A Pathway to More Efficient and Effective Court Outcomes

The court technology market has shifted. Traditional operational workflows from just a few years ago are now undergoing constant transformation almost daily, driven by advancements in software-as-a-service (SaaS) and the cloud, automation and artificial intelligence (AI), and data and analytics.

These solutions are not mere novelties. They are fundamentally rewiring how courts capitalize on innovation to deliver faster value and greater outcomes — for those working inside the justice system, the citizens depending on it, and the agencies collaborating every day.

During a recent National Association for Court Management webinar, Terry Derrick, general manager for courts at Tyler Technologies, shared why court leaders are adopting these core technologies. From efficiency to connectivity, and from security to public trust, he highlighted how SaaS, automation, and analytics are creating an integrated justice system that strategically enables a path to more efficient and effective court outcomes.

Automation and Artificial Intelligence: Advanced Technology to Speed Access to Justice

As AI has become increasingly prevalent in everyday life, courts are balancing the most opportune ways to integrate it into traditional workflows. The challenge is doing so in a way that maximizes the benefits without compromising public trust and the integrity of justice.

A significant opportunity for courts to consider is addressing manual and repetitive tasks, such as data entry and document review, that consume valuable court resources and time.

Automation technology can process the redundant work of predefined tasks, just as staff would, but with faster processing times and fewer errors. By reducing the administrative workload, courts can unlock staff capacity, allowing them to engage in more meaningful community interactions and actively contribute to efficient justice. This approach fosters a culture that enables staff to manage cases beyond case entry, provides transparency to stakeholders, and builds public trust.

Software-as-a-Service and the Cloud: Foundational to Centralize and Scale Justice

On-premises systems are perceived as offering greater control, security, and integration; however, they can obscure significant inefficiencies hiding within business siloes. IT teams frequently bear the ongoing burden of maintenance, support, and costly servers, all of which detract from the justice experience for both partners and constituents.

As different systems interact and communicate, workflows and data can become disjointed between agencies. The time spent collecting, rekeying, or verifying information from disparate systems can make it increasingly difficult to uphold the integrity of operations and access to justice.

In a SaaS model hosted in the cloud, the infrastructure responsibility shifts to the vendor, alleviating the burden on the agency. Centralized workflows and cleaner, more secure data allow IT staff to reallocate their time toward initiatives and interactions that directly impact the delivery of justice, such as scalable technology programs. SaaS makes it easier to integrate secure solutions, and its frequent updates delivered through the cloud invoke faster value, empowering staff to deliver more enhanced outcomes.

Data and Analytics: Operational Justice Insights to Fuel Decision-Making

Data is ubiquitous; however, without the proper analysis tools, court leaders may struggle to confidently monitor progress, implement change, or predict outcomes. Data becomes just noise, impeding effective decision-making.

However, when data is accurately compiled, courts can gain valuable justice insights into broader system issues. From identifying patterns in filing groups to analyzing case types, data makes justice processes visible and measurable across the system. As courts address bottlenecks, they can replace instinct-based decisions with data-driven ones, fostering trust with stakeholders and constituents.

Data serves as the catalyst for efficient and effective outcomes.

Looking Ahead

With rising expectations, tighter budgets and resources, and a shrinking workforce, it’s no secret courts are under increased pressure to do more with less. From automation to SaaS to analytics, the public sector is undergoing transformation. Courts continue to hear about change, but few provide guidance on triumphing through it to achieve greater outcomes. Grounded in these solutions, there is a pathway to confident justice.

To hear more about improving court efficiency and effectiveness, join us at the annual Court Technology Conference this September. We will be presenting a plenary session focused on the modern technological evolution that leads to a smarter workflow and releasing our annual state-of-the-industry white paper, The Framework for a Confident Court, which explores the implications of real-world bottlenecks and provides proof of practical applications and success stories.