Legal firms must establish strong foundational technology before adopting AI solutions
Too many firms want to leap into AI without locking down the basics. That’s a mistake. You can’t scale intelligent systems if your core operations, things like document repositories, collaboration tools, or compliance checks, aren’t functioning properly.
According to a global survey from SA Market Insights, over 1,200 legal professionals across the U.S., UK, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific regions made their priorities clear. They don’t want shiny AI features first. What they value, across the board, are reliable, secure tools that solve real operational problems. Top of the list: searchable document storage, automated compliance monitoring, integration with e-discovery tools, and real-time internal collaboration workspaces.
This isn’t about resisting innovation. It’s about sequencing the roadmap properly. If your basic systems fragment workflows or compromise security, then layering AI on top of that is just technical debt waiting to happen.
Firms that invest first in scalable fundamentals are the ones that will actually benefit from AI when they introduce it. They’re set up for resilience, which means they’ll get faster returns down the line and fewer setbacks during deployment. That’s what smart execution looks like.
Poor user adoption hinders the ROI of document management systems in law firms
The tech you buy is only half the equation. The other half is the people who use it, or don’t.
Many legal firms have already poured money into document management systems (DMS). But the returns are underwhelming when adoption is low. Why? Because users run into friction everywhere: clunky security steps, subpar search functions, and platforms that require constant context switching. These aren’t minor complaints, they slow teams down. And when systems interrupt workflows, people stop using them. ROI suffers.
You don’t fix that with more features. You fix it by going back to the user experience. Reduce friction. Streamline access. Improve search. More importantly, support adoption with real training after launch, not just during onboarding.
The iManage report highlights that the main ROI barrier is poor adoption, driven by usability weaknesses. It’s a solvable problem. But leadership has to prioritize it. If C-suite leaders want real value from their DMS investments, then the focus can’t only be on what the software does; it has to be on how well people are using it. That’s the real metric that matters.
Organizational readiness and user engagement must guide AI strategy development in the legal sector
If your team isn’t making use of the systems already in place, adding AI won’t fix that. It will make it worse. AI isn’t magic, it builds on what’s already there. This means organizations need to know exactly how their current systems are being used. Otherwise, they risk investing in tools that deliver little value.
When you step back and examine readiness through actual usage data, it becomes clear what the next steps should be. Incomplete adoption, inconsistent processes, or outdated workflows are not small issues, they’re structural obstacles to scaling AI.
This is about positioning your firm to succeed with it. Every transformation should be grounded in how people are actually working today. That’s where the real leverage is.
Strategic technology investment guided by user needs provides a roadmap for AI readiness
The most effective investments start from the ground level, understanding what your teams need to get work done faster, more securely, and with fewer interruptions. That’s what creates stability, and stability enables progress.
The iManage report makes it clear that legal professionals want technology that improves their workflows. Not hypothetical value, real, everyday improvements. Think faster retrieval of documents, seamless collaboration across departments, and tools that work without forcing constant adaptation. When firms focus on these objectives, they increase adoption and create a clear path for higher-value tools like AI to plug in later.
Laura Wenzel, Global Marketing & Insights Director at iManage, put it succinctly: firms need to make strategic investments that “set the stage for effective use of advanced technologies.” That means understanding what your teams do every day, and then building tech around it, not the reverse.
The firms that win in this space will be the ones that listen to user needs before they engineer solutions. In fast-moving environments, waste comes from investing before you understand usage. The smarter move is to meet user needs now, then scale intelligently with AI once the foundation is locked.
The legal industry is currently focused on optimizing basic tech infrastructure over implementing advanced legaltech solutions
Right now, legal firms aren’t rushing into AI. They’re tightening up the basics, and for good reason. The industry-wide focus is on refining everyday tools that control workflows, compliance, and data access. AI is on the radar, but most firms understand that getting core systems right is the actual priority.
The iManage report, backed by feedback from over 1,200 legal professionals worldwide, confirms this. Respondents consistently ranked tools like secure document repositories, e-discovery platform integration, real-time collaboration tools, and compliance automation as more important than AI capabilities. These decisions are driven by operational logic, secure, efficient basics lead to better overall performance.
The legal sector tends to operate on precision and traceability. Those demands can’t be met with incomplete or disconnected systems. Until firms can guarantee secure, high-performing infrastructure, introducing advanced tech only adds complexity.
This approach is about sequencing. Build reliable systems that people use. Then layer on complexity when it’s clear the foundation can handle more. The value of future technology depends entirely on how solid the current stack is.
For leadership, the move is straightforward. Prioritize enhancement of the tools your teams use every day. Lock in system reliability, usage, and efficiency. Once that’s achieved, you’ll be in a better position to scale into AI, on your terms, without introducing operational drag.
Key takeaways for leaders
- Strengthen core systems before deploying AI: AI adoption without solid foundational tech leads to inefficiency and waste. Leaders should reinforce document management, compliance workflows, and collaboration tools before layering on advanced solutions.
- Drive ROI by eliminating adoption friction: Poor user adoption is a primary reason DMS investments underperform. Execs should address usability issues and invest in post-launch training to maximize returns.
- Audit tech usage before scaling AI: Leaders should assess how well current systems are used before expanding capabilities. Underutilized tools signal readiness and engagement gaps that must be closed before AI can deliver meaningful value.
- Align investments with user needs to build AI readiness: Legal tech spending should align with practical workflow challenges. Prioritizing ease of use and strong adoption today lays a scalable path for AI tomorrow.
- Build infrastructure before chasing innovation: The legal industry is focused on improving essential systems, not hype-driven AI rollouts. Executives should follow this strategy, optimize the infrastructure first, then evolve with tech that fits.
