Blog

A New Era for Technology Adoption in Professional Services

Harvey Team

At Harvey, we believe that there is no better industry for generative AI technology than professional services. While we recognize that AI adoption is still in its early stages, the technology is improving and the ways it can improve delivery of professional services are expanding every day.  

Harvey is partnering with leading firms to help them leverage generative AI technology in innovative ways. With a growing customer base of more than 100 firms, our customers are constantly sharing new queries, ideas, and workflows where Harvey can help. 

As we enter Harvey’s third year, we wanted to take a moment to share some of the key metrics and usage trends that get us really excited about this new era of technology adoption. We have more conviction than ever that professional service firms, especially BigLaw, will accelerate their already strong adoption of Harvey.

Steady Climb in Utilization Across All Users

Since August 2023, Harvey has experienced a consistent and significant increase in utilization among all users. The data illustrates a clear upward trajectory:

Harvey Average Utilization

Key Highlights:

  • Rapid Growth: Utilization more than doubled from 33% in August 2023 to 69% in August 2024. 

  • Consistent Adoption: Despite minor fluctuations, the overall trend shows sustained and accelerating adoption.

  • Industry Benchmarking: These figures are particularly notable when compared to typical enterprise SaaS adoption rates, underscoring Harvey's effectiveness and relevance in meeting the complex needs of legal professionals.

This steady climb reflects two trends: (1) growing trust and reliance on Harvey's capabilities, with users increasingly integrating the platform into their regular workflows to streamline processes and enhance productivity and (2) Harvey’s expanding capabilities, allowing users to situate more workflows in our platform.

Exceptional User Retention Rates

User retention is a critical indicator of a platform's value and usability. Harvey's retention metrics over a 13-month period tell a compelling story:

Harvey User Retention

Key Highlights:

  • Sustained Engagement: Retention rates remain robust, consistently hovering around or above 70% after one year.

  • Re-engagement Success: Notable increases at months 7, 11, and 12 suggest effective strategies in re-engaging users and reinforcing the platform's value proposition.

  • Comparative Excellence: In the context of enterprise SaaS and particularly within legal tech, maintaining such high retention rates over an extended period is exceptional, indicating strong user satisfaction and enduring utility.

These retention figures demonstrate that once customers integrate Harvey into their workflows, they continue to find substantial and ongoing value in the platform.

Spotlight on Exemplary BigLaw Firm Adoption

To further illustrate Harvey's impact, we examined utilization data from three prominent BigLaw firms that have integrated Harvey into their operations. BigLaw firms #1 and #2 represent enterprise deployments of thousands of lawyers whereas BigLaw Firm #3 is a partial rollout within a larger firm.

Harvey BigLaw Utilization

BigLaw Firm #1

Key Highlights:

  • High Initial Adoption: Starting strong at 71%, indicating immediate recognition of Harvey's value.

  • Consistent Growth: Utilization peaks at 93% by month 12, showcasing deep integration and reliance on the platform.

  • Operational Transformation: Sustained high utilization suggests significant enhancements in the firm's efficiency and service delivery through Harvey.

BigLaw Firm #2

Key Highlights:

  • Rapid Scaling: A notable jump from 19% to 97% utilization between months 0 and 1 demonstrates swift onboarding and adoption.

  • Stable Usage: Maintains utilization rates between 63% and 80% over subsequent months, indicating steady and reliable use.

  • Adaptable Integration: The firm's ability to quickly scale up usage reflects Harvey's user-friendly interface, ease of adoption, and adaptability to various legal workflows.

BigLaw Firm #3

Key Highlights:

  • Over-provisioning: Utilization surpasses 100% from month 4 onwards, indicating usage beyond initial seat allocations and highlights the virality of Harvey within the firm.

  • Peak Performance: Reaching 128% utilization by month 10 showcases extraordinary engagement and dependency on Harvey's capabilities.

  • Innovative Application: Such high utilization suggests the firm is leveraging Harvey not just for routine tasks but also for innovative applications, pushing the boundaries of legal tech integration.

Implications for Generative AI and Legal Tech

We are proud of everything we have built so far at Harvey from our proprietary, domain-specific AI models to the deep relationships with our customers. These adoption patterns suggest several takeaways as we think about the future of generative AI technology in the legal sector and the broader context of enterprise SaaS. 

For Generative AI:

  • Proof of Concept: High utilization and retention rates validate the practical applicability of generative AI in complex, specialized fields like law.

  • Trust and Reliability: Sustained engagement indicates growing trust in AI-generated outputs for critical, high-stakes tasks.

For Enterprise SaaS:

  • Rapid Onboarding: The swift adoption rates demonstrate Harvey's effectiveness in delivering immediate value and ease of integration into existing systems.

  • User Engagement: Consistent usage over time highlights successful user experience design and ongoing support.

For Legal Tech:

  • Industry Transformation: Harvey's success signifies a tipping point in legal tech adoption, moving from auxiliary tools to core components of legal practice.

  • Competitive Advantage: Firms leveraging Harvey are likely gaining efficiencies and insights that provide a competitive edge in service delivery and client satisfaction.

Conclusion

The data underscores a clear narrative: Professional Service firms are rapidly and enthusiastically adopting generative AI tools like Harvey.  Our platform's utilization and retention metrics reflect not only the immediate benefits we are able to deliver but also the long-term value proposition for legal professionals seeking to stay ahead in a competitive and evolving landscape.

As Harvey continues to innovate and adapt, we anticipate even greater integration and impact with our clients. Together, we hope to set new standards for what is possible in legal technology and beyond. The future of professional services is here, and it's powered by Harvey.

Stay tuned for more insights and updates on how Harvey is empowering legal professionals worldwide. For more information or to request a demo, contact us.