What is the impact of elm consulting on judicial document digitization?
With expert consulting, judicial documents were transformed from paper files into seamless digital ecosystems speeding up case resolution, reducing court congestion, and strengthening transparency and public trust in the judicial system.
Client Background:
The governmental entity responsible for managing courts and facilitating access to justice in the Kingdom, with a mission to accelerate case resolution and legal transactions, thereby enhancing public trust in the judicial system.
Business Challenge:
The client faced several challenges, including a growing backlog of cases due to continuous inflow, heavy reliance on paper-based processes, and increasing foot traffic in courts, which slowed down case handling. Additionally, the existing digital systems that lacked integration and robust data structuring, limiting the ability to analyze case progress and make data-driven decisions to address emerging issues.
Solution Overview:
elm partnered with the client to lead a comprehensive transformation of the litigant journey - from the initial intent to file a case, through court file reviews and trial sessions, to judgment issuance, appeal processes, and final enforcement. A fully integrated digital case management system was designed to streamline the entire journey, clearly outlining requirements for all parties and enabling fast, transparent communication through multiple channels and workflows. The solution also ensured alignment with alternative dispute resolution mechanisms - such as reconciliation and arbitration - at various stages of litigation, enhancing cohesion across the judicial ecosystem.
In parallel, a new operating model for courts was developed to support the digital journey. This model introduced flexible, high-efficiency procedures tailored to the size and case types of each court, supported by performance indicators to ensure quality and speed.
The Impact:
The project, in conjunction with other initiatives within the entity, led to a significant increase in court capacity and faster case resolution. Most of the litigation journey was transitioned to virtual channels, enabling smoother progression across judicial levels and accelerating enforcement of rulings. The transformation also enhanced the ability to analyze case data throughout the litigation lifecycle, enabling high-quality, data-driven improvements.
One of the most notable outcomes was a 79% reduction in case processing time via the Najiz platform. This contributed to the Kingdom's advancement in global rankings, including reaching 10th place in the field of Justice of the 2024 Global Competitiveness Index by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).