Docketing Automation: What Is It and What Does It Mean for IP Leaders?
Docketing
November 15, 2023
Docketing automation frees IP docketing teams from repetitive tasks to focus on high-value IP operational challenges and solutions. In this updated blog, Fernando Maiques, Senior Director and Head of Anaqua’s AQX® IP management platform, describes what docketing automation is, its benefits, and how Anaqua is leading the way with innovative Document Auto-Processing capabilities on the AQX platform.
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Why Docketing Automation is a Shift for the IP Industry
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What is Document Auto-Processing?
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What Challenges do IP Operations Teams Face?
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What are the Main Benefits of AI-enabled Document Auto-Processing?
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Data Review and Validation – Why It's Still Paramount
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Leading the Way in AI-Driven IP Docketing Solutions
Why Docketing Automation is a Shift for the IP Industry
Docketing patents and trademark applications and managing the associated deadlines and tasks is time-consuming and involves numerous manual steps to review and verify data, and can put an organization’s most valuable assets at risk if managed incorrectly.
One of the main questions IP operations leaders and administrators ask us is how to manage the volume of transactions more effectively. The transformation that has taken place in the banking industry is staggering. The banking industry processes billions of transactions every day. Typically, you don’t send a letter to your bank asking them to make a payment. Most payments are electronic, and you spend little time considering these transactions. People are accustomed to digital banking and take it for granted.
Docketing automation is a very broad term used in the IP industry today, and it means different things to our clients. Ultimately, the objective is to avoid manual docketing, automate routine, repetitive tasks and processes and manage data more effectively.
Docketing automation is a fundamental shift for the IP industry. It involves managing large volumes of data and some of the most valuable assets of a business. IP teams have long established and tested processes for reviewing documents, extracting data, storing patent information in their docketing software, and validating that the information is correct. As IP operations teams start incorporating more automation into their practices, they see how much more they can achieve. They are becoming more confident in embracing automation.
What is Document Auto-Processing?
New AI-driven Document Auto-Processing capabilities on the AQX IP management platform redefine the work of IP data entry and handling for your organization – eliminating hours of repetitive work each day, helping your team meet deadlines more easily, and delivering greater accuracy. Using Microsoft Azure® AI Document Intelligence, AQX can automatically process correspondence documents from some of the world’s largest PTO offices.
How Document Auto-Processing Streamlines IP Operations Processes:
- Save hours of manual work by auto-processing more than 850 forms: 400 USPTO forms, 450 EPO forms, and many more on the way!
- Ensure the highest level of accuracy with a new validation screen to review and validate documents, giving you the flexibility to control the verification process
- Streamline IDS processes by easily importing prior art
- Meet docket response deadlines faster while AQX opens, reads, processes, and dockets the contents of PTO correspondences
- Free up staff for higher value tasks and increase job satisfaction
What Challenges Do IP Operations Teams Face?
The USPTO, EPO, EUIPO, and WIPO have more than 400 types of documents they can send to you, depending on what part of the IP lifecycle you are handling. Almost always, you will receive multiple notifications during the IP lifecycle from publication to grant. During prosecution, an examiner can issue different correspondences requiring different response methods.
Patent and trademark teams are looking for more effective ways to manage the volume of these forms and the data they need to docket, review, and respond to every day. Our clients want to shift their focus towards high-level work, solving exciting problems, and breaking free from spreadsheets and repetitive tasks. That's where the Document Auto-Processing capabilities in AQX come in.
What Are the Main Benefits of AI-enabled Document Auto-Processing?
For the IP operations team, it's all about maximizing impact, saving time, and boosting efficiency.
Take the filing receipt: This is one of the simplest IP documents yet requires manual entry of six or seven data points. Manually processing this single document could take 3 minutes. In the AQX IP management platform, this form can be processed in 10 seconds or less using Document Auto-Processing.
Processing and storing your data in a single, standardized place is crucial when reviewing and reporting docketing activities. Automating IP docketing activities means every task is always done the same way. In addition, it enhances accuracy and gives IP operations the confidence to provide reliable data back to the business.
Data Review and Validation – Why It's Still Paramount
There is a perception that the automation of docketing processes involves relinquishing control of your data. In reality, the key to unlocking the full potential of automation is taking a proactive approach to ensure data accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
Organizations can minimize errors, enhance efficiency, and maintain full control over the data that enters their IP management software by validating, completing, and correcting data before processing. In a world where data accuracy and compliance are paramount, the AQX Document Auto-Processing capability is an invaluable ally in achieving these goals.
Leading the Way in AI-Driven IP Docketing Solutions
Our AI-driven solutions, such as Document Auto-Processing released in AQX 11, are the result of our focus on innovation and close collaboration with Anaqua’s Client Community. Using AI and machine learning, we are continuously evolving to make the intellectual property management process more efficient and accurate.
Simplifying our clients’ work and the collaboration with clients motivates me and is what sets AQX apart as the leading IP management platform.
Document Auto-Processing in AQX is leading the way to a new era of docketing that streamlines routine docketing activities and empowers docketing teams. Together with our clients, we will continue to innovate and deliver cutting-edge functionality in the AQX platform that transforms IP operations.
