Five Metrics That Prove You Need IDS Automation

You know you need to leverage your staff for more strategic tasks, but how can you tell if workflow automation is the answer? It doesn’t have to be guesswork.

In the world of IP law, efficiency is key. As patent practitioners know all too well, manually managing the flow of information disclosure statements can be a cumbersome and time-consuming process. 

Here are five key metrics that indicate when it's time to invest in IDS automation to streamline workflows and minimize errors.

1. Volume of Work

The sheer volume of patent applications a firm handles can quickly overwhelm manual IDS management processes. With each new application comes the potential for missing relevant references, especially in industries with heavy biotech or software work. Biotech applications often involve complex prior art searches, while software applications may have large families with domestic prior art. Automating the IDS process can ensure thoroughness and accuracy, even in the face of high application volumes.

Expanding your book of business means you’re taking on increasing volumes of work and may need help to carry the workload. Regularly tracking your firm’s volume of work in Juristat Analytics can help to create benchmarks so you know when it is time to automate.

2. Top Technology Centers

Different technology centers within the USPTO present unique challenges for IDS management. Heavy biotech work typically means grappling with complex prior art, while heavy software work involves managing large patent families. Cross-checking references and ensuring thorough disclosure becomes increasingly labor-intensive. 

After reviewing your top tech centers with Juristat Analytics, did you find your firm’s work is starting to skew heavily toward biotech? That is a clear indication that it might be time to deploy IDS automation to alleviate this burden, streamline your review process, and reduce the risk of errors.

3. Size of Patent Family

The size of a patent family directly correlates with the complexity of IDS management. While assembling an IDS for a single application may be manageable, larger families compound the workload exponentially. Reviewing multiple applications within a family, along with associated IDSs and search reports, becomes a daunting task prone to human error.

Are you taking on more work with large patent families, for example, software applications? That may mean it is time to look at automation options.

4. Staff Turnover

Talented and experienced support staff are invaluable in the IP field. However, high workload and work pressure contribute to burnout and turnover. Losing skilled staff members disrupts workflows and hampers productivity. Automating the IDS process not only alleviates the burden on your existing staff but also ensures consistency and accuracy, regardless of personnel changes.

5. Size of Your Backlog

Growth is great, but it can often mean inheriting a backlog of patent applications in need of careful review, causing your workload to quickly spiral out of control. Reviewing past applications for missed IDS filings and meeting tighter deadlines can strain already overburdened support staff. IDS automation tools like Juristat IDS can expedite backlog reviews, identify pending IDSs, and generate necessary paperwork, all while minimizing the risk of missed deadlines and additional fees.

If any of these five metrics ring true, you clearly need IDS automation. By leveraging technology to streamline IDS management processes, your patent team can improve efficiency, reduce errors, and better support your valuable support staff. Don't let manual IDS management hold your firm back – schedule a demo today to learn how Juristat IDS automation will help you stay ahead of the competition or even just your deadlines.