Socket And Content Innovations Deliver Scanning Solution For Legal And Business Libraries

Socket Mobile, Inc., an innovative provider of mobile productivity solutions, recently announced that San Francisco law firm Hanson Bridgett LLP, has chosen their bar code scanning solution to automate circulation and enable self-checkout at their large legal libraries in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The bar code scanning solution incorporates Socket Mobile and Content Innovations technologies, including the Socket Cordless Hand Scanner (CHS) and Socket SoMo 650 handheld computer loaded with Content Innovations' Windows-based ProBarCodes software.

Hanson Bridgett LLP, one of San Francisco's oldest and most respected law firms, has implemented the solution to effectively organize and manage the more than 17,000 items in its main legal library. With 350 shelves in libraries located on several floors, searching for books can be difficult. The new solution from Socket and Content Innovations helps attorneys quickly identify the library, floor and bookcase for their title.

By placing bar codes on all library content and bookshelves, lawyers and librarians have realized significant times-savings with the ability to quickly locate and check materials in and out of circulation. A minute or two saved on each check-out can add up to hours over multiple check-outs. This allows lawyers to focus on client work and clock more billable hours, improving the productivity of the firm.

While bar code scanning and cataloging of library materials is common, the Content Innovations ProBarCodes solution is designed to fit the needs of small specialty libraries. The majority of existing library bar code scanning solutions are designed for large libraries with a high number of transactions. These solutions are large, desktop-based systems costing roughly $40,000. For a regional business like Hanson Bridgett, an affordable mobile solution was the perfect fit for giving all attorneys access to materials while keeping technology costs reasonable.

"Law and business journals are constantly being updated, which requires efficient tracking and management of library content to stay current with the most recent legal mandates," said Meredith Casteel, library services manager at Hanson Bridgett. "Automating the tracking of content and inventory procedures ensures the accuracy and safety of our information assets. Some volumes cost thousands of dollars to purchase. With the Content Innovations and Socket solution, we can keep track of the purchases made for the library as well as current inventory, preventing unnecessary duplicates and ensuring that our key resources are properly insured."

"The demand for high efficiency mobile data solutions are growing among all enterprises due to the gains in workforce productivity and efficiency that can be realized," said Bob Zink, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Socket Mobile. "With about 60% of lawyers across firms performing their own research (1), having easy access to books and research material is key. The use of Socket's handheld computer and cordless hand scanners at Hanson Bridgett is a prime example of how a mobile barcoding solution can notably improve productivity."

About Hanson Bridgett LLP
A law firm established in 1958, Hanson Bridgett is one of Northern California's mainstays. Our clients range from multinational Fortune 500 corporations to public agencies to regional and mid-sized businesses to individuals. Our goals are to provide exceptional service, deliver the highest-quality work, and achieve the best results -- all with a personal touch. We understand our clients' businesses and we practice law in a way that our relationships with our clients are marked by trust, partnership, and longevity. More information on Hanson Bridgett can be found at www.hansonbridgett.com.

About Content Innovations, LLC
Content Innovations, LLC is a woman-owned, certified small business based in San Francisco, California that helps its clients effectively organize, manage, and capitalize on their organization's information investment. Content Innovations, LLC goes beyond a standard consulting company by assembling project specific professional services teams comprised of experienced systems analysts, librarians, technology experts and support staff for the evaluation, reengineering and support of information resources. More information on Content Innovations, LLC can be found at www.contentinnovations.com.

About Socket Mobile, Inc.
Socket makes mobility computing and productivity work. The company is a one-stop supplier of mobile computing hardware systems, offering a handheld mobile computer specifically designed for business mobility use and an extensive portfolio of essential mobile data collection and networking peripherals that enable mobile automation and productivity increases.

SOURCE: Socket Mobile