According to Gartner, corporate legal departments (CLDs) are expected to triple their technology spend in the next three years. But getting the most out of existing technology is just as important as investing in shiny new tools—and perhaps more so. Many CLDs already have the legal ops technology they need, but don't understand the full capabilities of their systems.

This isn't expected to change. For technology focused on contract lifecycle management, for instance, Gartner estimates that CLDs will only capture 30% of the potential benefit in the years ahead.

Between rate hikes, a looming recession, and continued uncertainty, CLDs must squeeze everything out of their existing technology before investing in new tools. Here are four steps to ensure you are getting the most from your legal operations technology.

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  1. Make a list of non-negotiable capabilities.

Before digging into any individual tool's features, it's important to understand your legal department's core needs. What technology is integral to day-to-day operations? For many CLDs, the answer may include eBilling, spend management, matter management, contract lifecycle management, legal hold, and document management, to name a few. Such software enables the department to operate with maximum efficiency.