsource to legaltech or IT specialists and you get to prove once and for all that legal isnt’ ‘a cost centre’.

“Originally, we looked to get a platform that did everything. Once we started actually digging deeper, we realised it would only solve about 75% of the problem. The missing 25%, the important piece for us, was self-service.” – Kate Sherburn, Head of Legal, Who Gives A Crap.

Fit for purpose

Think of your no-code platform of choice as your own personal lego set. Customize and build solutions that are exactly as you need them to be. The questions your clients, team mates or lawyers need answered can be managed exactly as required, to solicit the outcomes you need to move faster and smarter.

“I think lawyers are just too busy, but that is changing right now with the no-code automation. The way Josef does things makes it more intuitive and less intimidating.” –  Patrick Kassen, General Counsel, Link Logistics.

Scalable solution

No-code doesn’t just give you flexibility to build what you want – it also allows you to continue building, maintaining, tweaking and amending into the future. No code solutions offer innumerable ways to empower your business to scale. Let the bots do the work for you.

“Scaling is about achieving greater results with less effort. To do anything less is a breach of your fiduciary duty” – Kenneth Carter, General Counsel, Bitmovin.

User experience

Who knows the end-user of a bot better than the lawyer or legal ops expert themselves? By empowering bots to be built from within organizations, the experience is tailored to your audience via the language of the workflow. It’s putting the human in the design.

“It forces you to think – how can we better manage our workloads, manage risk, assist the business and ultimately our customers?” –  Claire Nuske, Head of Operations (Legal), BUPA

No-code tools save time, delight clients and – for those of us in firms – help us make money. 

No-code automation gives lawyers the freedom to work on tasks that truly excite their brains and exercise their legal knowledge in ways that keep them engaged and stimulated by their jobs. 

Automation can also transform the way we deliver services to clients by empowering us to surface client-facing digital tools. This doesn’t just make the delivery of services faster – it also delights clients by making it convenient, accessible and easy to receive legal services. The most forward-thinking firms are also taking advantage of productising legal services, giving them access to new revenue streams.

Oh, and it also means you’re more likely to make it home at a reasonable hour!

“We don’t want our lawyers spending time on the work that doesn’t engage them or is monotonous. We want our lawyers to have time to contemplate the real issues and develop meaningful relationships with business.” – Claire Nuske, Head of Operations (Legal), BUPA

If you’re interested in saving time and increasing client satisfaction, get in touch with the team at Josef for a trial.