Contracts aren’t just paperwork—they’re the foundation of business relationships.
In fact, contracts govern 70% to 80% of business operations, whether it’s dealing with clients, partnerships, or employee agreements. That means nearly everything a company does is tied to some form of contract.
And when contracts aren’t managed properly? Delays, compliance risks, and financial losses start piling up.
Despite how crucial they are, contract management is still a headache for many businesses. Tracking versions, chasing approvals, and staying on top of renewals can be a time-consuming mess without the right system in place.
That’s where contract management software comes in—it keeps everything organized, speeds up the approval process, and reduces legal risks.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best contract management solutions, how they work, and which one fits your business best.
What Is Contract Management Software?
Contract management software helps businesses handle agreements from creation to renewal. Instead of juggling emails, PDFs, and manual approvals, these tools centralize everything—drafting, signing, tracking, and storing contracts.
Most contract management platforms offer features like:
- Template-based contract drafting to speed up document creation
- Approval workflows to move contracts through the right people
- E-signatures to finalize agreements legally and securely
- Automated reminders to track deadlines and renewals
- Secure storage with search features to find contracts fast
Using contract management software reduces errors, improves compliance, and saves time, especially for businesses handling a high volume of agreements. But managing contracts isn’t always a one-tool job.
A business might use DocuSign for e-signatures, Juro for full contract lifecycle management, Dropbox Business for cloud storage, and Percipient for AI-powered contract review. Some platforms offer an all-in-one approach, while others specialize in one part of the process, so the best setup depends on what your business needs.
Best Solutions for the Entire Contract Management Process
As mentioned, the best solution depends on your workflow, legal needs, and the volume of contracts you manage. Let’s take a look at some of the top options.
1. Percipient: Automated Contract Review With Human Expertise
Reviewing contracts manually slows down business operations and increases the risk of missing key details. Percipient solves this problem by combining AI-driven contract redlining with human expertise.
Instead of relying only on software, Percipient makes sure every contract is reviewed with accuracy and legal context.
Unlike self-service contract review platforms, Percipient isn’t just software—it’s a service. Their approach blends AI automation with legal professionals who validate and refine the AI’s findings, which makes contract review faster without sacrificing quality.
Best Features
- AI-powered contract redlining: Flags key clauses, risks, and inconsistencies based on your legal playbook.
- Expert legal review: Makes sure AI findings are accurate and provides deeper legal context.
- Customizable workflows: Adapts to your specific contract standards and industry requirements.
- Seamless integrations: Connects with collaboration, communication, and contract lifecycle management (CLM) platforms.
- Collaborative feedback loop: Provides reviewed contracts with detailed redlines and explanations for quick finalization.
- Faster contract turnaround: Speeds up the review process without compromising quality.
Pros
- Reduces contract review time without sacrificing accuracy
- Combines AI automation with human legal expertise for reliable results
- Catches risks and inconsistencies that AI alone might miss
- Adapts to industry-specific needs with tailored contract playbooks
- Improves compliance by ensuring contracts meet legal and regulatory standards
- Works with existing contract management tools for a smoother workflow
- Scales with contract volume for businesses handling a high number of agreements
Want to learn more about Percipient? Get in touch with the team today and see how they can help!
2. DocuSign: Legally Binding Electronic Signatures
Getting contracts signed quickly and securely is a challenge, especially when dealing with multiple stakeholders. DocuSign makes this process seamless by providing legally binding electronic signatures that meet compliance standards worldwide.
Source: G2
DocuSign is widely used across industries, from sales teams closing deals faster to legal departments handling sensitive agreements. It’s a trusted solution for businesses that need secure, efficient, and legally compliant electronic signatures.
Best Features
- Legally binding e-signatures: Meets compliance standards, ensuring valid and enforceable agreements.
- Automated approval workflows: Speeds up contract processing by routing documents to the right people.
- Multi-device support: Allows users to sign from desktops, tablets, or mobile phones.
- Audit trail and security: Tracks every signature, providing detailed logs for compliance.
- Integrations with business tools: Works with CRM, HR, and contract management platforms.
Pros
- Easy to use with a straightforward signing process
- Reduces paperwork delays by automating approvals
- Secure and compliant with industry regulations
- Works across multiple devices for flexibility
- Integrates with major platforms like Salesforce and Microsoft 365
3. Juro: Contract Lifecycle Management
Juro is a contract management solution that handles the entire contract lifecycle, from creation and negotiation to approval and renewal. It’s designed for legal and business teams that need a collaborative, automated approach to managing agreements.
Source: G2
With Juro, companies can draft, negotiate contracts, approve, and store agreements in a single platform. It gets rid of the manual processes while reducing bottlenecks and making contract workflows smoother.
Best Features
- End-to-end contract management: Covers drafting, negotiation, approval, and storage in one place.
- Template-based contract creation: Simplifies document generation with reusable templates.
- Collaboration tools: Allows real-time contract edits and approvals with internal teams and external parties.
- Automated contract workflows: Speeds up approvals and reduces manual follow-ups.
- Data-rich contract tracking: Provides insights into contract performance and key dates.
Pros
- Promotes faster contract cycles
- Allows real-time collaboration for faster negotiation
- Reduces errors with automated workflows and templates
- Keeps contracts organized with a searchable repository
- Integrates with CRMs and business tools for smoother workflows
4. PandaDoc: Document Automation
PandaDoc simplifies contract workflows with document automation, which makes it easy to draft, send, and track agreements.
Source: G2
Designed for sales, legal, and operations teams, PandaDoc helps businesses draft contracts quickly, negotiate terms, collect e-signatures, and keep everything organized all from a single platform.
Best Features
- Drag-and-drop contract builder: Allows users to create documents quickly with reusable templates.
- Built-in e-signatures: Enables legally binding signatures without needing a separate tool.
- Automated approval workflows: Speeds up the contract process by routing documents to the right people.
- Real-time document tracking: Sends notifications when recipients open, review, or sign contracts.
- CRM and payment integrations: Connects with tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Stripe for seamless transactions.
Pros
- User-friendly interface for quick contract creation
- All-in-one platform for drafting, signing, and managing contracts
- Speeds up approvals and contract negotiations with automation and tracking features
- Affordable pricing compared to some competitors
- Integrates with major business tools to improve workflow
5. Dropbox Business: Cloud-Based Contract Repositories
Storing and managing customer contracts securely is just as important as creating and signing them. Dropbox Business provides a cloud-based contract repository that makes it easy to organize, access, and share contracts from anywhere.
Source: G2
It’s a simple yet effective solution for businesses that need secure document storage without the complexities of full contract management software.
With Dropbox Business, contracts are stored in a centralized location so teams can quickly find agreements, track versions, and collaborate on documents without relying on email chains or local file storage.
Best Features
- Cloud-based storage: Keeps contracts secure and accessible from any device.
- Advanced security settings: Provides encryption, access controls, and detailed audit trails for compliance.
- Version history tracking: Allows users to see previous edits and restore older versions.
- Shared folders and permissions: Lets legal teams collaborate while controlling who can view or edit documents.
- Seamless integrations: Works with e-signature tools, contract management platforms, and business software.
Pros
- Simple and intuitive for storing and organizing contracts
- Secure cloud storage with strong encryption and access controls
- Easy collaboration with shared folders and real-time syncing
- Accessible from any device with desktop and mobile support
- Integrates with contract management tools for a seamless workflow
How to Implement Contract Management Software in Your Workflow
Adopting a contract management tool can improve efficiency, reduce errors, and help teams keep contracts organized. But to get the most out of it, you need a structured approach. Here’s how to integrate one into your workflow:
1. Identify Your Needs
Before choosing a contract management tool, assess your biggest contract-related challenges. Are approvals delayed? Are documents hard to track? Do you lack visibility into contract risks? Identifying these issues will help you select a solution that actually solves your problems.
Ask yourself:
- How many contracts do we handle each month? A higher volume may require automation and AI-powered review.
- Who needs access to the system? Legal, sales, HR, and procurement teams might all be involved.
- Do we need integrations? Seamless integration is key if your contracts tie into CRM, accounting, or document storage tools.
Defining your needs upfront will make selecting and implementing the right software much easier.
2. Choose the Right Tool
Once you’ve identified your challenges, it’s time to pick a contract management tool that fits your workflow. Some businesses need full contract lifecycle management, while others may just need e-signatures or document storage.
Consider factors like:
- Automation capabilities: AI-powered tools like Percipient can review contracts for inconsistencies and risks, while other platforms focus more on tracking and storage.
- Scalability: Will the software handle increasing contract volume as your business grows?
- User experience: A tool that’s too complex may slow down adoption. Look for an intuitive platform with simple navigation.
Reading reviews, testing demos, and making sure the tool integrates with your existing tech stack will help you make the right choice.
3. Set Up Templates and Workflows
A contract management tool is only useful if it actually simplifies the process. Setting up contract templates and approval workflows right away ensures consistency and saves time on repetitive tasks.
Instead of drafting every contract from scratch, create standardized templates for common agreements. That way, teams can quickly generate contracts without needing legal review for every minor detail.
Workflows should also be mapped out so contracts automatically go to the right people for approval, whether it’s legal, finance, or department heads.
By setting these up early, you’ll avoid bottlenecks and make sure your team can start using the tool efficiently from day one.
4. Train Your Team
A new system only works if people know how to use it. Training your team is key to making sure the contract management tool gets adopted and isn’t seen as just another layer of complexity.
Start with small training sessions where employees can ask questions and see how the tool fits into their daily tasks. Create easy-to-follow guides or video tutorials for quick reference.
Instead of overwhelming everyone with every feature, focus on what’s relevant to their role. Legal teams might need to understand AI-assisted contract review, while sales teams may only need to know how to send agreements for signature.
Encourage feedback during training so you can adjust workflows or address any concerns before rolling the tool out fully.
5. Automate Approvals and Reminders
One of the biggest benefits of contract management software is automation. Setting up automated workflows ensures contracts don’t get stuck in someone’s inbox or missed altogether.
- Faster approvals: Contracts automatically move through predefined steps, reducing back-and-forth emails.
- Deadline reminders: The system sends notifications when contracts are nearing expiration or require renewal.
- Audit trails: Every change and approval is logged, making compliance tracking easier.
With these automations in place, your team spends less time on manual follow-ups and more time on higher-value tasks.
6. Monitor and Optimize
After implementation, keep an eye on how well the system is actually working. Are contracts moving through faster? Are errors decreasing? Is your team actually using the tool, or are they reverting to old habits?
Check in with users regularly to get feedback. You might need to tweak workflows if approvals are still taking too long. If contract storage is disorganized, adjusting folder structures or search functions can help.
The best contract management system isn’t just one you set up once—it’s one that evolves with your business.
Percipient Helps Tackle Your Most Tedious Workflow—Contract Review
Contract management isn’t just about keeping documents organized—it’s about getting them right while keeping the process efficient. Percipient is the only platform that blends AI-powered contract redlining with human expertise, making contract review faster, smarter, and more reliable.
Manually reviewing contracts takes forever, and relying only on AI can mean missing critical details. Percipient gives you the best of both worlds.
The AI does the heavy lifting by flagging key clauses and risks, while legal experts step in to refine and validate the results. That means less time spent on tedious reviews and more confidence that your contracts are solid.
If contract review is slowing things down or leaving too much room for risk, it’s time for a better approach.
Get in touch with Percipient today and see how AI-backed contract review can save you time, reduce risk, and make your workflow a whole lot smoother!
FAQs About Software for Contract Management
Which is the best contract management software?
The best contract management software depends on your needs. Some businesses need a full contract lifecycle management (CLM) solution, while others only need e-signatures or contract storage. Percipient is ideal for businesses that handle high contract volumes and want AI-powered contract review with human oversight.
What software is used for contracts?
Companies use contract management software to create, review, approve, sign, and store contracts in a streamlined way. Platforms range from AI-assisted contract review tools like Percipient to e-signature solutions and full contract lifecycle platforms. The right choice depends on whether you need automation, collaboration, or legal compliance features.
What is contract management software?
Contract management software helps businesses draft, negotiate, sign, track, and store agreements in a single platform. It reduces manual work, minimizes risk, improves compliance, and makes sure contracts are managed efficiently. Some tools focus on specific parts of the process, like e-signatures or contract data storage, while others handle the entire contract lifecycle.
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