Evolving Contract Management: A Cross-Functional Imperative

Contract management, traditionally seen as a legal function responsible for crafting legally sound agreements, has undergone significant transformation. It is no longer confined to legal departments; its influence now extends across every facet of an organisation, from operations to finance, procurement, and customer relations. This article explores the evolution of contract management and its critical significance in today's business landscape.

The Changing Landscape of Contract Management

Contract management, the process of creating, executing, and monitoring the lifecycle of contracts, was once primarily a legal function. However, it has become increasingly evident that it plays a pivotal role in the success of modern organisations. Here's why:

1. Streamlining Operations: Beyond legal document creation, contract management now encompasses operational optimisation, saving time, reducing costs, and ensuring all parties meet their obligations in a world where contracts are abundant.
2. Risk Mitigation: While legal expertise remains crucial, collaboration with other departments is essential to manage contract risks. Compliance and risk management teams work alongside legal experts to align contracts with regulations, protecting the organisation from legal and financial threats.
3. Enhancing Collaboration: Contract management software and platforms foster better communication and cooperation across various departments involved in the contract lifecycle, ensuring smooth contract execution from a centralised source of information.
4. Optimising Negotiation: Effective contract negotiation is vital for securing favourable terms. Involving stakeholders from procurement, sales, and finance leverages their expertise, enhances outcomes, and cultivates a culture of collaboration within the organisation.
5. Financial Efficiency: Contracts often have financial implications, from pricing structures to payment terms. Finance departments recognise the importance of getting contract details right from the outset, positively impacting the company's financial health. Advanced contract management tools assist finance teams in tracking financial commitments, improving budget management, and financial forecasting.
6. Customer Relations: Customer contracts form the foundation of business relationships. Engaging customer success teams in contract management ensures customer needs and expectations are met, fostering customer loyalty.
7. Data-Driven Insights: Contract management is not limited to handling documents; it involves extracting valuable data. Modern businesses utilise analytics to extract insights from contract data, aiding in strategic decisions, understanding market trends, and identifying growth opportunities.

Technology's Role in Expanding Contract Management

Advanced contract management software solutions have become indispensable in this evolving landscape. They streamline the entire contract lifecycle, from creation and negotiation to storage and retrieval. These systems provide a centralised contract repository, simplifying management and offering valuable data analytics and insights.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are at the forefront of revolutionising contract management. They address challenges like processing delays, limited transparency, and negotiation complexities. AI and machine learning help automate routine tasks, flag potential issues, and reduce compliance and legal risks. Notably, according to Deloitte's 15th Annual Law Department Operations Survey, around 30% of survey participants intend to assess or introduce contract lifecycle management (CLM) solutions in the coming year.

Prominent Contract Management Vendors

Businesses seeking to enhance their contract management capabilities have a variety of top-tier vendors to choose from, each offering diverse solutions tailored to specific needs and goals:

1. DocuSign: A leader in e-signatures and contract management.
2. Icertis: Offers a comprehensive contract management platform with AI-driven analytics.
3. ContractSafe: Known for its user-friendly, cloud-based contract management software.
4. Conga, formerly Apptus: Provides solutions for the entire contract lifecycle, including document generation and analytics.
5. GEP SMART: Offers a unified procurement platform with robust contract management features.
6. SAP Ariba: Known for its procurement and supply chain solutions, including contract management.
7. Coupa: A cloud-based spend management platform with integrated contract management.
8. SpringCM (a DocuSign Company): Specializes in contract lifecycle management solutions.
9. Agiloft: Offers flexible contract and commerce lifecycle management.
10. ContractWorks: Provides a secure and user-friendly contract management solution.

Company-wide Imperative

Contract management is no longer a specialised task confined to the legal department. It has evolved into a cross-organisational effort that directly influences the bottom line and overall success, especially in a business world where 80% of traditional models are at risk. Today's business leaders demand that legal departments take on a strategic role in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, elevate corporate reputation, and meet customer expectations for efficiency and technological integration.

Integrating contract management across departments brings about heightened efficiency, enhanced risk management, improved collaboration, and data-driven decision-making. In the ever-evolving business landscape, contract management has transcended its legal origins to become an indispensable tool for success.