Elite adds AI tools to 3E to streamline work-to-cash

Elite has expanded its cloud-based 3E software platform for law firms with new data, billing, payments, time capture, and e-invoicing functions. It positions the update as a step towards a more connected work-to-cash process.

The release introduces Data Connect, built on a new Data Fabric layer, and adds an embedded AI feature to the Proforma billing workflow. It also rolls out new cloud-only functions in Payments and Time, alongside additional e-invoicing compliance features in 3E Financials.

Work-to-cash describes the operational path from recording time and managing matters through billing, payment collection, and revenue reporting. Many firms still run that cycle across multiple systems and teams, with manual steps that increase delays and reconciliation work. Leaders often rely on end-of-month reporting, limiting visibility during the month.

Elite cited Law.com research indicating that firms can lose up to 25% of potential revenue due to inefficiencies across the work-to-cash cycle.

"Friction slows firms down in ways lawyers feel every day. They want to spend their time on clients, not chasing data, fixing invoices, or getting buried in administrative work," said Mark Dorman, CEO of Elite.

Data layer

At the centre of the update is Data Connect, the first product built on Elite's Data Fabric. The Data Fabric is based on Microsoft Fabric and is designed as a shared data layer for Elite products and firms' reporting environments.

Data Connect sends near-real-time operational financial data from 3E into a firm's Microsoft Fabric environment. It is intended to reduce the need for custom data pipelines and manual reconciliation. The focus is on in-month reporting for work in progress, billing progression, accounts receivable movements, and realisation trends, rather than waiting for period close.

Elite said early pilots cut reporting time by 50% and removed a four-step process some teams used for routine reporting tasks.

Billing workflow

The update adds Elite Intelligence to Proforma, where lawyers and billing teams review and adjust draft bills before invoices go out. Elite describes Elite Intelligence as an embedded AI feature that supports routine review decisions during billing.

Within Proforma, Elite Intelligence prioritises edits, defers items flagged as low-value, and highlights proformas it identifies as high-impact. The aim is to reduce repetitive work and move routine items through the workflow faster.

Elite expects the feature to cut pro forma review time by up to 4 hours per month per lawyer, while also speeding up billing cycles and improving accuracy.

"Law firm finance doesn't operate well in silos-it needs to be able to operate as one connected work-to-cash system," said Elisabet Hardy, CPO of Elite.

Payments controls

Elite has expanded Elite Payments with features designed for complex law firm banking structures and trust accounting. The release includes routing to multiple operating accounts and IOLTA-compliant trust deposits at checkout.

In 3E, cash receipts can now be tracked by matter, office, or practice to simplify reconciliation and reduce allocation and reporting errors. Elite also said the changes are intended to speed up the availability of funds and reduce manual work for finance teams.

Time capture

Elite's Time product now uses AI to capture time spent in Microsoft Teams and convert it into billable entries, working within a collaboration environment that many lawyers already use for meetings, calls, and document discussions.

Elite said missed time remains a source of lost revenue when lawyers switch between tasks without recording their activity. The feature is intended to capture more revenue from previously missed time, speed up billing, reduce client disputes, and lower administrative effort for lawyers and billing teams.

E-invoicing compliance

Elite is extending e-invoicing compliance features in 3E Financials. The platform now embeds country-specific e-invoicing compliance for Belgium, with Poland planned next. This expands coverage beyond Australia and New Zealand.

Invoices are formatted, validated, and transmitted to tax authorities through Edicom, which Elite describes as a certified global tax authority network. The goal is to reduce manual steps for finance teams managing multiple invoice formats and local approval processes.

"When data, intelligence, and financial operations move together, work-to-cash accelerates, cash flow improves, and leaders gain clear, timely visibility into firm performance. This is the consistency and momentum Elite's AI-enabled cloud platform is designed to deliver," said Dorman.