Release Date: 5/1/2025

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This update focuses on improving stability, enhancing Outlook performance, and providing better insights to help us support you more effectively. Here's what’s new:

🚗 Reliability Improvements

• Issue Resolutions: Identified and fixed several bugs that were causing reliability issues with the assistant. One of the major fixes was to ensure the update dialog box wasn't popping up.

✉️ Outlook Enhancements

• Smoother, Faster and More Stable Outlook Integration: Enhanced Outlook-related activity capture, helping the Assistant run more smoothly without affecting other tasks.

❤️ Health Monitoring

• Better System Health Monitoring: We’ve improved how the Assistant collects stability data, which helps our team quickly identify and resolve issues behind the scenes.

💻 Browser Tracking

• Firefox Compatibility Fix: Resolved an issue where tracking didn’t work in Firefox when alternate search engines were used.

Please download and install the release here.

Overview

Introduced two new, independently configurable features at the customer account level to support specific timekeeping workflows: Zero-Hour Time Entry Release and Negative Time Entry Creation/Release. Both features are disabled by default and require explicit enablement by administrators.

Zero-Hour Time Entry Release

Allows users to release time entries with a duration of 0.0 hours to the connected Practice Management System (PMS). Can be enabled/disabled by Super Customer Admins within customer account settings. Disabled by default.

Additional Details:

• Utilizes the standard time entry release workflow and UI. Calendar release status indicators and time totals function as expected for zero-hour entries.

Negative Time Entry Creation & Release

Allows users to create, save, and release manual time entries with a negative duration (e.g., -2.0 inc). Can be enabled/disabled only by Laurel. Disabled by default.

Additional Details:

• Currently limited to manual time entries only (entries associated with activities or timers cannot have negative duration).
• All time totals displayed within the application will correctly calculate and reflect negative values.
• Utilizes the standard time entry release workflow and UI.
• Calendar release status indicators function as expected for negative entries.
• Merging negative time entries is not supported at this time.

Administration & Control

Want to turn these on? Simply:

• Zero-Hour Time Entry Release: This feature can be enabled by a Super Customer Admin. The setting is located in: Customer Settings > Billing > Entry Validation Rules.
• Negative Time Entry Creation & Release: Due to its sensitive nature, this feature can only be enabled by Laurel. If your firm requires negative time entries, please reach out to your Laurel representative, and we will assist with the configuration.

FAQs

Q: How do I turn this on for my company?

• A: As a Super Customer admin, you can allow zero duration entries to be released via your company settings profile (Customer Settings > Billing > Entry Validation Rules). If you would like to allow the release of negative time entries, please make a request into Laurel to turn this on.

Q: Will I automatically see these options for zero-hour or negative time entries?

• A: No, these features are optional and disabled by default. They will only be available if your organization's Laurel administrators have specifically enabled them for your account based on your company's policies.

Q: Why would I need to release a 0.0 hour entry?

• A: Some organizations require timekeepers to submit an entry every day, even if no billable work was done. It can also be used to document specific non-billable tasks that need to appear on records.

Q: When should I use a negative time entry?

• A: Negative time entries are primarily for correcting mistakes where you previously recorded too much time. Creating a corresponding negative entry allows you to adjust the total accurately.

Q: Can I create negative time entries for time logged with timers or activities?

• A: No. Currently, the ability to create and release negative time entries is limited to manual time entries only.

Q: Will my daily or weekly totals include negative time?

• A: Yes. All time totals displayed within Laurel will accurately reflect any negative time entries you have created or released.

Q: Will the calendar colors (release status) work for these entries?

• A: Yes. The logic works the same way as for positive entries. If a zero or negative entry is created on a day, the calendar indicator will show it's unreleased (e.g., yellow), and once released, it will show as released (e.g., green).

Overview

This release introduces significant enhancements to your timekeeping workflow, focusing on intelligent assistance, streamlined entry management, flexible timer controls, and efficient multi-day operations.

✨ Enhanced GenAI Narratives

Our AI assistant is now more intelligent and responsive, providing contextual narrative suggestions throughout your workflow.

Key Features

• Real-time narrative suggestions as you edit entries
• Automatic updates when changing initiatives or modifying activities
• Initiative-specific compliance rule integration
• Full user control over AI suggestions

FAQs

Q: When will GenAI suggest new narratives?

A: Suggestions appear automatically when you:

• Initially create an entry
• Edit the narrative (after a brief pause)
• Update the initiative
• Remove or add activities
• You can also manually request suggestions

Q: Will the AI suggestions follow my firm's compliance rules?

A: Yes! The system considers:

• Your firm's compliance rules
• Initiative-specific requirements
• Your past approved entries
• Current activity context

🎯 Entry Management

A new focused interface streamlines entry creation and editing, putting all essential information at your fingertips.

Key Features

• New modal design with side-by-side activity visibility
• Quick activity management
• Keyboard shortcuts for rapid navigation
• Centralized entry information

FAQs

Q: How do I access the new entry creation modal?

A: You can create entries through:

• Selecting activities/work groups and clicking "Create Entry"
• Using the "+" button on your timesheet
• Through search results selection

Q: What can I do via the new modal?

A: You can do everything you used to be able to do:

• Search and select an initiative
• Edit the duration, but you can now see the raw duration of underlying activities alongside any adjustments you made
• Create/update the description using all of our description support (GenAI, type-ahead, shortcuts)
• Add/edit codes
• Change date of an unreleased, manual entry
• Duplicate an entry
• View and remove an activity

⏱️ Timer Hub

A dedicated space for managing your timers with seamless timesheet integration.

Key Features

• Centralized timer management
• Flexible timer control with start/stop functionality
• Customizable views (card and list layouts)
• Color-coding options
• Quick timer duplication
• Timer removal
• Seamless integration with Timesheet
• Start/stop a timer from Timesheet and see it reflected in the timer Hub

FAQs

Q: Can I have multiple timers running simultaneously?

A: No, starting a new timer automatically pauses any currently running timer to ensure accurate time tracking.

Q: Can I start a Timer from the Timesheet?

A: Yep, just create an entry and start the timer from the modal - there is a two way sync between the two views to ensure everything talks to each other.

📅 Multi-day Controls

A powerful new way to manage time entries across multiple days with efficient bulk operations.

Key Features

• Weekly time entry release in one workflow
• Bulk reassignment between initiatives
• Quick transition from temporary to permanent initiatives
• Entry filtering and search capabilities
• Direct access from release button and initiative menus

FAQs

Q: Does this change how I create time entries?

A: No, you should continue using Timesheet as your primary entry creation tool with all its features for high-quality entries.

Q: Is this available on mobile?

A: No, this feature is currently desktop-only.

Q: Do all validation rules still apply?

A: Yes, all existing release validation rules and quality controls are maintained to ensure entry quality.

Compliance Rule Awareness ⚖️

Compliance Rule Awareness enhances Laurel's compliance offering by providing visibility into billing guidelines during time entry, ensuring timekeepers have the right information at the right time.

⭐ Features

• Real-time rule visibility during time entry
• Dynamic rule updates based on client/initiative selection
• Hierarchical rule application (Customer > Client > Initiative)
• Comprehensive rule information including: Rule title, Description and Reference links (when available)

🔍 Rule Management

Time Managers can:

• Set rules at multiple levels
• Manage rule inheritance
• Update rule details
• Set expiration dates
• Enable/disable rules as needed

💡 Benefits

• Reduced billing errors
• Improved compliance awareness
• Enhanced billing efficiency
• Better realization rates

📋 Entry Notes

Entry Notes enables timekeepers to provide specific billing instructions directly within time entries, streamlining communication between timekeepers and billing teams.

⭐ Features

• Add billing instructions to individual time entries
• Communicate special billing requirements (e.g., "bill at half rate")
• Direct integration with PMS for billing workflow

🔧 Setup

Please contact Laurel to:

1. Configure Entry Notes for your organization
2. Establish necessary PMS integration
3. Enable the feature for appropriate user groups

❓ FAQ

Q: Will this be available immediately for my company?

A: Not quite, please contact your Laurel representative to see if we can set this up for your firm depending on your PMS.

Release Date: 6th November 2024

Download the latest: Click Here

• Outlook <> FileSite Integration: Enhanced performance when working with FileSite in Outlook
• Security: Now using latest dependencies and integrations with the latest security fixes
• Local Caching: Improved capture stability by improving local database performance
• Network Performance: Increased stability when working in slow network environments
• Authentication: More reliable session duration with optimized token validation
• Auto Re-start: Automatic assistant restart after errors or application updates
• Window Capture: More performant and reliable tracking of rapid window transitions

Bug Fixes

• Various general bug fixes implemented

Release Date: 6th November, 2024

We're excited to introduce our new Timer Experience, designed to enhance flexibility and efficiency in time tracking. Here's an overview of the new features and improvements:

Timer Management

• New dedicated Timer Hub for centralized timer control
• Easy-to-use interface for starting and stopping timers on the current calendar day
• Ability to edit timer details including duration, matter, and description
• Seamless integration with Laurel’s Narrative Type-Ahead and Shortcut features directly from the timer modal
• One-click timer duplication for quick setup of similar tasks
• Option to remove timers when no longer needed
• Compliance alerts to ensure your descriptions pass compliance rules

Timesheet Integration

• Seamless pass-through of timer information to the Timesheet
• The ability to start a timer within the timesheet view
• All activities created from Timers appear in the Work Activity panel

Customizable Views & Color-Coding

• Toggle between Timer Board (card view) and List View layouts
• Assign custom colors to your timers projects for quick visual identification
• Color synchronization across Laurel for consistency

Enhanced Sorting Options

• Flexible sorting to organize timers based on your preferences
• Sort by timer name, duration, or most recently updated

📘 Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: If I change the color of a timer, will that be reflected throughout the application?
  ​A: Yes, the color change will be updated for all projects where you have assigned the color across the application, though it may take a brief moment to propagate.
• Q: What information is duplicated when I clone a timer?
  ​A: The client initiative and narrative are duplicated. The duration is reset, allowing you to start fresh with the new timer.
• Q: What happens if I delete a timer that has time logged against it?
  ​A: You'll receive a warning that any entries created from this timer will also be deleted, as timers are directly linked to the entries they create.
• Q: Can I start a timer for a past or future date?
  ​A: No, timers are exclusively tied to the current calendar day to ensure real-time capture of work.

• Q: Will the current in-line timer functionality still be available after the release of the new timer feature?
  ​A: Yes, we will support this functionality, but in our new modal design, so slightly different but our users will still be able to start and stop a timer from the timesheet view.
• Q: Can I edit a timer card / list item after I've stopped it?
  ​A: Yes, you can edit the initiative and narrative of the timer, but any updates to the duration will need to be made on the Timesheet view prior to release.
• Q: Is there a limit to how many timers I can have?
  ​A: While there's no strict limit, we recommend managing a reasonable number of timers to maintain accuracy and efficiency in your timekeeping.
• Q: Can I have multiple timers running simultaneously?
  ​A: No, starting a new timer automatically pauses any currently running timer to ensure accurate time tracking.
• Q: How does the new timer feature integrate with Laurel's automatic time capture?
  ​A: Timer activities appear on your Timeline alongside automatically captured activities, helping you identify any gaps in your time tracking.
• Q: Will my timer data sync across devices?
  ​A: Yes, your timer data will sync across all devices where you're logged into Laurel, allowing you to manage your time seamlessly whether you're on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Thank you for your continued support and feedback.

For any questions or support, please contact our help desk at help@laurel.ai

Release Date: 11th September 2024

New Features

Enhanced website capture capabilities:

• Now capturing client names from Bill.com, Divvy.co, and Skyward.com

Enhancements

Email Handling:

• Added send and receive timestamps to captured emails
• Skipping email saves for messages loaded from disk to prevent inbox clutter
• Faster parsing of email attachments

Performance Improvements

• Implemented delayed processing of local captured activities after login

Authentication

• Improved handling of authentication tokens

Connectivity

• Enhanced internet connection check for Windows 10 and Windows Server
• Improved handling of docking stations to maintain internet connectivity during docking and undocking

Bug Fixes

• Various general bug fixes implemented

* We have update the versioning of our assistant to follow industry standard semantic versioning

Version: 2024.3.1 Release Date: September 12, 2024

We're thrilled to introduce a major update that revolutionizes the timekeeping process in Laurel. This release introduces AI-powered narratives and significantly enhances the activity-to-entry workflow, making your timekeeping faster and more intuitive than ever before.

🌟 New Features

GenAI Narratives

• Automatic Generation: AI instantly drafts narratives when creating new entries.
• Smart Contextual Analysis: Considers activity details, past entries, and compliance rules.
• Instant Application: AI-crafted narratives are automatically applied to new entries.
• Flexible Editing: Users can easily modify AI-generated narratives if needed.

Revamped Work Activities Panel

• New Work Groups Tab: Dedicated view for easier work group management.
• Enhanced Visual Hierarchy: Cleaner, more intuitive activity view.
• Improved Organization: Reduce overwhelm with a more approachable layout.

Lightning-Fast Entry Creation

• Multi-Select Functionality: Choose multiple work groups and activities at once.
• Bulk Entry Management: Create new entries or add to existing ones in bulk.
• Shift + Click Selection: Quickly select a range of items.

Advanced Search and Sort

• Quick Search: Easily find specific activities or work groups.
• Create from Search: Select search results to create or add to entries.
• Customizable Sorting: Options for work groups include AI rank, duration, start time, and initiative prediction.

Focused Timesheet Mode

• Collapsible Left-Hand Navigation: Maximize screen space for your timesheet.
• Distraction-Free Environment: Focus solely on your time entries.

📘 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I select multiple activities or work groups?

A: Use Shift + click to select a range, or simply click the checkboxes to select multiple individual items. The new selection action bar will appear for further actions.

Q: What does the GenAI narrative consider when predicting the narrative?

A: Three main things:

1. The metadata of all activities either from work groups or selected activities
2. The user's past released entries
3. Any compliance rules set by the customer

Q: What happens if I try to assign to an entry in a restricted state?

A: Entries in states such as validation-pending, release-pending, etc., cannot have any more activities or work groups assigned to them.

Q: How do I use the new search to create an entry?

A: You can search both work groups and activities. In the new paradigm, select activities to create/update entries by checking the 'select all' checkbox or individual activities. Then, either add to existing entries or create a new entry. You can perform multiple searches to find and select more activities.

Q: What sorting options are available for work groups?

A: You have the following options:

• AI Rank (default): Confidence in work group correctness, driven by AI team WG confidence
• Predicted Project: Any WG with an initiative prediction will be at the top
• Start Time: Sorted by the start time of the first activity within the work group (options: first to last or last to first)
• Duration: Sorted by duration (options: ascending or descending)

Q: What actions can I take on work groups?

A: You have several options:

• Remove WG: Removes the work group from the list
• Remove activity from a WG: Removes an activity from a work group, but it persists on the timeline
• Delete activity from a WG: Deletes the activity entirely

Q: What happens if I shift-select activities that include open time?

A: We will select the open time and add it as an activity in the entry.

Q: Is the 'All' tab defaulting to show only unaccounted time?

A: Yes, we're defaulting to showing unassigned time to speed up the workflow of assigning activities. This approach aims to streamline the process and provide a sense of accomplishment. Users can always change the view to see all activities if needed.

Thank you for your continued support and feedback. We're excited for you to experience the power of AI-driven narratives and our new streamlined workflow!

Thank you for your continued support and feedback.

We're excited for you to experience the power of AI-driven narratives and our new streamlined workflow!

For any questions or support, please contact our help desk at help@laurel.ai

We're excited to announce the launch of our latest update for the Laurel Assistant. Here's what's new in Version 57:

Features

• Improved Westlaw Capture: Pulling in client information when using Westlaw.
• Improved Quickbooks Online Capture: You are now able to capture client information when using Quickbooks Online.
• Incognito Window Privacy: All work from an incognito window is ignored
• Improved SSO Login: Ensuring that logging in via SSO is quicker by using a new Token Vault Alternate Storage Mechanism.

Bug Fixes

• Addressing Edge, Chrome, MsTeams, and Outlook slowness, 100x faster.
• Fixed website searching to be inclusive.
• General bug fixes and speed improvements.

Happy Timekeeping!

Do you use our narrative template feature to write your narratives quickly? Get ready to write them at warp speed. Now, you can apply multiple templates to a single narrative. Simply use the forward slash (/) command, select your shortcuts, and hit enter—as many times as you want.

Happy timekeeping!

We're excited to announce the launch of our latest update for the Laurel Assistant. Here's what's new in Version 56:

Features

Pause Capture: Laurel now allows you to pause the capture of activities for a set period of time.

Improved QuickBooks Online Capture: Enhanced integration with QuickBooks Online to better capture information about the client you are working for.

Bug Fixes

Always-on Capture: Resolved an edge case where activity capture occasionally didn't restart after logging out and logging back in.

Outlook Enhancements:

• Improved reading of emails within Outlook's folder structure.
• Enhanced interaction with Outlook's delayed send feature.
• Increased integration quality for more restricted instances of Outlook.
• Initial integration improvements to retry if the first attempt is unsuccessful.
• Improved error handling.

Happy Timekeeping!