# Meeting Users Where They Are: Embracing Modernization with Laurel By: Ryan Alshak If Marc Andreessen's observation that "software is eating the world" sounded like an exaggeration a decade ago, today it's a statement of fact. Software isn't a 'nice-to-have'; it's become the vital machinery of any competitive business. Here lies the challenge: how do you upgrade the engine mid-flight without crashing the plane? The urgency to adapt in the digital age isn't just rhetoric for those in managerial or IT positions — it's a daily truth. Understandably, talk of change can cause more unease than excitement. You're grappling with the hard metrics of cost, the realities of team training, and the absolute necessity of business continuity. These concerns aren't obstacles to change; they are the very parameters that guide it. As Maleesa Pollock, our Product Lead, notes, "We've designed Laurel to ease your transition into the digital world, addressing real-world concerns about efficiency and workflow continuity. Because a smooth journey isn't just about the destination; it's about maintaining operations en route." We’ve learned this lesson through our successes and failures as a company and product builders. Laurel is built on a modern, cloud-based, mobile-friendly architecture. It shares the same DNA as the consumer software you use every day. The interface, the interaction patterns, the entire user experience is what you'd expect from modern software. It's not just how we're building for the future; it's how we're successfully serving firms today. Here’s our updated entry creation flow that’s familiar yet powerfully enhanced when a user needs: [Same Workflow, Super Charged: Creating Entries in Laurel with Niket](https://www.loom.com/share/a55f3bbd9c734d07a15ac1e4e8a16d2e?source=embed_watch_on_loom_cta "Same Workflow, Super Charged: Creating Entries in Laurel with Niket") Our platform is already built to understand your workflow, not disrupt it. We've incorporated AI to serve immediate, practical needs: like drafting time entry narratives, predicting which client and task codes you're most likely to choose, and selecting them for you. This isn't a "future of work" abstract; this is part of our current feature set that firms are using right now to remove friction from daily tasks. We aim to make the transition not just smooth but practically invisible, all while delivering tangible improvements in efficiency. Today's workforce—both incoming and existing members—expects modern tools. But it's not just about expectations; it's about what your business fundamentally needs to thrive. For a more in-depth look at how modern tools can directly impact your bottom line, you can check our comprehensive resource Maximizing Profit Through Operational Efficiency. In summary, the article demonstrates that contemporary software platforms like Laurel serve as strategic assets for maximizing profitability, streamlining operations, and creating a more resilient business model. Navigating change management is a real concern, and it's understandable. The world isn't just changing; it's accelerating. To merely keep pace is to fall behind. Modernizing our operational workflows is not a destination, but a launching point for future innovation. Achieving this requires more than isolated efforts; it calls for a collaborative partnership between us. At Laurel, we're not just building software; we're constructing a future that's both familiar and powerful, designed to elevate your firm's performance. Let's work together to ensure that future doesn't just happen to us, but is one we've intentionally built. [Contact our Time Consultants (sales)](/content/get-a-demo/index.html) to understand how we can make you more money today. ### Ryan Alshak Founder and CEO Ryan was previously a litigator at Manatt Phelps, where he was ignominiously awarded the country’s worst timekeeper award. While Laurel’s current vision is to automate timekeeping for all professional services, ultimately, Ryan is on a mission to make the world aware of its time. Posted on August 14, 2023 ## Frequently Used - 💯 - 🎉 - ✅ - ❌ - 👀 - ✨ - 🚀 - ➕ - 🙏 - 🔥 - 😆 - 🤔 - 😱 - 👋 - 🌈 - ❤️ - 👏 - 🐞 Our journey at Laurel has been an eye-opening experience in learning about the challenges IT and Finance leadership faces to ensure a firm’s ability to operate is safeguarded; in particular the fatigue that comes from technology implementations that protract in timelines and drain resources before becoming a point of contention within a firm.