Are you perhaps not fully aware of the benefits of the cloud? If so, what are the advantages of the cloud, and especially of digital IP processing in the cloud?

Old world meets new world.

The old world of traditional patent management software, trademark management software, invention disclosure software, or idea management software isn't exactly old. It's still widely used, especially in law firms, small and medium-sized businesses, and many don't recognize the benefits of the cloud for their own applications and workflows. Meanwhile, the demands on contributors are growing rapidly, and in many workplaces, everyday work is turning into a veritable hunt for information or exchange with experts.

Never touch a running system (?)

There are various reasons for the frequently observed fundamental approach to selecting new programs or, better, opting for traditional programs and the associated decision against introducing a new product and thus against the possibility of using a more modern cloud application.

Relying on tried-and-tested methods seems like a golden principle at first glance. And this is often true. However, one fails to adequately consider the changing times and the associated risks, and may cling to outdated standards that simply no longer meet modern requirements.

The benefits of switching to new cloud software don't seem significant enough to warrant the hassle and risks of a new decision. In fact, many cloud application vendors fail to adequately communicate the true benefits of cloud applications or fully exploit the technological possibilities of providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art benefits for companies and law firms.

So what is the benefit of the cloud when you break it down to the essentials?

Perhaps just to say in advance: The benefits are manifold. One benefit can be that all participants work on the same data source (but do not have to) and each group of participants (roles) only sees or is allowed to see the information that is relevant to them.

In multi-tenant cloud software, this concept can also be perfected with different data sources, but you can find out more about this in another blog post in our blog posts.

Cloud applications are very flexible in defining individual user groups, restricting access to specific content, and even allowing access to specific content for specific user groups. Collaboration on processes, such as an idea becoming an invention, resulting in a patent or utility model, which in turn must be assessed, edited, and used by different user groups, is much easier to set up and maintain than with conventional software.

Modern, certified, GDPR-compliant cloud applications apply completely different security standards, especially in communications. Email technology, which has recently become a risk factor, can even be reduced to pure messaging services (without file transmission via email) by a sufficiently high-quality cloud application. This advantage would require an entire chapter to adequately describe...

Especially in the IP world, many independent departments rely on timely communication with each other. Not only internally, but also external service providers such as patent law firms serving companies or research firms work very closely together on an invention, conducting joint assessments and invention reviews, patent reviews, trademark reviews (note: review = assessment), and cross-departmentally examining the benefits and use of intellectual property rights, often under time pressure.

Cloud applications can be used from anywhere, with any device, and regardless of the operating system or database used.

Cloud applications allow you to digitally transform your way of working and derive such significant benefits from the resulting transparency that the resulting time savings, data security and stringency in your working methods are unparalleled.

We would be happy to provide you with one of our presentations on this topic (this blog post reflects the content of that presentation). If you'd like, please contact us. We would be happy to invite you to our next webinar, where we often address this topic and discuss it together with customers and interested parties.

We're not done with this post yet. This is just the first attempt. Stay tuned if you're interested in this topic, more facts will be coming soon!

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