Budget season is coming up fast — and the law firm leaders who get an early start on planning will enter the process with more confidence and clarity. That can translate to stronger growth in 2026. That’s why August is the perfect time to reflect on where your firm has been, where it is today, and where you can take it next year. But to do that, you need the right data.
Orion Visual Analytics (OVA) taps into real-time and historical data to help you see what’s important faster. With OVA, you’ve got a head start, so you can make next year your best year.
Prepare now to plan better
Budgeting and planning season can be a busy, stressful time. When you start early, you give yourself more time to reflect on the big picture. Grounded in those reflections, you can make better decisions once planning starts, setting the stage for a fantastic 2026.
Depending on your scope of responsibility, you may want to think on:
- Client acquisition. How much does it cost to generate and convert qualified leads? How are various channels performing? Are your KPIs clearly connected to business goals?
- Return on investment. How does profitability, revenue generation, and collections look firmwide and from various angles (e.g., offices, practice areas, timekeepers)?
- Potential improvements like tools, workflow, and talent. What data do you need to analyze the costs and benefits? How would you measure success?
- The planning process itself. Are you conducting regular reviews? Are you getting the information you need to assess progress towards goals and to pivot as needed?
Of course, each firm and department will have different questions to consider. But every leader can enter budget season more refreshed and focused by giving themselves the mental space to examine current conditions and envision improvements.
OVA: See the future with data
You have questions to ponder, and you need accurate, relevant data to explore those questions. With the right tools, you can identify patterns and construct solutions that bring you closer to your firm’s business goals. OVA is designed to do just that.
Interactive dashboards show real-time data
Law firms run on reports. But leaders need access to high-level data to spot trends and predict outcomes. Flipping through spreadsheets isn’t always the best use of your time.
Visual analytics offers a better way. OVA delivers easy-to-read dashboards customized to your firm’s unique needs, so you can see everything that matters on one screen. To see what’s behind the data, simply click on a visualization. Want to test an idea or investigate a hunch? In just a few clicks, you can slice and dice dashboard data by categories you choose, like office, client, attorney, and practice group.
A curated library of detailed reports + custom options
Some questions are answered best with a static report. OVA comes with a package of tested, trusted reports developed for law firms like yours. New reports are added regularly, and OVA can build special reports just for your firm.
For example, you can:
- Filter data to zoom in on one area of interest
- Rank and prioritize information
- Add or remove fields to get the exact blend of information needed
- Leverage high-value reports like Compensation Assist and Profit Analysis
To create a special report, you can choose between built-for-you reports and in-house report creation. Once the report template is complete, running the report is simple.
The answers you need, when you need them
When you’re trying to get ahead on planning, you don’t have time to wait for the accounting department to run a report. (And too many requests can slow down your revenue cycle by delaying billing and collections tasks.) You need fast answers from an intuitive interface.
OVA offers self-service business intelligence: instant, actionable insights without the need for special technical skills. The system is secure, so users can only see dashboards or data they are authorized to view. It’s even embedded in your familiar Orion interface, so there’s nothing between you and the information you need to be ready for budget season.
Schedule a Free Product Tour today to learn more about how Orion can benefit your firm
Partner with OVA today and plan ahead with confidence
Is your current business intelligence software a partner in preparation, or is it holding you back? When you add OVA to your Orion software, you get a team of seasoned data experts ready to tackle your toughest business intelligence challenges. With the right data at your fingertips, you’ll be ready to plan a prosperous new year.