Blog

January 24th, 2012 by Gwynne Monahan

Digging into Survey: Cloud-Based Applications #cloudcomputing

Last week, we took a closer look at desktop applications being used in law offices. This week, we’re taking a closer look at cloud-based applications. Here are the responses from 2010:

• Basecamp (5.95%)
• Clio (9.73%)
• Freshbooks (2.16%)
• Google Apps (30.45%)
• HoudiniEsq (1.26%)
• Rocket Matter (4.5%)
• QuickBooks Online (7.39%)
• Other (38.56%)

Cloud-based applications weren’t quite the popular options we seem to think of them today. Granted, we don’t know what counts as “Other” but you’ll notice a number of applications missing. Applications that seemed to be all the rage in 2011 at conferences and on blogs. So here’s the list from 2011:

• iCloud (15.18%)
• Box.net (now just Box) (4.34%)
• Dropbox (26.28%)
• Basecamp (1.30%)
• Clio (21.94%)
• Freshbooks (0.95%)
• Google Apps (15.78%)
• HoudiniEsq (0.26%)
• Rocket Matter (1.21%)
• Microsoft Office 365 (0.95%)
• QuickBooks Online (3.73%)
• Xero (0.17%)
• Other (7.89%)

The obvious thing is the growth of the list. Eight were given in 2010. 2011 saw that blossom into 14. There are still some usual suspects, like Basecamp, Google Apps and Freshbooks. Usage of all three fell in 2011, though, which is interesting. Perhaps the introduction and apparent quick adoption of Dropbox, and to a lesser extent Box, has done away with the need for collaboration and document sharing via Google Apps and Basecamp.

Cloud-based accounting applications seems to be a growing trend as well. QuickBooks Online snagged a larger share of respondents than Freshbooks, with Xero making an introduction.

And while it isn’t surprising that Dropbox is the clear winner, it is interesting that iCloud is already being used in law offices. More so than Box, which is interesting. iCloud hasn’t been around for very long, but it seems clear lawyers are finding it beneficial.

As cloud-based applications continue to mature and proliferate, it will be very interesting to see what happens in 2012. Will Dropbox remain the dominant cloud-based application and further push out Google Apps and Basecamp, or will there be more even distribution?