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Following the successful launch of the Financial Times’ Intelligent Business report in 2018, we are now accepting entries for 2019.

The report will explore the convergence of legal and professional services with data and technology, and the resulting impactful outcomes for business. It will examine how operational challenges with a legal dimension, such as in supply chains and cyber security, are being addressed by these integrated-solution providers — and turned into opportunities.

Submissions can be made by both businesses and their solution-providers, such as the Big Four accounting firms, law companies, legal technology companies and other providers, partnerships and alliances. (Law firm initiatives in these areas are covered in the FT’s sister Innovative Lawyers reports and should not be submitted to this report.)

The initiatives submitted should have created impactful business outcomes that can be measured and evidenced.

The FT Intelligent Business report will be underpinned by research by RSG Consulting and commentary from FT journalists. Its publication will be accompanied by a one-day forum and awards ceremony in San Francisco on October 22, 2019 for shortlisted organisations.

THE RANKINGS

The categories that will comprise the rankings, awards and editorial for the FT special report are:

• Integrated solutions

The Top 10 integrated-solutions businesses

• Legal technology

Artificial intelligence applications.

Blockchain: We will look at credible proof-of-concept initiatives and the criteria for inclusion will be the likelihood of the project’s success.

Start-ups: We will look at businesses formed within the past three years; have developed a working product or service; have received external investment; and have fee-paying customers.

Other: This section will include all other companies using technology that does not include machine learning software and/or blockchain.

• Contracts

For many companies, contracts are key commercial assets and the cornerstone of their business. Too often they are inefficiently managed. The International Association of Commercial Contract Managers (IACCM) has estimated that companies lose 10 per cent from their bottom line through ineffective contract management. Now a plethora of systems and technologies is attempting to tackle the problem.

We are looking for: examples of companies that have made a tangible improvement to their businesses through better contract management.

• Supply chain

Poor management of supply chain risk can be costly for revenue and reputation. Some companies are developing ways to manage these risks better by tapping into different suppliers that are marshalling a range of expertise to bring in new answers to problems.

We are looking for: new solutions that minimise the supply chain risks and/or provide remedies when breaches occur.

• Insurance

This year, we will focus on how the insurance sector is using data and technology to create new and better products and services for customers. Various insurance companies have been at the forefront of smart contract technology and revaluing assets and risks in the light of better data-driven insight.

We are looking for: companies that have used data and technology to develop new and better products and services for customers.

• Public sector

The public sector is under constant pressure to reduce costs and improve service levels.

We are looking for: examples of how public services such as healthcare, social services, education and emergency services are rising to the challenge.

• Data

This section will look at how companies are managing their legal data and using it to drive better business insights for the benefit of themselves, their clients and even entire industries.

We are looking for: organisations that have developed genuine data strategies that are delivering positive value or in some way changing how business is conducted.

• Controlling legal spend

What do legal costs look like to the chief executive and the board? This section examines the strategic management of legal costs, such as re-categorisation of litigation as an asset class. Dramatic cuts to legal expenditure are often difficult for big companies, which may have many law firm advisers globally. Enforcing legal service agreements can likewise represent time-consuming and wasteful tasks for corporate law departments. However, several companies are starting to manage legal expenditure by taking advantage of new technologies and processes that allow them to take greater control.

We are looking for: entries from companies and suppliers that are taking a wholly different approach to legal expenditure or can show they have cut costs while maintaining value.

• Cyber security and privacy

There is a growing sense among corporate leaders that a cyber security attack is inevitable. Combined with new privacy laws emerging in Europe, the challenge for international companies is becoming more complex.

We are looking for: case studies that show how companies and their service providers are managing these risks and even turning them into advantages.

• Top 10 Intelligent Business individuals

• Top 10 Legal engineers / legal technologists

Methodology to assess submissions

As for the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers reports, we will take a case-study approach to assessing companies and their suppliers, with an emphasis on results. Suppliers and corporate functions (legal, sales, HR, finance, IT and operations) can submit up to three case studies that detail how they have tried to tackle the listed challenges.

Submissions will need to detail:

  • The scope of the challenge.
  • A description of the solution and how it was implemented.
  • How the business case for the solution was built and validated.
  • The impact of the solution, such as the degree to which it has been able to: reduce costs; increase revenues; increase the speed of commercial transactions; increase share price; reduce the risk exposure; have an impact on internal users; benefit clients

The submission must include details of an internal reference and the client, both of whom will be interviewed. Submissions will be benchmarked against each other and assessed on the strength of the client reference.

Who should make submissions
Companies and service providers including, but not limited to, technology companies; professional service firms; and other “new law” businesses.

How to submit entries

All submissions must be made via the online submission form, found here.

Each submission should be uploaded as a separate document, named using the following format: “CHALLENGE — company name — short submission title”.

Video content, images or submissions in other formats are also welcome.

The Forum Event — October 22 2019

Shortlisted and ranked entrants to the FT special report will be invited to share their case studies and ideas in more detail at a one-day forum in San Francisco.

Delegates will include senior executives from leading companies, including chief legal officers, chief information officers, chief technology officers, heads of sales and senior executives from the solution providers.

Conditions of entry

There is no fee for entries to FT Intelligent Business 2019.

The researchers reserve the right to move entries from one category to another if they feel it appropriate. The researchers’ decisions are final and they will not enter into any correspondence.

The FT and RSG Consulting accept no responsibility for loss or damage of material submitted.

The FT and RSG Consulting reserve the right to publish the names of the company or individuals contained in the shortlist of outstanding entries, details and description of all entries and details of winners. All entrants grant the FT a perpetual, non-exclusive licence to publish details and descriptions of entries as referred to, and also agree to participate in publicity reasonably requested by the FT regarding their entry. The FT acknowledges that copyright in all entries remains vested with the entrants.

If you are shortlisted for, or win, an award, then the FT may at its discretion allow you to use the relevant logo on your marketing materials. You acknowledge that FT is the owner of the logo and all related goodwill and agree that your use of the logo must be in accordance with any applicable FT branding guidelines in force from time to time or any instructions from the FT, that you will not use it as part of a composite mark or logo, and you will not use it in a manner which causes or is likely to cause confusion or a misleading association between your business and the FT, or damage to FT’s goodwill or reputation, or to the validity of any FT trade mark. FT may terminate your right to use the logo at any time.

Please do not include any confidential information in your entry that you do not wish to enter the public domain because the FT is unable to guarantee that such information will not be published as set out above. Any inclusion of confidential information in an entry is at the entrant’s sole risk and responsibility and in knowledge of the FT’s request not to do so.

The FT reserves the right to cancel, postpone or suspend FT Intelligent Business 2019 at any time and to exclude any entries which it considers are inappropriate or do not comply with these terms and conditions. False or deceptive entries will render the entrant ineligible and such entries will be discarded.

The FT and RSG Consulting cannot accept responsibility for, or liability arising from, entrants taking part in the awards. To the fullest extent permissible by law, the FT and RSG Consulting exclude liability for all loss, damage or claim arising as a result of your entry to FT Innovative Lawyers: Intelligent Business 2019.

These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. Disputes arising in connection with the awards shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

By submitting an entry, entrants will be deemed to have read, understood and agreed to these terms and conditions on behalf of their company or organisation.

As part of submitting to the report we require you to provide contact information for references for each submission. This data is classed as personal data under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). By submitting to the report, you confirm that you have obtained the necessary permissions or consents to provide any personal data contained in your submission to us under GDPR.

Contact details

For research questions, please contact RSG Consulting on +44 (0) 20 7831 0300, ftresearch@rsgconsulting.com

For editorial inquiries please contact Harriet Arnold, Special Reports assistant editor, at harriet.arnold@ft.com (please include “Intelligent Business” in subject line of any email)

For advertising opportunities or other research sponsorship opportunities please contact Robert Grange, global franchise development director at the FT, at robert.grange@ft.com or +44 (0) 20 7873 4418

For enquires about the launch event please contact Reda Sebbata, FT Live Conferences and Events, reda.sebbata@ft.com or on +44 (0) 20 7873 4648

Schedule

July 22 2019 — deadline for submissions

September 2019 — shortlists revealed

October 22, 2019 — Intelligent Business Forum, San Francisco

October 23, 2019 — Intelligent Business report is published in print and on FT.com

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