Choosing a Document Review Platform That Understands Modern File Types

The best document review platform handles all your daily files. It processes PDFs, emails, chat logs, cloud-based files -- everything and anything, combining speed and AI tools. The right document review platform is accurate and ensures all important information is considered.

Now more than ever, you need a document review platform that can handle the messy way humans communicate. This includes catching the smallest details that can affect everything from legal transactions to how companies manage their businesses. A text, timestamp, or seemingly innocuous comment on Slack is all it takes to change the trajectory of a project, and a document review platform catches everything.

If your system is limited to Word docs, then you're hamstringing your business. You're also overworking employees when they could focus on more pressing tasks.

Fortunately, you can change that with document review platforms. Here's how to get the job done right the first time.

What Are Document Review Platforms?

Think of a document review platform as an extremely organized coworker. These platforms take messy files and organize them so they're:

• Searchable
• Sortable
• Usable

This is especially important for eDiscovery. Most cases involve tons of heavy documents that feel impossible for humans to sift through. But a document review platform can organize them with ease.

These platforms do more than just hold files like document management software. You can:

• Tag documents
• Filter documents by keyword
• Analyze metadata

Some platforms handle scanned images, others excel in instant messages and voice transcripts. It all depends on your unique needs.

When searching for the best platforms, look for ones that have integrated legal tech solutions. This means they can sift through legal work instead of just reorganizing your PDFs.

What Is the Best Way to Review a Document?

The best way to review a document focuses on teamwork. You'll need AI and humans to work together.

AI is ideal for completing tedious work. Humans then step in and review what's important and what's not.

The best way to begin is by establishing clear workflows. This means making categories and assigning roles.

From there, you can use review platform features, including keyword search and clustering, to speed things up. With little effort, each document will land in the right hands.

Once AI does its job, humans step in. Consider Slack threads, for example. AI doesn't understand context or sarcasm, but humans do.

What Is Managed Document Review?

Managed review is when you outsource your documents to a team of specialists. This means your in-house staff can focus on more pressing tasks.

These providers bring trained reviewers who use powerful platforms. In no time, they can scan through heavy amounts of data. If you have millions of files, you'll want these professionals and their document processing tools.

Why Modern File Types Change Everything

Once upon a time, files were limited to emails and Word docs. Nowadays, files might be in:

• Collaboration apps such as Slack, GChat, and Teams
• Text messages
• Social media posts
• Zoom transcripts

This is why you need a platform that has file type compatibility. Without it, you might miss a very important file.

More than the file, it's about its details. This includes metadata -- who sent it, when, and with what type of device.

For legal cases, this can make or break a case. If your system ignores this information, your review might not stand up in court.

This is where eDiscovery software for law firms comes into play. It reduces wasted time spent converting, reformatting, and manually chasing information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do Modern File Types Matter in Document Review?

Legal data might be in Slack messages, Zoom chat logs, Google Docs, and more. It might even be in a smartphone backup.

A good platform recognizes these files and processes them. If your document review skips these file types, you risk losing key information.

How Do AI Features Improve the Document Review Process?

AI can expedite the review process in several ways. It clusters documents, identifies patterns, and ranks information by relevance. Humans get the final say, but AI does the initial scanning.

Although AI can't replace humans in decision-making, it reduces how much time people spend on repetitive tasks.

What Should I Look for in a Document Review Platform?

The best platforms offer scalability, security, and adaptability. They should support a wide range of file types and provide advanced features with AI options like TAR eDiscovery.

You'll also want something designed to be user-friendly. Although there's always a learning curve, the goal is a program your entire team can manage with ease.

When Is Managed Document Review the Right Choice?

Managed review is ideal if your data volume is overwhelming. It's also useful for tight deadlines and overworked in-house teams. If you need multilingual review or must comply with international privacy laws, managed review is a smart choice.

How Do I Know if My Platform Is Secure?

Security is something you can't afford to compromise, especially with sensitive legal data. Your document review provider should have strong systems in place to prevent security breaches.

This includes proper access controls and compliance with ISO and SOC certifications. One breach is all it takes to ruin a case -- and client trust. When you use reliable eDiscovery software for law firms, double-check that these security factors are met.

What to Look for in a Document Review Platform

When choosing a document review platform, it's not just about which company promises the most bells and whistles. It's about picking a tool that understands how people actually communicate and share information.

The best platforms combine AI for speed with humans for judgment, so nothing slips through the cracks. This balance is especially important when legal tech solutions and legal document analysis software are part of the process.

Choosing the best document review platform is a step in the right direction, but there's more to it than just that. You need to understand how to use it for modern file types. That's why Reveal offers Reveal Academy.

This self-paced training and certification hub shows you how to manage everything with confidence. If you're ready to maximize our legal tech solutions, create your free account to see how it all comes together.