TECHNOLOGY – don’t ya love it.

Well yes, well no, well maybe – probably all of the above, none of the above, some of the above.

The key thing about technology is not it (it, IT – geddit?) in itself, but its use and how you embrace it, and how you use it and how you take full advantage of it.

I guess most of you reading this have allowed technology to come into your lives and the computers, PCs, the internet, iPads, etc, have transformed everything that we do: emails – great invention, maybe too much of a great invention; online shopping – fantastic especially when its raining, when you want to do price check comparisons; downloadable music and videos – wonderful. But it’s down to us and not the technology.

We at Document Direct have used technology to great effect, and without the internet as a business we wouldn’t exist. We offer an outsourcing service integrating digital dictation, online access, experienced legal secretaries and great flexibility.

However, technology doesn’t really make much difference unless our customers embrace it. Our lawyer clients who have embraced it, find that it improves their overall efficiency, gives them greater flexibility and access at any time of the day, and, yes, I’m sorry to say to some of you – probably helps them raise their bills that little bit quicker.

However, no matter how much technology water there is, we can’t make everyone drink it.

So, technology? It’s about a mind-set – about a willingness to embrace not just technology but change; and change, as we all know, is not something that the human condition is geared up for. But, bit by bit, if we do embrace change, it changes our lives and largely, I would say, for the better.

So don’t view technology as some strange alien thing that’s about to engulf us. Its not about technology, it’s about you.

MARTYN BEST is managing director of Document Direct, in Liverpool