Be honest—managing contracts shouldn’t be this frustrating. If you’re constantly chasing approvals, fixing the same mistakes, or digging through emails to find the right version, it’s no surprise contracts feel like a time sink.

Miss one renewal, and you’re locked into bad terms.

Overlook a clause, and you could be dealing with compliance headaches.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Automation cuts out the manual busywork, keeps everything organized, and moves contracts through approvals without the usual holdups. No more waiting, guessing, or scrambling at the last minute.

If contracts are slowing you down instead of helping your business run smoothly, it’s time for a change. Let’s look at what’s broken in manual contract management—and how automation fixes it.

What's Wrong With a Non-Automated Contract Lifecycle?

Handling contracts manually? That’s asking for trouble. Here’s why a non-automated contract lifecycle makes everything harder than it needs to be:

• Lost in the shuffle – Ever spent hours searching for the latest version of a contract? Without automation, contracts get buried in emails or lost in outdated folders.
• Missed deadlines – Renewal dates sneak up fast. Without automatic reminders, you risk expired contracts, pricing changes, or legal headaches.
• Slow approvals – Chasing signatures feels like herding cats. A manual process means long email chains, back-and-forth edits, and frustrating delays.
• Inconsistent terms – Copying and pasting from old contracts? One mistake in wording can cause major compliance issues.
• Zero visibility – Who made that last edit? What’s still pending? Without automation, tracking contract status is a guessing game.
• Compliance risks – Regulations change, and outdated contract clauses can put your company at risk. Manual reviews don’t catch everything.

If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to stop wasting time and start automating. But why, exactly? Let's talk about the benefits contract automation tools can offer.

How Can Automation Transform Your Contract Lifecycle?

Automation changes the contract game. Instead of chasing signatures, losing track of deadlines, or scrambling to fix errors, you get a smooth, predictable process. Here’s how:

Get Contracts Signed Without the Waiting Game

A slow approval process drags everything down, and this can easily lead to missed opportunities and frustrating delays.

With automation, contracts move through the pipeline without the constant back-and-forth. Workflows send documents directly to the right people, track progress in real time, and send automatic reminders to keep things moving. No more waiting days (or weeks) for someone to check their inbox.

Approvals happen faster, deals close sooner, and your team isn’t stuck chasing emails. Instead of wasting time, you’ll keep business moving without unnecessary bottlenecks.

Catch Mistakes Before They Cost You

Manually reviewing contracts? It’s easy to miss a small error that turns into a big problem. A single typo, a misplaced clause, or an outdated term can lead to:

• Compliance issues
• Financial losses
• Damaged relationships
• Legal trouble

Automation helps you catch these mistakes before they cause damage. AI-powered tools scan contracts for missing details, risky language, and inconsistencies. They highlight potential issues so you can fix them before signing.

Instead of relying on human oversight alone, automation adds an extra layer of security. This can help you reduce costly slip-ups and make sure every contract is accurate and legally sound.

Stay Compliant Without the Extra Work

Worried about missing a legal update or using outdated contract terms? You’re not alone. Keeping contracts in line with company policies and regulations is a never-ending task, and one small mistake can turn into a big problem.

Automation takes that weight off your shoulders. With built-in compliance checks, every contract is reviewed against the latest legal and company standards before it’s finalized. If something’s off—like a risky clause or missing detail—the system flags it so you can fix it right away.

You don't have to stay stuck second-guessing or scrambling at the last minute. Automation keeps everything in check, so you don’t have to.

Stop Digging Through Emails to Find Contracts

Ever wasted hours searching for a contract? Between email threads, shared drives, and paper copies, keeping track of agreements can feel like a full-time job.

Automation fixes that by giving you a central contract repository. Every contract—past and present—is stored in one secure place, fully searchable and easy to access. Need the latest version? Just type in a keyword and find it in seconds.

No more lost documents or version mix-ups. Whether you need to check terms, track changes, or pull up an old agreement, everything is right where it should be without the hassle.

Stay Ahead of Renewals

Renewal deadlines have a way of creeping up when you least expect them. One overlooked date, and you could be stuck in an agreement you didn’t mean to keep. Or worse, scrambling to put a new contract in place at the last minute.

Automation helps you stay ahead by tracking renewal dates and sending reminders with plenty of time to act. You’ll have the notice you need to make the right call—renegotiate, make adjustments, or cancel. No more reacting to last-minute surprises. You’ll always be in control.

Best Ways to Automate Your Contract Lifecycle

Tired of chasing signatures, fixing mistakes, and scrambling to find the right contract? Automation takes the frustration out of the process, making everything faster, smoother, and easier to track. These steps will help you get started.

1. Figure Out What's Holding You Back

Jumping into automation without knowing what’s slowing you down won’t get you far. Before making changes, take a step back and identify the biggest problems in your contract process.

• Are approvals taking too long? If contracts get stuck waiting for signatures, you need a better workflow.
• Do mistakes keep slipping through? If errors are a recurring issue, AI-powered reviews can help.
• Is tracking contracts a nightmare? If you’re constantly searching for documents, a centralized repository is the fix.
• Are renewal deadlines catching you off guard? If missed dates are a problem, automated alerts will keep you on track.

Once you pinpoint the weak spots, automation becomes a solution, not just another tool. Fix what’s broken first, and the rest will fall into place.

2. Find the Best Contract Lifecycle Management Software

Not all contract management software is built the same. The right platform should fit your workflow, reduce manual work, and improve accuracy.

Look for a full contract lifecycle management (CLM) solution that covers contract creation, approval, signing, and tracking. AI-powered features can help flag risks, suggest edits, and automate compliance checks.

A strong workflow automation system makes sure your contracts move through approvals quickly, while smart notifications keep you on top of renewals and deadlines.

Aline is a great option if you’re looking for an AI-driven platform that speeds up contract drafting, negotiation, and analysis. It includes automated contract generation, AI-assisted review, e-signatures, and a no-code template builder—all designed to help businesses handle legal contracts more efficiently.

Try Aline for yourself today!

Whatever software you choose, make sure it has secure storage, easy collaboration tools, and customizable workflows so your team can stay organized and compliant without unnecessary delays.

3. Take Advantage of Automated Contract Templates

Creating contracts from scratch every time is a waste of time. Manual drafting leads to inconsistencies, errors, and unnecessary delays. Automated templates solve this problem by giving you pre-approved contract structures that can be customized in minutes.

Instead of hunting for old contracts or copying and pasting outdated terms, templates let you generate documents with consistent language and legally sound clauses. Fields can be auto-filled with relevant details to minimize human error and speed up the process.

Using templates also makes collaboration easier. Legal, sales, and finance teams can work from the same set of standardized agreements, ensuring compliance without back-and-forth edits. Contracts get finalized faster, and no one has to worry about missing key terms.

4. Use AI For Your Most Tedious Tasks, But Don't Overdo It

AI can save you hours on contract management, but relying on it too much can create problems. The key is knowing where AI helps the most and where human oversight is still needed.

Here’s where AI shines:

• Contract review – AI scans documents for errors, risky clauses, and missing details, flagging issues before they become a problem.
• Drafting assistance – AI-powered tools suggest contract language, making it faster to generate agreements without starting from scratch.
• Automated redlining – AI can highlight changes, compare versions, and suggest edits, reducing back-and-forth revisions.
• Compliance checks – AI ensures contracts meet legal and company standards, preventing costly mistakes.
• Data extraction – AI pulls key terms, deadlines, and obligations from contracts, making reporting and tracking easier.

However, AI shouldn't replace human judgment in critical areas. Final approvals still require a legal team’s review to ensure accuracy and compliance.

Complex negotiations need human input, as AI can’t fully grasp business relationships or long-term implications. Context-sensitive decisions also benefit from human oversight since AI may miss nuances that impact agreements.

Remember: AI is a powerful tool, but it works best when combined with human expertise.

5. Make Electronic Signatures The Norm

Still printing, signing, and scanning contracts? That’s wasting time. Electronic signatures make the process faster, easier, and more reliable. Instead of chasing physical signatures or waiting days for approvals, contracts get signed in minutes, and you get to keep deals on track.

You’ll also have a clear audit trail, so there’s never any confusion about who signed what and when. E-signatures are legally binding and far more secure than paper copies that can be lost or tampered with.

6. Create Contract Repository Software

Digging through emails or outdated folders to find a contract is another waste of time. A contract repository keeps everything organized in one secure, searchable system so you can pull up documents instantly.

With a proper repository, you can track changes, monitor expiration dates, and control access based on user roles. A centralized system also reduces compliance risks by making sure everyone works with the latest, approved versions.

7. Develop a Clear, Automated Approval Workflow

Waiting on contract approvals can slow everything down, especially when multiple stakeholders are involved. A clear, automated workflow keeps things moving by eliminating unnecessary delays and confusion.

Here’s how to build an effective approval system:

• Define roles and responsibilities – Decide who needs to review, approve, or sign at each stage.
• Set up automated routing – Contracts should automatically move to the right people based on predefined rules.
• Use smart notifications – Reminders and alerts keep approvers on track and prevent bottlenecks.
• Track progress in real time – A clear dashboard helps everyone see where a contract stands.
• Allow conditional approvals – Some contracts may only need higher-level approval under specific conditions.

8. Implement Smart Notifications

Smart notifications take the pressure off by keeping everyone in the loop and making sure the contract management process runs smoothly. They help by letting you implement:

• Approval reminders – No more chasing signatures. Automated alerts notify the right people when a contract needs their approval.
• Renewal alerts – Get notified before a contract expires, giving you time to renegotiate, renew, or cancel.
• Status updates – Know exactly where a contract stands without constantly checking.
• Data accuracy checks – Smart alerts flag missing or outdated contract data to keep everything current.
• Compliance tracking – Get reminders for key compliance deadlines to avoid legal risks.

Instead of relying on manual follow-ups, automated notifications make sure contracts move forward without unnecessary delays.

9. Consider Self-Service Contracts

Does every contract really need to go through legal? Probably not.

For routine agreements, self-service contracts let teams handle things without constant back-and-forth. This helps make the contract lifecycle management process faster and more efficient.

Think about NDAs, vendor agreements, or service contracts. Instead of waiting days for approval, teams can generate contracts using pre-approved templates in minutes.

Self-service contracts also make contract renewals easier. Rather than starting from scratch, teams can update existing agreements while keeping everything in line with company policies. That means fewer delays and more time for legal teams to focus on complex negotiations.

Aline Has All The Contract Functions You Need

As you can see, automating contract lifecycle management makes everything easier—faster approvals, fewer mistakes, and no more scrambling to find the right document at the last second.

Aline takes care of the entire contract process, from drafting to signing, so you don’t have to waste time on manual work. AI-powered tools help with contract creation, smart workflows keep approvals moving, and built-in eSignatures get deals done without delays. And that's just a sneak peek.

Tired of chasing signatures, fixing errors, or worrying about compliance? Aline keeps everything running smoothly so you can focus on bigger things.

Try it today and see how much time you’ll save!

FAQs About Contract Lifecycle Automation

What is the contract lifecycle process?

The contract lifecycle process covers everything from drafting an agreement to signing, storing, and eventually renewing or terminating it. It involves multiple steps, including contract negotiations, approvals, execution, and compliance tracking. Contract managers oversee this process, ensuring that agreements stay organized, deadlines are met, and terms are followed.

What is lifecycle automation?

Lifecycle automation refers to using software to manage every stage of a contract’s journey. Instead of relying on manual tracking and email chains, automation speeds up approvals, flags compliance risks, and keeps documents in one place. This makes it easier for internal and external parties to collaborate and reduces the chances of errors or missed deadlines.

What does CLM mean in DocuSign?

CLM stands for Contract Lifecycle Management. In DocuSign, CLM helps businesses automate contract creation, approvals, signing, and storage. It also includes workflow automation, compliance tracking, and tools for centralizing contract data, making it easier to manage agreements at scale.

What are the stages of the life of the contract?

A contract goes through several stages:

1. Drafting – The contract is created, often using templates or AI-assisted tools.
2. Review & negotiation – Internal and external parties make revisions and agree on terms.
3. Approval – Contract managers or stakeholders approve the final version.
4. Execution – The contract is signed, usually through electronic signatures.
5. Storage & tracking – The agreement is stored in a central repository, and key dates are monitored.
6. Renewal or termination – As the contract nears expiration, decisions are made to renew, renegotiate, or terminate it.

With automation, each of these stages becomes more efficient, reducing risk and keeping everything organized.