What's Going On With LexisNexis?

The Orange Rag has reproduced a press release from LexisNexis International announcing that it is developing a mid- and large-firm Practice Management /Financial Management program in Britain.

Here is the core of the announcement:

"LexisNexis International announced it has signed an agreement with Microsoft to develop a legal-specific practice and financial management solutions platform, using Microsoft Dynamics AX, to meet the precise accounting needs of modern law firms. The LexisNexis practice and financial management solution will address the needs of mid-tier and international firms alike. Already in development, the solutions are scheduled to be in beta testing throughout 2011, with general availability planned for 2012 in the United Kingdom and across Europe."

This is apparently designed to replace other Lexis software that has had significant problems, such as Axxia. Comments have been glowing and positive. However, this overlooks the fact that LexisNexis sells books and research; their experience with developing and maintaining software has been rather dismal.

From a Time Matters perspective, things do not look so rosy.  First, Lexis is continuing a trend of investing internationally rather than in the U.S. If they expect the program to go into beta in 2011, massive resources will obviously be devoted to it. Secondly, Lexis is going after the big-firm market, trying to compete with Aderant Expert and Elite. They have little or no software experience in this area.

Even if you assume that by pawning off the underlying development on Microsoft that Lexis will be able to leverage its putative “legal expertise,” it is unclear that they will be able to make this work.

All this reinforces the impression that Time Matters will be left to rot on the vine in the U.S.  When the cash cow runs dry, what will happen? Lexis is apparently developing some sort of SaaS version of Time Matters. but by the time it is done (if it ever sees the light of day), the more powerful SaaS Practice Management programs, in particular Advologix and HoudiniESQ, will have a serious head start on them. (Remember the Time Matters World Edition).