Many organizations depended on manual methods to keep track of all of their agreements and contracts well-organized, but now they are witnessing a change.
Contract management is the process that enables the creation, execution, and analysis to be carried out. With organizations looking to lessening risk and improving their efficiency in operations, the role of contract management has evolved from being a back-office discussion to gain competitive advantages.

But, with the advancements in technology, the use of contract management software has evolved to the point where it's costly and risky for businesses not to implement software-based contract management. Contract management solutions like ContraSafe from ContractSafe.com offer an opportunity to automate essential procedures throughout the entire lifecycle of contracts by leveraging the latest developments in contract generation collaboration workflow, e-signature, and analytics.

Here are the most popular trends you should be looking forward to soon.

Accelerated Digital Transformation
Many businesses have stood at the brink of a digital revolution for over a decade; however, COVID-19 required businesses to step up and confront the weaknesses of their current contract management strategies in full force. With shrinking margins and increasing office closures that need remote solutions for daily operational tasks, managers from every department are searching for ways to transform their outdated procedures for digitally managing documents digitally.

Many organizations have implemented electronic signature solutions to facilitate the transition to remote working and get rid of contracts managed using paper. Initially, it was simply a temporary solution to remote work. But business leaders soon realized that the advantages of bringing the company online go beyond COVID responses.

Remote Work
As we approach the beginning of a pandemic spreading across the globe, one of the primary advantages of CLM software in this period has been that the majority of them are web-based. With remote work expected to be the norm through 2021, the need for an online-based contract management system is becoming crucial.

Since many employees have been adapting to remote work and with countries all over the globe locked down and under sanctions, access to all information that employees require without leaving the security of their homes is a huge benefit for many businesses. Having all information and contracts online with an advanced search feature provides constant access to exact details for everyone in the company. This also has resulted in the least disruption to business operations for contract management, and the integration of CLM software could be an essential tool for companies in 2021 which have employees working at home.

Data Privacy & Compliance
The current trend towards digitization and the fact that documentation is moving online in this era of pandemics, it is crucial as a business to have security measures in place for data throughout your company. Data breaches and security breaches tend to result from simple mistakes made by employees while exchanging information. But, because of the rise in cyber-attacks, authorities and companies around the globe are continuously making improvements and adding protections for data rules.

GDPR brought renewed attention to data privacy, and this trend is expected to continue through 2021. Preventing data breaches and ensuring compliance with evolving laws should be a top priority for companies as the year progresses. Since compliance with regulations and policies is essential for trust between clients and consumers, manually managing the evolving legal landscape is becoming difficult for legal and compliance teams. Many businesses are currently looking into contract management software as an effective solution.

Smart Contracts
Smart contract codes automate the execution of critical elements of contracts based upon information inputs, whether from external or internal systems. The myriad of possible uses can be automated to apply discount coupons for large purchases made from essential suppliers, frequently checking credentials or eligibility of employees and contractors, and the calculation and distribution of payment based on factors such as shipping requirements and SLA fulfillment.



The most exciting aspect that has been observed is the rising acceptance that a smart contract code doesn't require blockchain and can be integrated with traditional legal contracts. The rise of cloud-based "smart legal agreements" has demonstrated that companies can begin reaping the benefits of automation of contracts.

Contract AI
When it comes to addressing data privacy issues, uncover capital opportunities and inform negotiations or prepare for the emergence of new trade relations, organizations must, without doubt, understand what's included in their contracts. The 20s will decrease acceptance for procurement and legal teams that don't provide complete transparency in their large number of contracts.

Contract AI that can intelligently transform texts into concepts and clauses, which can be used to search, filter, and evaluate, is likely to be the norm. The most exciting improvement is the transformation of the concept of contract as modular digital entities from the start and influenced by everything that has been done before. This results from the lessons surfaced through contract AI to create an environment that makes all agreements and processes for negotiating them smarter.

Employees and Customers Experiences
Experiences will always be the most important factor in customer satisfaction as well as employees. We know that customers place the same value on interactions they experience with a company during the purchasing process as they do when they purchase the item or service.

In the next few years, we can expect to see more and more emphasis placed on personalization and anticipating customers' needs. In the realm of contracts, this is about making it easier to create documents on devices; PDFs that must be printed, downloaded, and filled in, scanned, and signed won't cut it any longer.

Final Words
As technology advances and the world becomes more digital, contract management shouldn't be neglected. By taking advantage of the latest and upcoming trends, you will ensure that your company stays at the forefront of technological advancements in contract management. This means integrating best practices across all departments and maximizing your business's potential.