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Contract Automation: Guide for Business


— November 21, 2024

Contract workflow automation focuses on improving efficiency by automating routine tasks, preventing bottlenecks, and notifying stakeholders of updates.


Contract automation refers to the use of software tools to streamline and automate various stages of a contract’s lifecycle. This includes drafting, negotiation, execution, and post-signature management. By automating these processes, businesses can ensure consistency and accuracy in their contractual agreements.

The primary goal of contract automation is to eliminate manual labor, enhance efficiency, and reduce the risk of errors or misplaced documents. Businesses can leverage automation to standardize templates, manage contract workflows, and set up real-time notifications for stakeholders, improving both speed and collaboration.

Benefits of Contract Automation

Contract automation offers numerous benefits that can streamline a company’s operations and improve overall efficiency. Here’s an in-depth look at why contract automation is worth the investment:

  1. Improved Organization and Efficiency
    Automating the contract process eliminates chaos and restores order to the entire contract workflow. Contracts no longer get lost or misplaced; all documents are properly routed, and everything gets done according to schedule.
  2. Cost Reduction
    Automation significantly lowers the manual labor required for contract creation and negotiation. According to Deloitte, businesses that implement intelligent Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tools can reduce their contract management costs by 60%.
  3. Faster Negotiation Cycles
    Contract automation speeds up negotiation cycles by 50%, according to Goldman Sachs. This increased speed allows businesses to finalize deals quicker, improving overall market responsiveness. One example is AI-powered contract review tools, which streamline the negotiation process and improve efficiency.
  4. Decreased Manual Effort
    Gartner predicts that businesses adopting advanced contract analytics solutions will halve the manual effort required for contract review by 2027. This allows legal teams to focus on higher-value tasks, boosting productivity.
  5. Accurate Data Tracking and Analysis
    Contract automation ensures reliable data tracking, analysis, and data-backed actions. Using spreadsheets for tracking contract metrics is inefficient and error-prone. Automation provides real-time insights and reduces the risk of human error.
  6. Time-saving on Routine Documentation
    Contract automation streamlines processes that lead up to contract execution, covering stages such as contract creation, collaboration, and signature. It helps teams self-serve on routine legal documents at scale, saving considerable time during the most time-consuming stages of the contract process.

Contract automation transforms how businesses manage contracts, driving efficiency, reducing costs, and improving overall workflow. These benefits make it a valuable investment for any company looking to streamline their contracting processes.

What Types of Contract Automation Exist?

A man and a woman reviewing a contract at a desk; image by Rawpixel, via Unsplash.com.
A man and a woman reviewing a contract at a desk; image by Rawpixel, via Unsplash.com.

Contract automation provides numerous advantages for handling various aspects of contracts. Different types of contract automation cater to specific needs within the contract management process.

Contract Management Automation

Contract management automation utilizes machine learning and AI technologies to streamline the contract management lifecycle. This includes drafting, negotiation, execution, enforcement, and compliance. By reducing the amount of manual labor, professionals can focus on higher-value tasks.

Contract Lifecycle Automation

Contract lifecycle automation ensures that contract language and clauses are standardized, enabling faster and more accurate drafting. Some systems provide the ability to create contract templates using a drag-and-drop interface with pre-approved clauses.

Contract Review Automation

AI and machine learning advancements make contract review automation increasingly sophisticated. These tools can handle repetitive tasks like clause selection, drafting, and review. They can analyze vast amounts of contract data to identify patterns and risks, suggesting optimal terms for deals.

Contract Negotiation Automation

Contract negotiation automation minimizes the manual labor involved in negotiation and creation. According to Deloitte, businesses adopting intelligent Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tools can lower their contract management costs by 60%. Goldman Sachs reports that automation can speed up negotiation cycles by 50%.

Contract Workflow Automation

Contract workflow automation focuses on improving efficiency by automating routine tasks, preventing bottlenecks, and notifying stakeholders of updates. Systems can streamline the negotiation process using commonly used workflows.

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