E-discovery providers are facing more demanding matters and tighter deadlines that are stretching their personnel thin. And while many were able to increase productivity to match e-discovery demand during the early months of the pandemic, such momentum has slowed to emphasize staffer's work-life balance in an increasingly employee-friendly job market.

Even among companies that initially adjusted quickly to increased e-discovery demand last year, some are straining to maintain increased productivity.

David Greetham, Ricoh USA's vice president of portfolio strategy, digital services center, told Legaltech News in October 2020 that his e-discovery personnel didn't struggle with maintaining heightened productivity because they had transitioned to a remote work environment before the pandemic. But after its newly remote clients also adjusted to the virtual environment, their demands grew.