AppColl has been teasing its users and followers for the past one week, and finally, they launched new features yesterday (Monday, November 5, 2018). To be true to you I liked AppColl since its beginning. The way they have simplified the docketing interface is incredible. It looks immaculate when you enter into AppColl. The whole system seems pretty organized.

Image Source: AppColl

AppColl PM Plus version has got all the new features. This version is 30% costlier than the non-Plus version. Plus version starts at $130 whereas the other starts at $100.

Now, the question is whether the increment of $30 is worth? Let us see what the new features are. The much awaited new features include:

Private Pair integration

Our team had been entering the private pair data manual for each case. It looks like the peace of mind. It will also make the docketing more perfect wherein we will have fewer chances of missing the PTO data. So, should we become complacent if it is happening automatically? Of course No! Even if there is a complete facility, we will still have to verify the documents and customize the docketing.

QuickBooks™ Synchronization

Indeed, an excellent integration for the ones who are using billing feature of AppColl and they are also using Quickbooks. It should reduce quite the right amount of hassle of the paralegals. Few of our clients are using Billing feature of AppColl, and our team is helping them. The team at Menteso IP used to provide them with the reports that they used to include in QuickBooks separately. Now, with this feature it should be an easy task.

Nevertheless, we shouldn’t rely 100% on it. We must verify every activity being performed by the system. As we just started, the system might need iterations and learnings to reach the level of perfection ultimately.

Conflict Checking

This feature is inevitable in all general non-IP docket management system. Nevertheless, probably, the first time this feature has been introduced in an intellectual property docketing software. However, it looks that this will prove to be an invaluable addition as many times the IP law firms struggle with the conflict check. They at times use a separate conflict check software. It looks like a good addition.

Automated Email Routing

This feature of sorting email using a dedicated keyword-based email ID is already present in other docketing software such as Foundation IP as well as various CRMs. It really helps in classifying the emails depending upon to or from email IDs. AppColl entered late, but that’s fine. To me, it is an essential requirement.

Graphical Reporting

The information looks charming when presented in the form of graphs and charts. The data start communicating more information. I remember, we used to download the reports from AppColl, being an analyst, I always hated raw data. I genuinely love this feature to the core. This feature should help in making more informed decisions.

I’d love to pay $30 more for these features. Would you? Write in comment. Nevertheless, I don’t know how the pricing would change when the number of users or the number of cases will increase. If anyone gets more information, please write in the comment.

I am looking forward to receiving your feedback and comments.

– Azam Ghani
Founder & CEO at Menteso (IP), Inc.

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Do advanced features make the IP Docketing system best?

I understand it is quite puzzling to figure out what are the best IP docketing systems out there in the market. These days, docketing systems come with many advanced features. However, the question is, does a particularly advanced feature makes a docketing system best? Probably, no.

Five parameters for choosing the best IP Docketing (Intellectual Property Docketing) software.

The reason for my answer in negation is an age-old trite quote, “Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.” What I am trying to say is that the IP docketing system can be declared best depending on the users’ needs. I used the following five parameters to decide the four best IP Docketing or Intellectual Property Docketing software systems. I believe that every user looks for the following traits while choosing IP docketing software.

Cost
User Interface
Automation
Documents
Auto-Docketing

Table: Comparison of four IP Docketing softwares

S. No.	Software	Cost	Web-based	Documents	Billing	Private Pair	Client View	AutoDocketing
1	AppColl Prosecution Manager	Starts at $100 a month	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes, partial monitoring required. US-based only. Foreign needs manual entry.
2	Alt Legal	Starts at $75 per month	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes, it automatically calculates deadlines for trademarks, US patents, and TTAB proceedings. Monitoring required. Foreign needs manual entry.
3	DocketTrak	Starts at $75 per month	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Automated trademark and deadline creation. Requires manual intervention for both trademark and Patent
4	FlexTrac	Starts at $99.95 per month	Yes. It also comes in the server-based package.	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes, partially, monitoring is required. Further, their best features seem to be available in the server-based offer.

Which IP Docketing Software wins the race?

Considering the features, usability, and experience Menteso IP believes AppColl Prosecution Manager wins the race of IP Docketing or Intellectual Property Docketing software systems for small and medium law firms. AppColl has very easy to use interface with seven modules and no clutter in the user interface.

Who is the second-best?

The second best software that comes to mind is Alt Legal. If you don’t have to track your billing, Alt Legal can save some costs. Automated reminders, USPTO tracking, and USPTO updates notification are quite good at Alt Legal.

Who seems powerful?

Dockettrak is easy to use. Though, DocketTrak looks like basic software. Nevertheless, the most noteworthy feature with DocketTrack is that you can store unlimited records even with the basic package. Further, another great feature I like is client access, that too unlimited clients. As a result, one of our clients preferred this software over all others. Probably, because of the unlimited records and client access as a major reason. I believe this is one of the potential features the law firms always crave. DocketTrack has implemented client features smartly by merely allowing the creation of a user with limited access to particular client data.

Who can be available on an in-house server?

Above all, the fourth IP Docketing software FlexTrac is a robust system when deployed on a server. In contrast, the web version seemingly needs to catch up. If you recognize that your data needs to be saved strictly into your systems, you can consider the server version of this software. Notwithstanding, the server version might be a little costlier than the web version because of the upfront costs.

Finally, everything is in front of you; you need to take a call considering your requirements. You can also Contact Menteso IP for suggestions to your specific requirements. We wish you good luck with your choice of IP Docketing software.

Disclaimer:

Menteso IP is not in collaboration with any of the above software providers. Our views are for information purposes only and bear no legal liabilities. We are sharing the information on our usage basis only. We have expertise in providing remote managed docketing services on all of the above IP Docketing or Intellectual Property Docketing Systems, including AppColl, Alt Legal, DocketTrak, and FlexTrac. Together with these systems, Menteso IP has the expertise and hands-on experience of providing services on other docketing systems as well, including Foundation IP, Anaqua, CPi, IP Manager, Memotech, IPFolio, etc. Contact us for our services-quote today.