Lucas & Co Patent & Trademark Attorneys pioneers paperless operations with Efalia ECM

Lucas & Co Patent & Trademark Attorneys pioneers paperless operations with Efalia ECM

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Lucas & Co Patent & Trademark Attorneys, pioneers of the paperless office since 1982, needed a solution to eliminate costly physical storage in London whilst maintaining secure access to thousands of files. By implementing Efalia ECM (FileDirector), the firm successfully digitised over four decades of records, creating a cloud-based archive of nearly 4 million pages with seamless Microsoft Office integration, delivering substantial cost savings and operational efficiency whilst positioning the firm at the forefront of digital innovation in the legal sector.

Challenge

As an early adopter of technology, Lucas & Co faced the challenge of managing an ever-expanding volume of documents in costly London office space. The firm required a solution that could support their pioneering vision of a truly paperless office.

• Physical document storage in London was costly and space-inefficient

• Thousands of files requiring secure storage and reliable access

• Need for improved document searchability to prevent lost files

• Requirement to maintain both current and legacy client records in one unified system

• Compliance and accessibility obligations for patent and trademark documentation

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Solution

Lucas & Co's long-standing relationship with the solution provider (originally Scanfile, now Efalia ECM) and continuity of technical expertise made the decision natural. Efalia ECM offered the secure, scalable platform needed to support the firm's paperless vision.

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ENGINE / APP / TECHNO

Efalia ECM (FileDirector)

• Secure and scalable cloud-based digital storage

• Seamless integration with Microsoft Office suite

• Direct saving from Word and Outlook into client files

• Document review, annotation, and version control capabilities

• Long-term preservation of records dating back to 1982

• Print-to-digital file functionality

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Results

Four decades of digital innovation delivering operational excellence

Lucas & Co successfully operates a completely paperless office with nearly 4 million pages of documents securely stored in Efalia's cloud solution. The system has evolved from early laser-disc storage to modern cloud architecture, maintaining a complete archive since 1982 whilst delivering instant document access and eliminating manual searches. Seamless Microsoft Office integration ensures accuracy and efficiency, with staff saving Word documents and Outlook emails directly into client files. The firm has achieved significant financial savings on physical office space in London whilst benefiting from intuitive operation and excellent support from Efalia's UK team.

• Complete digital archive: Nearly 4 million pages securely stored with records dating back to 1982

• Eliminated physical storage: Zero physical document storage costs in expensive London office space

• Instant document retrieval: Fast, reliable access to all case files and patent documentation

• Seamless Office integration: Direct saving from Word and Outlook into client files

• Advanced document management: Review, annotation, version control, and print-to-digital capabilities

• Cloud-based accessibility: Complete migration to cloud solution for unparalleled accessibility and speed

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Key Figures

• Archive size: Nearly 4 million pages digitally stored and accessible

• Archive depth: Complete records maintained since 1982 (40+ years)

• Operational model: 100% paperless office with cloud-based solution

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Return on Investment

• Significant cost savings: Eliminated expensive physical storage in London

• Operational efficiency: Instant document access eliminating time lost to manual searches

• Business continuity: Complete, secure archive ensuring reliability and compliance

• Ease of use: Intuitive operation with excellent technical support from UK team

• Future-ready platform: Positioned to adopt emerging AI capabilities and further enhancements

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