Exari Media Release
July 23, 2003
[Exari] Unlocks Contract Data with XML Document Automation
San Francisco and Melbourne - [Exari] today announced the release of version 3 of SmartPrecedent, its XML-based document automation software which allows enterprises to share and re-use data that, till now, was locked inside proprietary word-processing formats.
SmartPrecedentŪ allows lawyers and contracts managers to generate standard agreements using a simple web based interview. At the end of each interview, the user gets a tailored document that can be viewed in Internet Explorer, Mozilla or Safari (Mac), edited in Word, printed as a PDF, or fed directly into other enterprise applications in XML. This lowers the risk of errors and non-compliance, improves business performance by shortening sales and procurement cycles, lowers the cost of document preparation, and improves the portability of contract data.
Version 3 extends the strong support for XML and other standards such as WebDAV and DeltaV (www.webdav.org) already built into the product, with support for web services and other mechanisms for pulling answers from existing ERP, CRM, practice management and other databases.
Commenting on the new release, [Exari] CEO, Jamie Wodetzki, said:
"What's exciting about this release is the timing. Microsoft's imminent launch of Office 2003 is the clearest signal yet that XML has become mainstream. So we've reached the point where no-one doubts that XML is the best format for sharing data and collaborating on documents. At the same time, there's a real focus on compliance, risk management and cost reduction across all areas of business. This makes the case for XML-based document automation as strong as ever.
"We're seeing two key areas where people are embracing XML based document automation.
"First, you've got legal and contracts teams in large corporates and government agencies. They don't like cleaning up and signing off the large volume of smaller contracts that pile up on their desks each week. But they don't like the idea of a junior sales rep or purchasing clerk making contract changes that create dangerous risk exposures. For these scenarios, web based document automation means that end users can tailor their own contracts, but only within a framework signed off by legal in advance. Everyone's much happier.
"Second, you've got big law firms, where the pressure to do things faster and more productively is no longer confined to high volume, routine work. As firms look to extend automation to more complex documents, like those used in finance and securities, they often find that simple Word solutions don't work. The structure within XML documents makes it much easier to tackle complex automation, and also makes it easier to manage large precedents collections and ad hoc bespoke drafting through the re-use of boilerplate and other common clauses."
About Exari
[Exari] is a global leader in enterprise document automation solutions for large law firms, corporations and government agencies. With offices in San Francisco, USA and Melbourne, Australia, the company develops and markets software that improves the way large enterprises create legal and commercial documents. Business and legal publisher, CCH Australia/Wolters Kluwer made a strategic investment in [Exari] in January 2001, and has since used its SmartPrecedentŪ technology to develop a number of web based products.
www.exari.com
