What Are Signature Blocks in Contract Lifecycle Management?

    By Sean Heck on 11/28/23

    With digital transformation, the way we sign and validate documents has evolved significantly. The concept of a signature block is important in the realm of business communication and legal agreements. But what is a signature line or block exactly? Often seen at the end of contracts, emails, and business letters, these blocks are more than just a space for your signature. They are a testament to your identity, professionalism, and attention to detail.

    In this guide, we'll delve into signature blocks - from the basic signature line definition to its varied forms in different contexts like contracts, emails, and legal documents. Whether you're a business professional, an attorney, or simply someone looking to understand the nuances of digital communication, this blog will provide valuable insights into how signature blocks work, why they matter, and how they can be optimized for clarity and legal validity.

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    Contract Extensions: Taking Back Control With CLM Software

    By Sean Heck on 11/21/23

    In the dynamic world of legal operations, the agility to adapt and extend contractual agreements is crucial. With the ever-evolving nature of business relationships, the concept of contract extension has become a central aspect of organizational operations. Whether it is discussions about an extended contract, written communications about the extension of a contract, or a formal contract extension agreement, the need to efficiently manage these extensions is paramount.

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    Understanding Document Execution in Contract Management

    By Sean Heck on 11/16/23

    In the intricate world of contract management, the term 'executed' often emerges as a focal point of discussion and sometimes confusion. While contracting professionals juggle numerous contracts, the clarity around what exactly it means for a document to be 'executed,' and the significance of an 'executed copy,' becomes paramount. This confusion can lead to significant pain points, misinterpretations, and misunderstandings in contract management.

    In the following sections, we'll delve into the meanings and implications of terms like 'executed document', 'executing a document', and 'executed letter' - providing clarity and guidance to navigate these challenges smoothly.

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    What Type of Negotiation Style is Best for Union Negotiations?

    By Sean Heck on 11/14/23

    Union negotiations are critical for maintaining a harmonious work environment and ensuring operational continuity. Still, they are fraught with challenges. From understanding the nuanced demands of union representatives to managing extensive contractual obligations, the stakes are quite high. Organizations frequently grapple with finding the optimal negotiation style that balances assertiveness with diplomacy and efficiency with comprehensiveness. In these challenging situations, having the right strategies and tools becomes paramount.

    As such - in this blog - let's explore various negotiation styles suited for union negotiations, identify common pain points, and demonstrate how leveraging the best tactics can streamline these complex processes. The right approaches can lead to more effective and amicable outcomes, and unions can receive what they deserve.

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    4 Secondary Functions of CLM Software That Can Provide Immense Value

    By Sean Heck on 11/9/23

    Today, let's talk about some secondary functions of contract lifecycle management (CLM) software that you may be missing out on that can provide immense value to your business processes.

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    Turning Evergreen Contract Challenges Into Opportunities

    By Sean Heck on 11/6/23

    Anyone managing contracts knows about the evergreen contract. Evergreen agreements stand out for their ability to self-renew - offering a blend of convenience and continuity for both parties. However, this same perpetual nature can pose unique challenges in evergreen provisions tracking and management. In this blog, we will explore the intricacies of evergreen contracts; we will examine how sophisticated yet user-friendly tools of leading contract management software can streamline and optimize the lifecycle of these agreements.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for October 2023

    By Sean Heck on 11/2/23

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from October?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in November by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    How to Deal With Unexpected Contract Auto-Renewals

    By Sean Heck on 10/31/23

    With rapid advancements in our ability to connect and form business relationships, managing contracts has become more challenging than ever. With the increase in the volume and complexity of contracts, the risk of inadvertently overlooking a crucial detail or deadline is on the rise. One such area of potential oversight is the uncontrolled auto-renewal of contracts, which can lead to significant financial and operational implications for a business. In this blog post, we'll explore the negative outcomes associated with uncontrolled contract auto-renewals and how contract management software can provide a much-needed and robust solution.

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    Contract Terms Automation: From Struggle To Streamlined CLM

    By Sean Heck on 10/26/23

    Legal departments trudging through manual processes for contract generation and management can be left to feel the walls closing in. With every new business opportunity comes a cascade of contracts - each demanding precision, timeliness, and impeccable oversight. But even the best can miss a beat. From accidentally overlooking a critical termination deadline to the tedious hours spent reinventing the contract wheel, the pitfalls of manual contract management become glaringly evident. And when an outdated contract version almost derails a business deal? That is the breaking point.

    If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many businesses find themselves ensnared in these contractual conundrums. But what if there is a smarter way out? Enter the world of contract terms automation: a beacon of hope for those drowning in paperwork. In today's post, we'll delve into the pain points faced by many who are drowning in the contract management process and showcase how contract automation might just be the lifeline your business needs.

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    Unleashing the Power of AI in Contract Management for Lawyers

    By Sean Heck on 10/24/23

    Legal professionals are increasingly leveraging technological innovations to enhance efficiency, time savings, and accuracy. One of these powerful tools for legal work includes AI systems. AI for lawyers has become a cornerstone in transforming traditional legal practices. Legal AI is not a concept of the future but a present reality, altering the landscape of contract management and various legal processes. Such automated tools have not replaced lawyers; instead, they save time on processes such as document review and those that involve managing a large amount of data, stakeholders, tasks, and contract executions.

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    Contract Management Process Guide - The Stairwell to CLM Success

    By Sean Heck on 10/17/23

    Effective contract management can be intricate and demanding. However, understanding the pivotal steps and integrating contract lifecycle management (CLM) software can transform this time-consuming journey into a structured and efficient process that saves time and increases revenue. In this guide, we will explore what the contract management process steps entail and how a contract management solution acts as a stairwell to success, virtually ensuring every step is streamlined and effective.

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    Navigating Contracts in Project Management With CLM Software

    By Sean Heck on 10/12/23

    Project management is an intricate dance of planning, executing, and overseeing projects to ensure they are completed efficiently and effectively. At the core of this process are project management contracts. These vital documents delineate the terms and conditions, scope, and roles and responsibilities for a project - hopefully ensuring that all parties involved have a clear understanding of the expectations. There are various types of contracts in project management that cater to the unique needs and requirements of each project. However, managing these contracts ineffectively can lead to cost overruns, delayed timelines, poor quality of work, legal issues, damaged relationships between involved parties, and other deleterious consequences. Thankfully, an understanding of project management contracts - along with the right solution to manage them - can help drastically.

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    What Is Contract Management in Procurement?

    By Joshua Hansen on 10/9/23

    Procurement departments can encounter procurement workflow inefficiencies without the proper procure-to-pay tools – especially when implementing inefficient and disjointed contract management processes.  You can avoid risk, unreasonable vendor pricing, and vendor non-compliance by leveraging contract management processes in procurement that centralize processes, technology, and people.  Read on to discover how you can implement effective contract management software in procurement that results in maximized collaboration of various roles and responsibilities, cost savings, and more fruitful business relationships.

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    10 Contract Management System Requirements Your Solution Needs & Why

    By Sean Heck on 10/6/23

    There are many contract management solutions on the market. As such – searching for the best contract management software with which to manage contracts can be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be; you just need to know which contract lifecycle management requirements to look for.

    As such, let’s discuss ten items on a contract management system requirements checklist to look for when deciding on a contract lifecycle management (CLM) software solution that saves time and money for your organization.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for September 2023

    By Sean Heck on 10/5/23

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from September?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in October by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    11 Effects of Strong Contract Management Software ROI

    By Sean Heck on 10/3/23

    Contract lifecycle management (CLM) software can seem like a significant investment. However, there is a high price to pay for low cost, poor contract management that will ultimately cost your organization much more in the long run. What’s more, you can plainly see the ROI contract management software provides if you know what to look for. As such, let’s take a look at 11 ways your organization can enjoy a strong contract lifecycle management ROI.

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    Streamlined Contract Data Extraction With CobbleStone®

    By Joshua Hansen on 09/28/23

    Do you have many contracts to extract data from and organize within a centralized, web-enabled contract management software suite?  Extracting contract data with a manual process - especially from hundreds or thousands of legacy contracts - can seem overwhelming and time-consuming. However, it doesn’t have to be.  Read on to learn how CobbleStone's automated contract data extraction can help streamline your contract data extraction process in three easy steps.

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    A Concise Contract Management Best Practice Guide

    By Joshua Hansen on 09/27/23

    Managing contracts from requests to renewals can prove difficult when relying on primarily manual processes. Your organization could be sacrificing accountability, visibility, a clearly defined strategy, and actionable insights. As such, you can find yourself running into compliance issues, minimizing contract value, and encountering other setbacks. 

    But it does not have to be this way. Modern advances in contract management technology can allow your organization to scale with success.

    Read on to learn how to manage contracts effectively and how leading contract management software can support each of the contract lifecycle management best practices below for efficient contracting processes.

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    Driving Corporate Compliance Management With Contract Software

    By Sean Heck on 09/26/23

    Protecting one’s organization with proper corporate legal compliance can present a complex host of challenges. Business operations regarding corporate compliance efforts present a two-fold challenge: First, compliance departments must make sure that employees do not fail to comply with internal policies and the code of conduct across departments. Second, compliance teams must ensure that federal (in the United States or elsewhere) and state rules and regulations are observed to avoid violations. You may be wondering how to manage compliance as responsibilities, rules, and corporate compliance law evolve. Thankfully, contract management software can serve as a user-friendly compliance management system.

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    Contract Tracking: Mastering Contract Management Series

    By Maria Votlucka on 09/20/23

     

    Contract tracking can be a significant challenge for legal teams, contract managers, and other industry professionals.  Manual contract management processes may suffice for organizations with low contract volume and contract complexity.  However, when the number of contracts increases to hundreds, thousands, and beyond, contract failure rates increase exponentially.  Read on to learn how to master contract tracking with leading contract management software.

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    What Does a Contract Manager Do? Exploring the Contract Manager Role.

    By Sean Heck on 09/19/23

     

    In today's dynamic business landscape, contracts form the bedrock of many business relationships – from vendor partnerships to employee agreements. Orchestrating this dance of documents and legalese is the contract manager. As businesses strive for efficiency while navigating intricate legal contract terms and conditions, the importance of understanding the duties of a contract manager cannot be overstated. This blog dives deep into contract manager roles and responsibilities, the journey to becoming a good contract manager, and the tools that empower successful contract management.

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    Legal Tech Tools for Lawyers: Contract Management Software

    By Sean Heck on 09/14/23

    In today's rapidly evolving and automating legal landscape, the question isn't whether or not technology aids legal professionals in their goals but rather which tools and technology lawyers use to maximize efficiency and value.

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    How to Manage Contracts Effectively for Healthy Business Relationships

    By Sean Heck on 09/12/23

    In the vast jungle of business processes, managing contracts can be likened to navigating a dense labyrinth. One misstep or oversight can lead you progressively more astray. Yet, with an effective contract management system in place, the path becomes clearer and the journey smoother. Let’s delve deep as we unravel the secrets of mastering contract management.

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    Contract Renewals: Mastering Contract Management Series

    By Sean Heck on 09/7/23

    Manual renewal methods with spreadsheets, emails, emailed reminders, and wet signatures may suffice for organizations with low contract volume and complexity.  

    Unfortunately, organizations managing thousands of contracts of ranging types can face challenges.  Moreover, such an outdated contract renewal strategy can increase the risk that a contract expires with a desired renewal having been overlooked.  It's time to take control of how you manage contract renewals.  Read on to learn how to leverage contract renewal process best practices with contract management software.

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    The 3 Contract Management KPIs for Success

    By Maria Votlucka on 09/6/23

    Contract managers are under increased pressure to deliver value with reduced contract risks, decreased contract costs, and improved contract performance.  When you regularly measure the success of contracts against contract management KPIs, you can proactively readjust your contract strategy to ensure goal alignment drives critical and positive organizational impact.  Read on to learn how contract management software can help maximize three important contract management KPIs for success.

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    What Is DPA? Managing Data Processing Agreements With CLM Software

    By Sean Heck on 09/5/23

    In the baseball game of data protection, mastering the rules and strategies is as critical as practicing the fundamentals at spring training. Enter the world of data processing agreements (DPAs) and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). We will learn about these agreements and regulations, as well as how contract management software helps ensure businesses don't just play but dominate in this crucial stadium.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for August 2023

    By Sean Heck on 08/31/23

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from August?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in September by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    CobbleStone Contract Insight® 22.1.2: Ultimate CLM Focus & Cohesion

    By Sean Heck on 08/24/23

    CobbleStone® has released its latest software update - CobbleStone Contract Insight® Enterprise Version 22.1.2. This new release offers refreshing contract lifecycle management software tools for continuous legal operations success! Read on to familiarize yourself with next-generation contract management software features and innovations to centralize your contract administration processes!

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    Contract Generation: Mastering Contract Management Series

    By Sean Heck on 08/16/23

    Generation of legally-binding contracts from verbal agreements can be challenging for contract, procurement, and legal professionals.  Manual contract generation can be tedious and error-prone.  Moreover, a manual approach to document assembly can put organizations in the precarious position of facing:

    • significant process bottlenecks.
    • compliance issues.
    • increased risk.
    • excessive fines.

    It’s time to save time and take control of contract generation.  Learn how to transform your manual contract generation process into a value-centric strategy. Make this transformation with the help of leading contract management software.

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    CobbleStone® PC Helper App: MS Excel

    By Sean Heck on 08/15/23

    As was detailed in our blogs on CobbleStone’s PC Helper Apps for MS Outlook and MS Word, contract lifecycle management is a multi-faceted process.  On top of that, managing all of the data points that come with contracts can be time-consuming and prone to error. If tasked with managing many contracts, employees, vendors, requests, and purchase orders, a contract management team can quickly drown in disparate spreadsheet documents, columns, and rows without a place to put them.

    To help contract managers avoid these issues and more, CobbleStone provides a seamless connection between CobbleStone Contract Insight® and MS Excel. Read on to learn more.

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    CobbleStone University: A CLM Software Learning Channel

    By Tyler Holzer on 08/10/23

    CobbleStone Software is proud to introduce the new CobbleStone University YouTube channel for CobbleStone Contract Insight® users! The CobbleStone University channel is the new dedicated home for CobbleStone’s instructor-led training videos, new feature training videos, and contract management software system integration videos.

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    What Is Contract Negotiation and How Can Legal Technology Help?

    By Joshua Hansen on 08/9/23

     

    Contract negotiation can create the difference between a strong or weak contract, which can directly impact the bottom line of an organization and the health of mutually-beneficial business relationships. As contract negotiation processes evolve at the speed of technological innovations, discover how leading-edge legal technology can empower your negotiation processes - including the use of robust version control, document collaboration, rules-based clause ownership, redlining software, and more.  While contract negotiations can take their necessary time, automating the process of negotiating agreements and contract terms where possible allows you to focus more on contract negotiation strategy and bargaining power.

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    What Is Contract Administration?

    By Sean Heck on 08/7/23

    Contract administration can bring forth a host of challenges. 

    There needs to be an established plan and follow-through within a set timeline. Teams must track contract financials. There must be a plan for overseeing the contract lifecycle. Teams must have a plan for encountering risk variables.

    Clearly, contract administrators have a lot on their plate. There is ample room for deleterious errors, contract risks, and bottlenecks – especially with manual contract methods.  Fortunately, contract management software can help reduce the time-consuming need for manual processes.  Here's how.

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    Unlock Purchasing Contract Management Efficiency & Success

    By Sean Heck on 08/3/23

    Purchasing contract management is a pivotal component of an efficient procurement process. Its prime focus is managing contracts - particularly those concerning supplier contracts and monitoring the terms and conditions. This comprehensive management ensures that businesses can effectively acquire goods and services while fostering healthy supplier relationships.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for July 2023

    By Sean Heck on 08/1/23

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from July?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in August by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    Vendor Agreements: The 5 Essential Elements They Should Have

    By Sean Heck on 07/26/23

    A vendor agreement - an indispensable business contract - outlines the terms of the exchange of goods or services between a business and a vendor. This written agreement not only provides clarity of terms and conditions, but also protects both parties' interests. Here are the five essential elements every comprehensive vendor agreement should include for healthy vendor management, successful operations, and increased ROI.

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    FOIA Requests Made Simple with Contract Public Access Portal

    By Connie Egan on 07/24/23

     

    Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has preserved the public's right to request access to US Federal Agency contract records and data; the government of the United States is required to disclose federal agency records, including commercial or financial information. Learn about the Freedom of Information Act and how a public access portal for FOIA government contracts - coupled with the far-reaching power of leading-edge contract management software - can streamline requests for FOIA contracts.

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    End of Contract: How To Foster a Smooth Agreement Termination

    By Sean Heck on 07/20/23

    The end of a contract is a crucial stage that necessitates careful consideration and handling. A contract is a legally binding agreement between parties. But the phrase "end of contract" doesn't imply that this agreement dissolves into thin air. In the world of common law, it refers to the conclusion of mutual agreement between the parties involved.

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    Better Liability Waiver Management With CLM Software

    By Sean Heck on 07/18/23

    Liability waivers are indispensable for ensuring that parties involved in a business matter are aware of possible risks. However, managing liability waivers can become increasingly complex with the sheer number of participants - especially in sectors such as business and leisure events and adventure tourism. This is where contract management software becomes a game-changer - bringing efficiency and organization to the handling of these crucial documents.

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    What Is Contract Management in Healthcare?

    By Sean Heck on 07/17/23

    What is contract management in the context of the healthcare industry?  What steps, tasks, and requirements are involved?  What does your organization need to do to maintain proper healthcare contract management processes?  What tools can your organization use to centralize and streamline healthcare contract management?  

    Read on to discover how to take advantage of contract management in healthcare with leading contract management software.

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    Handling Various Contract Types with Contract Management Software

    By Sean Heck on 07/11/23

    Contracts are the lifeblood of the business world - acting as legally binding agreements between parties to deliver goods or services under specified terms. These contracts can be diverse, complex, and riddled with uncertainties inherent to contract performance. Today, we delve into how contract management software can simplify the management of various contract types in a business setting - discussing key topics such as fixed price contracts, cost reimbursement contracts, and time and materials contracts, among others.

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    Signing a Contract: The Power of Electronic Signatures

    By Sean Heck on 07/10/23

    In the vast realm of contract law, you'll often hear phrases like "intend to enter," "verbal contract," and "put it in writing." These reflect the nuanced stages of contract creation, fulfillment, and enforcement. In today's fast-paced world, these traditional methods are quickly being replaced by more modern, efficient processes. At the forefront of this evolution is contract management software that employs the power of electronic signatures.

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    Conquer Indemnity Agreements With Contract Management Software

    By Sean Heck on 07/6/23

    In today's digitally driven world, legal operations are not left untouched. As technology continues to bleed into all avenues of life, the management of indemnity agreements - once a daunting task - has become significantly simplified with the advent of contract management software.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for June 2023

    By Joshua Hansen on 07/5/23

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from June?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in July by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    5 Risk Management Lifecycle Stages: A Comprehensive Summary

    By Sean Heck on 06/27/23

    Effective risk management provides organizations with not only valuable business protection – but also the potential for meaningful growth. Central to a healthy approach to risk is an understanding of the risk management lifecycle. Let's delve into the five stages of this risk lifecycle - exploring the types of risks, risk management frameworks, strategies, and the essence of a risk management plan.

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    In-House Legal Software: Transforming Corporate Legal Operations

    By Sean Heck on 06/22/23

    As the modern business environment becomes increasingly complex, corporate legal departments are under growing pressure to streamline operations, manage contracts, safeguard intellectual property, and control legal spending. In this digitally driven age, in-house legal software serves as a viable solution to these challenges.

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    Manage Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) With CLM Software

    By Sean Heck on 06/20/23

    Today's digital transformation is seeping into all business sectors, including organizations engaging in collective bargaining. One way this change manifests is through contract management software - an innovative tool that helps organizations working with unions manage their collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) more effectively. In this post, we'll delve deeper into how CLM (contract lifecycle management) software can help track and manage crucial contracts and metrics - providing a comprehensive perspective of CLM operations.

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    Supplier Contract Management: Streamline Operations & Boost Profits

    By Sean Heck on 06/15/23

    Welcome to the world of supplier contract management. This world is an essential, yet often underestimated, cornerstone of effective business operations. We will navigate through the labyrinth of day-to-day supplier contract life cycle management. In doing so, we'll uncover how each element intertwines to create a harmonious symphony of successful supplier relationships, favorable contract terms, and saved money.

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    7 Reasons Contract Reminder Software Is Key for Business Efficiency

    By Sean Heck on 06/13/23

    In the intricately woven landscape of today's business world, contract management becomes a cornerstone for operational efficiency. Contract reminder software has emerged as a vital tool in this space. It fosters a level of organizational effectiveness that is truly indispensable. So, let’s discuss how you can automate contracts with reminders galore!

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    Easily Tackle SLAs with Service Contract Management Software

    By Sean Heck on 06/8/23

    Service level agreements (SLAs) are the linchpin of client and customer relationships in service-based industries. Defining the quality, scope, and performance metrics of services, these contracts are crucial yet complex elements that can be challenging to manage effectively. The increasing intricacy of modern SLAs - coupled with a growing emphasis on compliance and performance - necessitates a new approach to SLA management. This is where service contract management software steps in - offering a comprehensive solution that streamlines, simplifies, and optimizes the handling of SLAs.

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    8 Use Case Examples of Legal Document Automation Software

    By Sean Heck on 06/7/23

    When you think of managing contracts, do you visualize a never-ending mountain of paperwork and legal mumbo-jumbo? If so, it's time to change your strategy and embrace the cutting-edge world of legal document automation software. This transformative technology is revamping the traditional contract management process - paving the way for efficiency, accuracy, and ease of use.

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    Contract Management Software in Retail: Set "Sale" for Success

    By Sean Heck on 06/6/23

    In the fast-paced and dynamic world of retail, effective contract management is paramount for maintaining successful vendor relationships, ensuring compliance, and maximizing profitability. The retail industry faces unique challenges - including managing numerous supplier contracts and agreements with service providers and landlords. To overcome these challenges, retail organizations can leverage contract management systems tailored specifically for their needs.

    In this blog post, we will delve into how contract management software addresses the specific pain points of the retail industry, streamlines contract processes, improves compliance, and empowers retailers to make informed decisions.

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    5 Ways Generative AI for Legal Contracts Can Boost CLM Productivity

    By Mark Nastasi on 06/1/23

    The use of artificial intelligence is all the buzz right now. From Microsoft Bing’s use of OpenAI’s ChatGPT to Google’s Bard AI Chat Bot - the topic of responsible use of artificial intelligence continues to trend. To add to that, generative artificial intelligence (a useful AI technology feature that generates human-like content) is being reviewed extensively - not only from a usability perspective, but from a legal work standpoint.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for May 2023

    By Sean Heck on 05/30/23

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from May?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and source-to-contract management best practices in June by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    Electronic Signature Apps: What To Look for When Choosing a Solution

    By Sean Heck on 05/25/23

    In the bustling business world, the arrival of electronic signatures has signaled a new era in conducting contracts and business relationships. Like a colossal, advanced ocean liner amid simple wooden galleons, the transition from traditional, paper-based processes to digitally powered signing and approvals has not just been about keeping up with the times; it’s been about setting an accelerated pace.

    Electronic signature technology has transformed businesses across various sectors - establishing that pen and paper are no longer the zeitgeist of managing contracts and agreements. E-signatures can cut send-to-sign time by up to twenty percent!

    It's crucial, therefore, to understand the landscape when selecting the right electronic signature platform. Consider this your nautical chart as we explore the features to look for when embarking on your digital voyage with electronic signature apps.

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    Your Contract Database of the Future With Contract Management Software

    By Sean Heck on 05/22/23

    The contract management process has evolved drastically over the years. Managing contracts with obsolete methods is sure to make your organization fall behind. Luckily, you can automate contract lifecycle management with a contract database within contract management software. Let’s explore how a contract management database can take your contract management or legal team into the future.

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    Contract Summary Software: 5 Tips To Help Your Legal Team

    By Sean Heck on 05/18/23

    Welcome – all of you wonderful contract dorks - to the thrilling new world of contract summary software! Most people would not put “thrilling” and “contract summary” next to one another, but that is simply because they are not legal experts who know just how fun contracts can be!

    We're about to explore the groundbreaking utility that will restructure the way you manage contracts in your organization. After all, who doesn't love saving time, reducing contract risk, and improving the efficiency of contract processes? Let’s provide you with some benefits of contract summary software and five tips to help your legal team succeed.

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    Digital Contract Management: A Fun Flight Into the Future of Legal Ops

    By Sean Heck on 05/17/23

    In the grand galaxy of business operations, contracts serve as the gravity that supports the harmonious orbit of organizations, business partners, vendors, employees, and clients – spinning together in a vast cosmos of opportunity. However, managing contracts’ essential components in the pre-digital age of contract history was often a Herculean task - filled with countless man-hours, mountains of paperwork, and the potential for harmful human error.

    Enter the era of digital contract management – a revolutionary epoch that has transformed the previously-laborious contracting process into a streamlined, efficient, and even fun experience. Let’s take flight into the future of legal ops: digital contract management.

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    Navigating the Jungle of Contract Auditing with CLM Software

    By Sean Heck on 05/16/23

    Hello, and welcome to the "Jungle of Business Contracts" - where we tame the wild beasts of contract portfolios, deals, counterparties, and internal processes with the shepherd’s crook of legal technology. Today, we are going to embark on an expedition into the dense thicket of contract auditing. By the time we're finished, you'll be navigating this jungle like a panther - agile and confident.

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    Supply Chain & eSourcing: Pricing vs. Technical Functional Proposal Responses

    By Mark Nastasi on 05/11/23

    ATTENTION procurement, supply chain, and purchase managers:

    Your supply chain and sourcing processes play a critical role in ensuring your procurement teams have the proper goods and services necessary to operate and expand your business while fulfilling your client, operational, and contract commitments.

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    5 Reasons NLP Contract Management Is a Business Game-Changer

    By Sean Heck on 05/3/23

    Brave and tame the endless jungle of contract jargon and legalese with NLP-driven contract management! Enjoy a fun and easy way to unleash your business potential for contracts and other legal documents.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for April 2023

    By Sean Heck on 05/2/23

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from April?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and source-to-contract management best practices in May by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    Cloud Contract Management: A 5-Point Plan of Attack

    By Sean Heck on 04/27/23

    Cloud-based contract management is revolutionizing the way legal teams and other contract professionals handle their agreements. Cloud-based CLM supports streamlined processes, increased visibility, enhanced security, and reduced costs. As the demand for efficient, accessible, and cost-effective contracting processes grows, cloud-based approaches are emerging as the top choice for the job. Let’s explore cloud contract management via a simple, five-point plan to save time and money on legal operations.

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    Efficiently Manage ESG Contract Clauses With AI-Backed CLM Software

    By Joshua Hansen on 04/26/23

    As ESG (environmental, social, and governance) variables continue to play an integral role within organizations and serve as a prioritized component within business decision-making, ESG clauses in contracts are increasingly at the forefront of contract negotiations and compliance. 

    Without the right contract management tools, ESG contract clause language can elongate negotiations and cause post-award compliance tracking difficulties.

    Fortunately, AI-backed contract management software offers unique tools for reducing pre-award and post-award ESG contract clause bottlenecks so your team can address ESG principles and ESG goals. Read on to learn how.

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    What Is a Bilateral Contract? A Simple Guide

    By Sean Heck on 04/25/23

    From simple deals between friends to complex business arrangements, contracts play a crucial part in defining the terms and conditions of an agreement. One common type of contract is a bilateral contract – which we will explore in this blog post!

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    What Is a Unilateral Contract? Definition & Examples

    By Sean Heck on 04/20/23

    Contracts are an essential aspect of everyday business operations (and even everyday life in general). They govern myriad transactions and agreements – serving as the cornerstones of personal and business relationships. There are many different ways to categorize and compartmentalize contracts by type – including as unilateral and bilateral contracts.

    One of the most common types of contracts that appears in business settings is a unilateral contract. What is this type of contract – and why does it matter?

    In this blog post, we will dive into the concept of unilateral contracts and provide examples of how different types of unilateral contracts work!

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    6 Healthcare Contract Management Tools for Stronger Contracts

    By Joshua Hansen on 04/12/23

    Healthcare contract management relying on manual processes can reduce efficiency for healthcare contract stakeholders, decrease revenue, and increase liability.  Contract lifecycle management bottlenecks can decrease the efficiency of resources, compromise contract security, and disorganize crucial data.  Read on to learn how to leverage six healthcare contract management software tools for stronger contracts.

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    What Is Education Contract Management?

    By Sean Heck on 04/11/23

    Colleges, universities, and school systems can encounter unique contract management challenges.  Educational institutions manage a large volume of contracts, vendor contracts, suppliers, and providers of goods and services.  A disorganized, risk-prone, and slow-moving education contract management system can cause:

    • confusion among departments.
    • wasted time.
    • widened gaps between legal, procurement, and contract administrators within academic systems. 

    In order to avoid these issues, we need to first address the question. What exactly is education contract management - and how can it be improved with contract management software?

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for March 2023

    By Sean Heck on 04/4/23

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from March?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in April by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    Our Free Contract Tracker & How It Can Help Your Contract Process

    By Joshua Hansen on 03/29/23

    Keeping track of contracts can prove challenging, especially without a centralized system.  While contract management software provides a robust solution for contract lifecycle management, a basic contract tracking spreadsheet can help you retain some oversight.  Read on to learn how you can leverage CobbleStone Software’s free contract tracker to help streamline your contract management procedures.

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    How To Utilize AI for Contract Review Processes

    By Sean Heck on 03/28/23

    Conversations about artificial intelligence in a business setting are important. According to a study performed by MIT Sloan Management Review, over 80% of organizations see AI as a vehicle for strategic opportunity. Additionally, 85% of organizations view AI as a means for competitive business advantages.1

    This interest in – and implementation of – AI applies to legal teams and other contract managers as well. Manually managing and reviewing an ever-increasing number of contracts of varying complexity is stressful and inefficient. But it does not have to be.

    Organizations can improve contract review with AI-powered contract management software.

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    How To Achieve Purchase Order Management System Success

    By Sean Heck on 03/23/23

    Maintaining efficiency for purchase orders processing is key to organizational health. Whether your team is managing indirect procurement processes or is taking real-time action on inventory management and distribution processes – purchase order management process bottlenecks can result from:

    • human error during purchase request processes and budget procedures.
    • manual processes for tracking quantities received, inventory assets, and key dates.
    • lack of clarity regarding approval status and personnel.

    Thankfully, the proper PO management system can help. Let’s take a look into purchasing procedures that can help your organization succeed.

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    CobbleStone Contract Insight® 22.1.1 - Continuous CLM Success

    By Sean Heck on 03/21/23

    CobbleStone® has released its latest software update - CobbleStone Contract Insight® Enterprise Version 22.1.1. This new release offers refreshing contract management software tools for continuous CLM success! Read on to familiarize yourself with future-minded contract management software features and innovations to bring your legal operations to the next level!

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    The Business Case for Contract Management Systems

    By Sean Heck on 03/14/23

    Manually managing contracts can be discouraging and stressful. It can also increase risk, decrease revenue, and drastically stifle efficiency. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be this way. According to market research performed by CLOC, 74 percent of legal departments already leverage contract management software to streamline legal ops and more!

    In this blog post, we will cover how contract management systems can solve a myriad of contract process problems. We will also help you easily make a business case for contract management software to decision-makers.

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    The 8 Stages of the Contract Lifecycle

    By Jamie Reedy on 03/8/23

    Contracts are legally binding - and thus need to be executed properly.  Legal teams should equip themselves with a thorough understanding of the contract lifecycle.  The contract lifecycle is the process under which a contract is authored, reviewed, sent for signature, executed, and - potentially - renewed. 

    The "lifecycle" is an archetype used to compartmentalize and understand a contract's complex evolution.  The lifecycle begins with contract requests and concludes when these requests are fulfilled - with the possibility of managing contract renewal.  Let's further explore the eight stages of the contract lifecycle below and how contract management software can help streamline your contracting processes. 

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    3 Bad Procurement Examples That Can Negatively Affect Your Team

    By Sean Heck on 03/7/23

    The procurement process is a many-feathered bird that leaves a lot of opportunity for success. However – just as your organization can succeed on many fronts – so too can your team face common procurement challenges. Such challenges can result in costly pay-per-solicitation, limited outreach, redundant data entry, and association with vendors that can harm your organization with procurement fraud, scandals, product failure, and failure to deliver what was promised.

    Thankfully, you can avoid these procurement pitfalls. Beware of these three procurement situations that can lead your organization down a bumpy road.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for February 2023

    By Joshua Hansen on 03/2/23

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from February?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in March by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    The Top 7 Procurement Tools for 2023

    By Sean Heck on 03/1/23

    As we begin procurement month in 2023, procurement teams should maximize their goals.  An ineffective procurement strategy can lead to increased risk, dark purchasing, data inaccuracies, supplier issues, and a longer purchasing cycle. 

    So stop wasting time, opportunities, and resources with an inefficient and ununified procurement process. 

    Discover how you can leverage 7 procurement tools within procurement software.  Enable procurement teams to attain cost savings and eliminate time-consuming bottlenecks in 2023 and beyond for procurement process-flow success in 2023 and beyond.

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    ConfigAI℠: Proactive CLM Configuration Recommendations

    By Sean Heck on 02/28/23

    CobbleStone Software is proud to present its proprietary clause metadata field recommendation feature - ConfigAI℠. A helpful feature within VISDOM® AI (CobbleStone's proprietary contract intelligence engine with machine learning), ConfigAI can provide proactive CLM field recommendations for metadata fields for contract clauses to streamline contract management software implementations!

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    Contract Management for Dummies: The Basics of Managing Contracts

    By Sean Heck on 02/23/23

    Readers: don't worry; we don't really think you are dummies. We merely intend to guide you along the right path if you are new to contract lifecycle management or want to learn more.

    The process of managing contracts can be challenging for even the most seasoned business professional. Even well-intentioned and well-thought-out contract processes can fall flat. Sadly, your organization can incur operational and financial risk without an ironclad strategy in place.

    We are here to give you tips on how to work smarter and not harder when you deal with contracts. As such, let's go over the basics of managing contracts more efficiently and effectively!

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    8 Contract Negotiation Strategies To Reach a Win-Win Outcome

    By Sean Heck on 02/16/23

    Nearly every business relationship involves a contract. At the crux of every contract is back-and-forth negotiation. This chess-like undertaking requires purposeful and good-faith cooperation on both sides.

    The cutthroat, 1980s Wall Street businessman approach of trying to steamroll one’s opponent into submission often depicted in movies does not reflect successful contract negotiation in real life. True contract negotiation requires active listening, considerate acknowledgment of both parties’ pain points, and the ability to forge a win-win agreement.

    As such, here are 8 contract negotiation strategies to improve your contract negotiation processes.

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    2023 CobbleStone® Roadshow Reimagined: Achieve Sustainable CLM Success

    By Tyler Holzer on 02/15/23

    The 2023 CobbleStone Roadshow Reimagined is coming to a computer or city near you this year, with monthly Contract Management Masterclass and Client Training events from February 24th through December 15th, 2023! Achieve sustainable contract lifecycle management success by attending a Contract Management Masterclass or Client Training event either online or in person - including on-site events in New York, NY; Washington, DC; Los Angeles, CA; and Houston, TX. 

    While the Contract Management Masterclass events offer prospective CobbleStone users an immersive and preliminary venture into contract management software, the Client Training events can help CobbleStone Admins optimize their CobbleStone Contract Insight® configurations and system processes. Read on to discover what attendees can anticipate at The 2023 CobbleStone Roadshow Reimagined!

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    Contract Management Software for Higher Education

    By Bradford Jones on 02/13/23

    Colleges, universities, and other education institutions draft, negotiate, and approve a myriad of contracts with vendors, partners, suppliers, and employees every year. Actively managing contracting processes and maintaining formal relationships can be difficult and time-consuming. This holds especially true for the many universities that don’t have a system in place for the contract management process.

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    How To Define & Manage a Manufacturing Contract

    By Sean Heck on 02/7/23

    If your organization develops products, your team does not necessarily need to tackle the manufacturing process alone. In fact, most organizations enter into manufacturing contracts. These contracts make it so another company can handle the production process so that you can sell those finished products. A manufacturing contract sets the provisions of this agreement.

    But what else is involved in a manufacturing contract? How does one manage a manufacturing contract once parties agree to enter one?

    Let’s explore how to define and manage a manufacturing contract.

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    3 Contractual Capacity Criteria to Enter a Valid Contract

    By Sean Heck on 02/1/23

    Contracts are critical for a vast array of business processes. As such, legal teams and contract administrators must be prepared for contract lifecycle management. However, it is important to note that not everyone is positioned to engage in legally binding contracts for themselves or their organizations. As such, one of the crucial elements of a contract is the legal capacity of parties involved.

    In this post, we’ll provide 3 criteria that dictate an individual’s capacity to enter into a contract.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for January 2023

    By Joshua Hansen on 01/31/23

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from January?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in February by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    What is AI-Based Contract Management?

    By Sean Heck on 01/26/23

    Business automation is already sharpening professional methods across a variety of industries.  However, advancements in AI (artificial intelligence) can be particularly advantageous as they apply to contract management software systems. Contract intelligence engines built upon a foundation of machine learning just need to be fed a nutritious diet of relevant contract data.

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    What Is an NDA? Understanding & Managing Non-Disclosure Agreements

    By Sean Heck on 01/25/23

    You’ve probably heard the term “NDA” thrown around in the context of contract and business processes. But what is an NDA? When should they be used? How can NDAs be managed?

    Let’s uncover what you need to know about the non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

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    Contract Management Reports for Robust CLM Data Analytics Oversight

    By Joshua Hansen on 01/23/23

    Tracking contract management data with manual and disparate processes throughout the contract lifecycle can prove challenging.  You can waste time and energy without readily accessible contract management reports for the following.

    • Contract Financials
    • Contract Terms
    • Workflows
    • Budgets
    • KPIs
    • Vendors
    • Compliance Data
    • & Other Essential Contract Data

    Fortunately, leading contract management software can provide you with contract management reports for robust contract performance management oversight.

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    Letter of Intent: Defining & Managing a Good-Faith LOI

    By Sean Heck on 01/19/23

    We know. We usually talk about contract management software here on the Contract Insights blog. But what if we rewound for now to a stage that often comes before contracts: letters of intent?

    What is a letter of intent? Why does it matter? What does it have to do with contracts?

    Read on to find out.

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    Obligation of Contracts - An Overview

    By Joshua Hansen on 01/17/23

    Unfulfilled contract obligations can create a post-award contract management nightmare that can escalate to stressful legal action – such as issuing a cease and desist or suing your counterparty. 

    So, how can you avoid this? 

    By clearly defining the obligation of contracts between you and your counterparty and leveraging contract management software tools to receive timely alerts for each obligation of contracts, you can retain contract obligation accountability instead of meddling with unnecessary disputes.

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    How Contract Review Can Be Easy With CLM Software

    By Sean Heck on 01/16/23

    Contract review is a crucial contract management stage.  Unfortunately, far too many organizations overlook this process or leverage out-of-date methods that can increase unnecessary risk.

    Thankfully, we can establish a contract review processes checklist and manage the life of a contract with leading contract management software.  Let’s get started.

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    Breach of Contract & the Importance of Contract Tracking

    By Sean Heck on 01/12/23

    At the heart of healthy business relationships are contracts. In an ideal world, contract parties perform obligations, they renegotiate or renew, and all are happy with a longstanding and fruitful business relationship…

    …but unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world.

    Sometimes, one party fails to perform. As such, a breach of contract occurs. Time and money are wasted. Opportunities and value go “poof.” Crucial business processes are delayed or destroyed. Trust between parties is maimed.

    With all of these negative effects, a breach of contract should clearly be avoided. Parties should have the right tools to identify contracts’ failure to perform and prevent breaches of contract. Thankfully, contract management software can help.

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    Wet Signature Meaning & Why Handwritten Signatures Are Obsolete

    By Sean Heck on 01/5/23

    Signed, sealed, delivered...What comes to mind when you imagine a "signature" being performed on a document? Most likely, you picture a wet signature - meaning a handwritten signature.

    The iconography of the wet signature is pretty ubiquitous, but what does a signature do? What is a wet signature? Why is it so obsolete? What's a better option than a wet signature?

    Read on to find out.

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    Digital Transformation: What It Is & Why it Matters

    By Sean Heck on 01/4/23

    You have likely heard the term “digital transformation” in a professional context. This term has become ever more prevalent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital transformation initiatives have been leveraged to transform business processes and business outcomes.

    But what is digital transformation really – and why does it matter? Read on to find out!

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for December 2022

    By Joshua Hansen on 01/3/23

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from December?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and source-to-contract management software best practices in January by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    Contract Termination - A Simple, 3-Step Approach

    By Sean Heck on 12/28/22

    Contract termination should involve rigorous financial analysis, contract performance data analytics, and the creation of a notice of termination.  Unfortunately, contract termination involves tight deadlines and specific terms required to terminate a contract. Organizations need a strategy to identify contracts not meeting contract KPIs, write notices of contract termination, and secure proper contract closeout. 

    This article will show you how to implement this strategy readily with the help of contract management software.

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    A Look at CobbleStone’s Contract and eProcurement Success in 2022

    By Sean Heck on 12/27/22

    CobbleStone Software is proud to share that we have helped transform contract lifecycle management and procurement in 2022 in various ways. Additionally, we have experienced record-breaking growth this past year.  From broadening our client base and partner network to providing leading contract management software innovations and more, here are some noteworthy CobbleStone® successes from 2022.

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    Contract Lifecycle Automation - End-to-End CLM Efficiency

    By Joshua Hansen on 12/14/22

    Managing contracts can be challenging for legal, procurement, and contract management professionals, especially when primarily relying on manual processes.

    Managing the contract lifecycle can prove difficult with spreadsheets, emails, filing cabinets, and other disparate tools.

    Contract lifecycle management requires careful planning, the right technology, a well-planned contract strategy, and holistic contract lifecycle automation processes.  Thankfully, robust contract management softwarewith a foundation of AI and machine learning can help automate contract lifecycle management processes.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for November 2022

    By Joshua Hansen on 12/6/22

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from November?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and source-to-contract management software best practices in December by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    Contract Manager - A Brief Overview of What They Do

    By Sean Heck on 12/1/22

    Contracts are essential in supplementing business transactions, business relationships, and business growth; naturally, so are those who manage those contracts. But what does a contract manager really do – and what makes a good contract manager? Read on to find out.

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    Contract Meaning - What Does It Mean to Enter Into a Contract?

    By Sean Heck on 11/30/22

    We hear about contracts all the time. They power business relationships across sectors, industries, and nations. Individuals, businesses, and societies at large use contracts to fulfill wishes and needs. Contracts keep our world moving.

    But what is a contract really? Read on to find out.

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    Contract Drafting Made Easy With Contract Software

    By Sean Heck on 11/28/22

    Contract drafting is a multi-faceted and complex process.  Document collaboration, contract authoring, negotiation, terms and conditions, and other relevant steps can be challenging. They are all the more challenging if you are relying on manual tools - such as shared drives and emails.  Leave tedious, manual contract drafting methods in the past by embracing robust contract management software.

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    4 Ways a Proper Electronic Contract Improves Contract Management

    By Sean Heck on 11/22/22

    Traditional paper contracts were replaced long ago by better contract processes. The paper document has been foregone in favor of digital contracts. However, not all computer-based contract management processes are created equal.

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    6 Vital Government Contract Management Tools for 2023

    By Sean Heck on 11/21/22

    As a government contract manager, it's helpful to stay up-to-date with the latest government contract management, purchasing, and sourcing tools - especially as the industry keeps evolving through 2023 and beyond. 

    Read on to discover six user-friendly government contract management software tools you can leverage to streamline your public contracting processes.

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    What Is an Executed Contract? - A Brief Overview.

    By Sean Heck on 11/17/22

    Contract execution is a critical stage in contract lifecycle management. By this point, the terms of the contract have been negotiated. Parties have ensured that everything is understood and all necessary resources have approved the written agreement. From there, contract parties sign the contract to propel its execution.

    Given the importance of this stage of contract management, you should know what an executed contract is and its meaning. As such, here is a brief overview of an executed contract.

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    7 Enterprise Contract Management Best Practices To Succeed in 2023

    By Joshua Hansen on 11/15/22

    Managing contracts can be challenging - especially when primarily relying on outdated tools such as spreadsheets, emails, and shared drives.  Without accountability, visibility, and actionable insights, you can find yourself confronting contracting workflow bottlenecks.  Enterprise contract lifecycle management (CLM) requires careful planning, the right technology, and a well-planned contract strategy.

    To gain the most out of enterprise contract management, take advantage of seven best practices.  Enterprise contract management best practices involve contract lifecycle management software. CLM software digitally unifies processes from contract requests through renewals. It provides a centralized, web-enabled, single source of truth for contracts. 

    Read on to learn more.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for October 2022

    By Joshua Hansen on 11/9/22

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from October?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in November by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    Boost AI-Based Contract Negotiations With CobbleStone® Auto-Redlining

    By Sean Heck on 11/8/22

    The process of redlining contracts for contract negotiation can be challenging if done improperly.

    Organizations that edit documents manually in Microsoft Word can increase the chances of human errors. What’s more, constant back-and-forth edits via emailed documents can result in version control mistakes and broken formats. Mission-critical clauses and sections can either be left out of a legal document or improperly positioned. Additionally, the amount of time spent on tedious, outdated redlining processes can result in lost revenue and opportunities.

    Thankfully, your legal team can start saving time on the contract negotiation process with CobbleStone’s user-friendly auto-redlining tool - powered by VISDOM® artificial intelligence. Here’s how to leverage auto-redlining within CobbleStone Contract Insight® contract management software.

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    Digital Signatures vs. Electronic Signatures: What's the Difference?

    By Sean Heck on 10/31/22

    What is a digital signature? Is it not the same thing as an electronic signature?

    We inhabit an ever-evolving technological landscape in which new and updated terminology and functionality are constantly presented. It can be confusing to know the differences between terms such as the two mentioned above. However, those differences are actually quite simple!

    Familiarize yourself with these two terms. Discover how to utilize both eSignatures and digital signatures to establish a process that is:

    • secure.
    • user-friendly.
    • compliant.
    • and rapid.
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    CobbleStone Contract Insight® 22.1.0 - A Refreshing CLM Experience

    By Sean Heck on 10/27/22

    CobbleStone Software's latest version – CobbleStone Contract Insight® Enterprise 22.1.0 – has arrived for a refreshing contract lifecycle management experience!

    Read on to acclimate yourself with next-level CLM features and innovations to bring your contract management software platform into the future of legal operations!

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    Reap the Rewards of Post Award Contract Management

    By Maria Votlucka on 10/24/22

    Government contract management is divided into three stages: procurement or acquisition planning, sourcing, and post-award contract management. 

    The first two stages have had the most focused time and financial investment for improvement.  This approach leaves post-award management as a secondary duty for contract officer representatives (CORs) and contract managers within legal teams. Consequently, they are left unsupported for compliance, risk management, and opportunity realization. 

    Arguably, contract processes after acquisition and sourcing are the most crucial stages for public-sector and private-sector contract managers. However, these stages notoriously lack proper visibility and resources.  This article will address the challenges and present actionable post-award contract management best practices with the help of contract management software.

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    Healthy Vendor Contract Management - 4 Simple Steps

    By Sean Heck on 10/20/22

    We would venture to say that all businesses from various industries in the public and private sectors need vendors. Vendor relationships help power business processes. Vendors can provide supplies, services, maintenance, and raw materials for generating products. As such, it is important that organizations maintain business relationships with third-party vendors.

    Unfortunately – as is the case with most things – there is a right and a wrong way to go about vendor management.

    Contract and procurement teams need to sidestep spend leakage, detrimental terms, and soured vendor relationships. On the other hand, proper vendor contract management can set the stage for positive growth and opportunity realization. Here’s how.

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    What Is Contract Management Software?

    By Sean Heck on 10/17/22

    As your organization grows, so do the complexity and volume of your contracts. Your contract management process needs to expand with your company. This is where a contract management system comes in.

    But how can your business users prepare for growth with a better way of managing contracts?

    Read on to find out!

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    What Makes a Contract Legally Binding? How To Manage Legal Contracts.

    By Sean Heck on 10/13/22

    Contracts and agreements power every industry. We would even venture to guess that virtually every business utilizes contracts in some form or another. As such, organizations must ensure that their contracts are properly prepared and legally enforceable.

    Let’s review what makes a contract legally binding, and how to manage legal contracts to ensure that they are virtually airtight from contract execution to contract renewal.

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    How to Swap Disorganized Document Storage Systems for Something Better

    By Sean Heck on 10/6/22

    Document, contract, and record management require a secure and accessible way to access necessary documentation and data. Unfortunately, this is not observed by some organizations – causing them to fall behind.

    Outdated document storage methods that rely on file cabinets, shared drives, and locally-saved documents no longer cut it. Document scanning and subsequent file share can waste time and decrease oversight.

    Thankfully, organizations no longer need to face storage limitations and decentralized file management. With enterprise content management within contract management software, organizations can up their storage game. Here’s how.

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    Here’s Why Contract Templates Are a Must-Have for Contract Management

    By Sean Heck on 10/5/22

    From services contracts to consulting agreements to employment contracts – contracts are an essential part of business relationships across industries. However, writing even simple contracts from scratch can seem daunting.

    Without a starting point, drafting contracts can prove time-consuming and challenging. Your contract team can suffer from critical inaccuracies and missed opportunities.

    Thankfully, your organization can leverage easy-to-customize and mergeable contract templates to save valuable time and maximize accuracy.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for September 2022

    By Joshua Hansen on 10/4/22

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from September?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in October by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    The 3 Document Lifecycle Stages - An Easy-to-Understand Overview

    By Sean Heck on 09/29/22

    Managing various documents across business processes can be difficult. Without document controls and a development process for the management of business documents, your organization can expend valuable time and effort chasing down paper documents and those within disorganized digital storage. Without easy accessibility, your organization can suffer from document loss and misplaced versions.

    Fortunately, your organization can compartmentalize the stages of a document lifecycle to better understand the document management process. To that end, let’s explore the three stages of the document lifecycle!

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    Contract Lifecycle Process Failure - An Investigation

    By Sean Heck on 09/22/22

    Oh no!  It happened: contract lifecycle process failure.  Something went wrong during contract lifecycle management - resulting in contract failure.  But fear not; as a contract management professional, you are a worthy investigator.  It is time to put on your detective hat, grab a notepad, and piece together the clues as to why your contract lifecycle process failed.  You can also inspect how this tragedy could have been avoided with contract management software.  Let the investigation begin!

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    Why Your Document Repository Needs To Be Secure Yet Flexible

    By Joshua Hansen on 09/21/22

    Managing documents within an unorganized and insecure document repository can slow down your document management processes and leave your organization exposed to undue risk. Relying on manual and disparate systems - such as shared drives, emails, and spreadsheets – can cause you to fall into document mismanagement pitfalls.  Considering how organizations ranging from small businesses to global enterprises leverage document repositories daily, discover how contract management software can empower you with secure yet flexible document repository tools.

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    4 Examples of Bad Contract Drafting & 4 Ways to Draft Contracts Better

    By Reshaun Timmons on 09/20/22

    Contract drafting can be a multi-faceted and tremendously tricky process. This difficulty especially holds true for those new to corporate law and contract management. Before we can get into how to draft contracts correctly, we must know what we should avoid. As such, here are four examples of lousy contract drafting – followed by four ways to draft contracts better.

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    CobbleStone Hosts Its Conference in Austin TX: October 12-14 2022

    By Joshua Hansen on 09/16/22

    CobbleStone Software's in-person user conference will be hosted in Austin, Texas, from Wednesday, October 12th, through Friday, October 14th, 2022.  The 2022 CobbleStone Conference will include engaging breakout sessions and dynamic speakers to enhance your contract management software experience.  Considering that the 2021 CobbleStone Virtual Conference received tremendous positive feedback, we eagerly anticipate continuing our successful user conference track record by engaging with CobbleStone Contract Insight users and prospective users in person soon!  Prospective CobbleStone users can register for a one-day-only complimentary contract management conference on October 13th. The 2022 CobbleStone Conference is proudly sponsored by Four Business Solutions. Read on to see what you can expect to gain from the 2022 CobbleStone Conference, so you can secure your seats before registration closes on October 1st, 2022!

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    Passing on Contract Analysis? You May Be Repeating CLM Mistakes.

    By Sean Heck on 09/15/22

    The age of digital transformation has forged a path of opportunity for analyzing vital information to improve business processes. This phenomenon strongly applies to contract data as well. Unfortunately, many businesses managing contracts fail to maximize contract data points to learn from mistakes and improve contract processes. As such, they fail to reduce risk, optimize contract terms and language, proactively recognize growth opportunities, strengthen the contract review process, and more.

    Thankfully, you can avoid falling victim to contract lifecycle process failure and stagnation with contract management software.

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    Contract Clause – An Overview of How Contracts & Clauses Come To Be

    By Sean Heck on 09/13/22

    Contract clauses and contracts themselves are built into the identity of the United States and so many other great nations. With the help of historic Supreme Court rulings, the contract and the contract clause were weaved into the cultural fabric of US society.

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    7 Essential eSourcing Tools for 2023

    By Joshua Hansen on 09/7/22

    Utilizing manual sourcing methods - such as gathering item prices in spreadsheets, corresponding with prospective bidders individually via email, leveraging paper-based RFPs, and collecting numerous data separately from pontential suppliers - can cause you to face a time-consuming challenge in sourcing quality and cost saving goods or services.  Without the proper tools, sourcing professionals within your procurement team could fail to determine formal bids, RFPs, budget allowances, stock levels, current contracts, and contingencies in purchase order releases.  Fortunately, you can utilize the following seven essential eSourcing software tools for seamless source-to-contract management success.

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    Million-Clause Project Milestone - 500K Clauses Fed To Contract AI!

    By Sean Heck on 09/6/22

    In April 2022, we announced CobbleStone's exciting million-clause initiative to nourish and enhance VISDOM® AI - CobbleStone Software's proprietary contract intelligence engine with machine learning.  In June 2022, we announced that 330K contract clauses had been fed to VISDOM contract AI.  Now, we are thrilled to announce that over 500,000 clauses have been "fed" to VISDOM thus far!  This stage in the momentous 1,000,000 contract clause project is just one of many testaments to why CobbleStone® has been hailed as the leader in contract management software.

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    5 Essential Contract Management Tools for 2023

    By Sean Heck on 09/1/22

    With new advancements and options for effective contract management continually evolving, we’ve detailed five essential tools contract managers must empower themselves with to navigate the ever-changing landscape of contract management best practices going forward.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for August 2022

    By Sean Heck on 08/31/22

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from August?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in September by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    What Is a Contract Amendment? How Can Contract Amendments Be Managed?

    By Sean Heck on 08/30/22

    A contract amendment is a modification of the terms and conditions of a contract or subcontract.

    Though we will explore contract amendments more in-depth, it is worth noting that changing the structure, duties, obligations, or rights of a contract requires increased oversight.

    To that end, let's explore contract amendments and how disparate, important, and sensitive information can be managed, and contract amendments can be executed smoothly for effective contract management.

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    6 Elements of a Contract - An Easy-to-Understand Overview

    By Sean Heck on 08/25/22

    Business relationships power various industries within the public and private sectors. At the crux of virtually every business relationship is a contract. Contracts serve to cement the obligations, duties, and expectations of two or more engaged business parties.

    But what are contracts really? How do they work on a fundamental level?

    Let’s explore six key elements of a contract that are widely applicable to almost every business relationship – and why they matter for effective contract management.

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    5 Contract Drafting Tips To Invigorate Your Legal Operations

    By Sean Heck on 08/23/22

    Contract drafting is essential in helping capture the purpose of a contract in written form. Haphazard drafting of a contract can result in pushing outdated contract versions to collaboration and negotiation. Additionally, the lack of a centralized and informed process can result in incorrect language being introduced into the review process. Unfavorable terms, missed obligations, and legal disputes can follow.

    To help you avoid these consequences and more, here are five practical contract drafting tips for more effective contract management.

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    The CobbleStone University Certification Program

    By Tyler Holzer on 08/18/22

    CobbleStone Software is proud to introduce the CobbleStone University Certification Program (CUCP)! The program will strengthen and verify our Partner Network’s expertise in CobbleStone Contract Insight® Enterprise. The program is comprised of a series of live training sessions and videos with accompanying documentation, and culminates in assessments to earn your certification. Read on to learn more!

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    Contract Risk Management - Breaking Down the Basics

    By Reshaun Timmons on 08/17/22

    Proper contractual risk management is critical for the preservation of a healthy contracting process. Failure to adequately manage risk can be disastrous. Harmful risk oversights not only affect legal teams – but organizations as a whole.

    Your organization should work to avoid a breach of compliance, violation of contract terms, lost revenue, wasted time, lawsuits, and a damaged company reputation. As such, let’s break down contract risk management and how it can be maximized with contract management software.

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    What Is Contract Management? Here’s What You Need To Know.

    By Sean Heck on 08/11/22

    Contracts are legally binding agreements that define and govern the exchange of goods or services. A contract’s journey – from creation to fulfillment and completion – is complex and leaves room for errors and oversights. As such, a process has been generally agreed upon for the handling of contracts. This process is referred to as contract management.

    But what is contract management, and how can it be approached? Here’s what you need to know.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for July 2022

    By Joshua Hansen on 08/10/22

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from July?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in August by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    6 Contract Compliance Mistakes You May Not Know You’re Making

    By Sean Heck on 08/9/22

    Contract compliance is crucial for the success of a contract – and sets the stage for contract renewals. Unfortunately, many organizations are (sometimes unwittingly) exposing themselves to financial risk, breaches of contract, and legal penalties. Contract compliance mistakes can lead to contract failure, data leakage, a shattered reputation, lawsuits, and more.

    Contract managers need to know their mistakes in order to correct course. As such, here are six contract compliance mistakes you might not know you’re making.

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    Not Using Contract AI? Contract Process Failure May Be In Your Future.

    By Sean Heck on 08/4/22

    Digital transformation is the future of contract management – whether legal operations professionals like it or not. Organizations not leveraging contract intelligence may very well encounter a bleak contract lifecycle management future.

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    Here’s Why Electronic Document Signing Is Great for Contract Processes

    By Sean Heck on 07/27/22

    Gathering signatures for a contract or agreement can be difficult without the proper tools. Outdated and slow signing methods can cause signature bottlenecks that delay contract execution. What’s more, high costs for wet signing and postage can decrease your bottom line.

    Fortunately, there is a better way. Let’s discuss why electronic signature software within contract management software is awesome for your contract processes.

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    3 Smart Goals for Contract Managers

    By Joshua Hansen on 07/26/22

    As contract management continuously evolves amidst ongoing digital transformation, it's important to pursue smart goals that can keep up with the times.  Rather than fall behind with manual contract management processes that require disparate tools - such as email, spreadsheets, and shared drives – read on to see how you can leverage future-minded contract management software tools to fulfill your contract management goals successfully.

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    Contract Signing Made Easy with eSignature Software

    By Joshua Hansen on 07/21/22

    Gathering contract signatures can be a challenging task, especially when working with multiple signatories in various locations.  Signatures finalize contracts and propel their execution. This highly anticipated step can be delayed with manual processes that include scanning signed documents, emailing scanned contracts, signing with wet signatures, mailing contracts with wet signatures, and reorganizing signed contracts in shared drives - to name a few. Moreover, specific signatures can require notarization, which can further delay the signing process.  Read on to learn how eSignature software within contract management software can make contract signing quick and easy.

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    Contract Authoring - What You Need To Know To Get Started

    By Sean Heck on 07/18/22

    Contract authoring is essential.  An inefficient process can hinder organizations and result in error-prone contracts with missing or misplaced clauses.

    Additionally, overlooked key dates and milestones and a confusing process can stall the contract lifecycle.  Luckily, leading contract management software can provide intelligent authoring.  Read on to learn how to simplify and modernize the contract writing process.

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    6 Tips for Effective Contract Management in 2023

    By Sean Heck on 07/14/22

    The age of legal operations digital transformation continues in 2023, with even more exciting digitization tools for business process automation available.  The more contract administration tools available to legal teams and contract administrators – however – the easier it is to fall behind.  With that said, let’s examine six tips for effective contract management in 2023 to get ahead with contract management software.

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    3 Key Contractual Compliance Management Areas To Streamline With CLM

    By Joshua Hansen on 07/12/22

    Contractual compliance management can be challenging when leveraging primarily manual methods, such as spreadsheet management – especially when tracking multiple contracts with varying compliance standards.  Fortunately, contract lifecycle management (CLM) software tools can help you retain contractual compliance.  Read on to discover how you can streamline three key contractual compliance management areas with leading contract management software.

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    Top 8 Contract Management Services for a Stronger Contract Lifecycle

    By Sean Heck on 07/7/22

    A study examining the reasons for contract management process failure found that key indicators of contract mismanagement include (among others) poor contract lifecycle planning and scheduling, late or improper contract submission and approvals, weak leadership, and lack of counterparty collaboration and communication (Mohamed, Norazida, et al., 2019).  Luckily, with leading contract management software and the proper contract management services, your organization can streamline contract management, decrease risk, increase revenue, and much more.  To that end, let's examine our top eight contract management services for more robust contract lifecycle management.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for June 2022

    By Sean Heck on 07/5/22

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from June?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in July by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    Million-Clause Project Update - 330K Clauses Fed To Contract AI So Far

    By Sean Heck on 06/30/22

    In April, we announced CobbleStone Software's momentous million-clause initiative to enhance and nourish VISDOM® AI - CobbleStone's proprietary contract artificial intelligence engine with machine learning.  Now, we are excited to share that - in just two months - over 330,000 clauses have been "fed" to VISDOM contract intelligence thus far!  This momentous 1,000,000 contract clause initiative is just one of many reasons that CobbleStone® has been celebrated as the leader in contract management software.

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    What is Contract Lifecycle Management?

    By Sean Heck on 06/28/22

    Organizations of all sizes face the need to juggle multiple contracts simultaneously, with each contract being at a different stage of the contract lifecycle.  Leading contract management software reduces risk, improves productivity, and maximizes a contract's value.  But what is contract lifecycle management?  Read on to find out!

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    Artificial Intelligence Contract Analysis - Contract AI for Better CLM

    By Sean Heck on 06/23/22

    The contract analysis process is a many-feathered bird.  Between tracking and gaining insights from clauses, tracking contract status, and managing risk variables - there is ample room for mistakes and bottlenecks.  Luckily, organizations can manage contract analysis better with contract artificial intelligence within contract management software.

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    What Is a Contract Administration Plan?

    By Joshua Hansen on 06/21/22

    Contract administration can be a daunting process when relying on primarily manual tools - such as spreadsheets, shared drives, and disparate emails.  Without accountability, visibility, and a clearly defined contract administration plan, you can find yourself running into compliance issues, minimizing contract value, and encountering other setbacks.  Read on to learn how you can create a strong contract administration plan with the help of leading contract management software.

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    How Mass eSignatures Boost Healthcare Compliance & Efficiency

    By Jessica Troppello on 06/13/22

    Within the healthcare industry, keeping documents and files up-to-date is crucial to maintaining compliance.  Healthcare agencies, such as the FDA, NHS, and Health Canada, are continually monitoring hospitals, physician's offices, and other healthcare facilities to ensure healthcare professionals, administrators, and providers are keeping up with legal requirements.  The maintenance of healthcare compliance and healthcare CLM efficiency requires significant time and resources invested in signing processes.  With so many documents and versions to sign, there is room for error - and healthcare compliance can be jeopardized.  Luckily, healthcare contract management software can provide mass eSignatures for maximized healthcare compliance and efficiency.  Here's how.

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    Your CLM Platform - How to Set Sail Toward Better Contract Management

    By Camryn Wolk on 06/9/22

    Navigating your CLM Platform can be difficult if you aren't equipped with a thorough understanding of the contract lifecycle.  The contract lifecycle is the process under which a contract is authored, reviewed, sent for signature, executed, and - possibly – renewed.  The "lifecycle" is an archetype used to characterize and understand a contract's complex growth.  The lifecycle voyage begins with contract requests and ends when said requests are achieved – with the feasibility of contract renewal.  With so many complex processes involved in contract lifecycle management, it can be easy to sail toward the treacherous waters of contract mismanagement.  With a strong sense of how to leverage leading CLM software, however, you can quickly get your legal operations sea legs!  Read on to learn how you can set sail toward better contract management.

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    What Is Legal Operations Software?

    By Joshua Hansen on 06/8/22

    As a legal operations professional, you hold a tremendous responsibility within your organization – especially in managing internal and external stakeholder processes.  Relying on manual contract management processes such as spreadsheets, emails, and shared drives can create inefficient contract management processes that can decrease revenue, waste time, and increase risk.  Read on to learn how legal operations software and contract management software can empower your day-to-day legal operations.

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    5 Key Advantages of Contract Management Workflow Automation

    By Joshua Hansen on 06/2/22

    Managing contracts can be challenging when you rely on primarily manual processes. Managing the contract lifecycle from requests to renewals can prove challenging with spreadsheets, emails, and other disparate tools.  Without accountability, visibility, a clearly defined process, and actionable insights, you can find yourself running into compliance issues, not realizing contract value, and encountering other contract management setbacks.  Contract management workflow requires careful planning, the right technology, and a well-thought-out contract strategy.  Read on to discover five key advantages of contract management workflow automation within contract management software.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for May 2022

    By Sean Heck on 06/1/22

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from May?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in June by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    Debunking Myths of Moving From On-Premise to SaaS Contract Management

    By Camryn Wolk on 05/31/22

    Organizations may be hesitant to move from on-premise to software-as-a-service (SaaS) contract management solutions due to misguided presumptions. Such “myths” can be misleading and discouraging to potential software users, leaving them exposed to contract data loss, contract management software user errors, and the complication of contract lifecycle management process centralization. Conversely, cloud-based contract management software can streamline, unify, and automate legal operations. To that end, let’s set the record straight and debunk five prevailing myths about SaaS contract management.

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    What Is E Sourcing & How Can I Get Started?

    By Sean Heck on 05/24/22

    What is e sourcing?  Why is it important?  What can I do to get started with a suitable eSourcing process?  Read on to define "eSourcing," discover the troubles of manual sourcing processes, and learn how to optimize your eSourcing process in the age of digital transformation with a centralized and user-friendly integrated eSourcing software and contract management software platform.

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    7 Vital Legal Contract Management Software Tools for 2022

    By Sean Heck on 05/18/22

    It remains true that general counsel and paralegals continue to encounter growing contract complexity and volume.  An ineffectual legal contract management process makes obstacles for legal departments tough to overcome.  Here’s how to leverage seven legal contract management software tools for a streamlined legal contract lifecycle, reduced risk, and minimal contract lifecycle bottlenecks and delays.

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    CLM + CRM = Sales Contract Management Success

    By Joshua Hansen on 05/17/22

    Managing your CRM (client relationship management system) separately from your CLM (contract lifecycle management system) can cause sales contract management bottlenecks - such as disorganization, miscommunication, and increased risk.  Fortunately, leading contract management software can help you achieve sales contract management success by seamlessly connecting your CLM and CRM.  Read on to learn how connecting your CLM and CRM can help expedite your sales contract management process by sharing relevant and timely information between sales and contract management teams efficiently – helping close sales deals quickly and track post-signature responsibilities effectively until renewal.

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    Perks of Moving From On-Premise to SaaS Contract Management Software

    By Sean Heck on 05/12/22

    In the age of digital transformation, organizations from a vast array of industries are switching from on-premise to web-based SaaS (software as a service) software deployment to streamline business operations.  Those using contract management software are no exception.  There are times when on-premise (deployed) contract management solutions are applicable.  However, on-premise solutions can leave organizations exposed to contract data loss, contract management software user errors, and the complication of contract lifecycle management process centralization.  Conversely, cloud-based contract management software can streamline, unify, and automate legal operations.  To that end, here are some perks of switching from an on-premise to a SaaS contract management software solution.

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    Introducing New CobbleStone Contract Insight® End-User Training Videos

    By Tyler Holzer on 05/10/22

    Onboarding and training your next generation of employees can prove time-consuming and somewhat stressful for most organizations.  Turnover in your legal team, compliance, and other key roles can create friction that affects your bottom line.  Fortunately, CobbleStone Software is dedicated to protecting your source-to-contract management workflows from process bottlenecks by creating a smooth learning experience for your new contract management software users.

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    5 Electronic Purchase Order Management Tools for 2022

    By Camryn Wolk on 05/9/22

    Purchase orders play a vital role in ensuring you have the goods and services necessary to operate and expand your business.  With robust purchase order management software, you can lower administrative costs, boost accountability, enhance communication and asset management, and assist your organization in achieving successful operations - all while enjoying seamlessly integrated contract lifecycle management.  Read on to learn five key electronic purchase order software tools within contract management software.

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    How Energy Contract Management Software Powers the Energy Industry

    By Sean Heck on 05/5/22

    Efficient contract management is essential for the health of organizations in all industries - including the energy industry.  Energy sector companies need to work with many contracts, bids, vendors, suppliers, and contractors to maintain operations and increase revenue.  Tackling these different processes in a fast-paced business environment can prove quite challenging.  With a decentralized approach involving contracts stored in filing cabinets, costly payments per solicitation, limited vendor and supplier outreach, tedious collection of vendor responses through email, contract lifecycle inefficiencies, and easily-missed key date reminders, organizations in the energy sector can quickly find themselves "unplugged" and "out of battery" with decreased revenue, increased risk, and missed opportunities.  Luckily, integrated contract and procurement software can help.  Read on to learn how energy contract management software can supercharge energy industry contract and procurement operations to keep organizations "on the grid" of digital transformation.

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    7 Key Contract Lifecycle Management Questions To Consider

    By Joshua Hansen on 05/3/22

    Managing contracts can be challenging - especially when primarily relying on outdated tools such as spreadsheets, emails, and shared drives.  Without accountability, visibility, a clearly defined process, and actionable insights within a contract management software platform, you can find yourself confronting contract management bottlenecks.  Contract lifecycle management (CLM) requires careful planning, the right technology, a well-planned contract strategy, and robust contract lifecycle management processes.  To gain the most out of contract lifecycle management, you need to ask key questions in order to find the right answers.  Read on to discover seven key questions to consider when implementing contract lifecycle management, including key features to look for when leveraging a CLM software platform.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for April 2022

    By Sean Heck on 05/2/22

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from April?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in May by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    No Advanced Electronic Signature Software? Here’s What You’re Missing.

    By Sean Heck on 04/28/22

    An antiquated contract signing process can be exhausting and overly complicated.  However, tedium and headache are not the only consequences.  Organizations relying on paper-based printing, signing, wet signatures, drawn-out mailing times, and costly postage fees are essentially guaranteed to lose out on revenue, opportunity, and timeliness.  But why?  What's so good about a more modern contract signing solution anyway?  Read on to learn about what you are missing if you lack an advanced electronic signature software solution within contract management software.

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    6 Contract Analytics Software Tools for Strong CLM Oversight

    By Joshua Hansen on 04/26/22

    Tracking contract management data with manual and disparate processes throughout the contract lifecycle can prove challenging.  Without readily accessible contract analytics software tools for contract financials, workflows, budgets, KPIs, vendors, compliance, and other essential contract metadata, you can waste time and energy.  Fortunately, leading contract management software can provide you with contract analytics software tools for robust source-to-contract lifecycle management oversight.

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    CobbleStone® Pioneers Million-Clause Initiative to Enhance Contract AI

    By Sean Heck on 04/21/22

    There is an almost limitless abundance of wildlife within the animal kingdom.  And yet, some zoologists can recognize thousands of species, along with how they function within their ecosystems, how they behave, what they eat, where they obtain shelter, etc.  But how do zoologists come to know so much about the creatures around us?  The answer is through repeated exposure to and study of such beasts.

    Similarly, contract artificial intelligence within contract management software can come to recognize almost countless different types of clauses within contracts - if said contract intelligence engine is fed a "nutritious diet" of various contract clauses and terms.  Such is the idea behind CobbleStone Software's million-clause initiative to nourish and enhance its proprietary contract artificial intelligence engine with machine learning - VISDOM® AI.

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    4 Fundamental Contract Management Software Features To Get You Started

    By Sean Heck on 04/19/22

    It is easy to make your case for contract management software and its ability to positively transform contract lifecycle management processes.  With so many user-friendly contract management software features at your disposal, it can be overwhelming to plan precisely how to utilize contract management software for your organization's needs.  But it does not have to be.  To that end, here are four fundamental contract management software features to get you started with better contract administration in the age of legal operations digital transformation.

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    Enforce Contract Data Archival and Retention Easily With CLM Software

    By Joshua Hansen on 04/14/22

    Archiving and retaining contract data can prove challenging without the proper tools and procedures.  Contract data archival and retention processes can vary based on categorization, legality, and compliance variables.  Fortunately, leading contract management software can help sort through noise with the help of a secure contract repository, automated workflows, and timely notifications.

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    The Top 3 Contract Management Technology Trends of 2022

    By Sean Heck on 04/12/22

    This blog was originally published on September 15th, 2021.

    The world of contract administration has evolved drastically in recent years.  Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the embrace of digital transformation over obsolete legal operations methods, organizations must embrace automated contract management software tools that support remote contract collaboration and intelligent workflow automation.  As such, here are the top three contract management technology tools that organizations should leverage.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for March 2022

    By Sean Heck on 04/11/22

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from March?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in April by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    Enhance Corporate Compliance and Risk Management With CLM Software

    By Sean Heck on 04/7/22

    Corporate compliance and risk management are critical for the success of a contract.  Organizations need to be aware of potential exposure to financial risk, legal penalties, breaches of contract, and other risks while adhering to industry laws, government regulations, internal policies, and other compliance rules.  Failure to do so can result in a lack of corporate compliance, contract failure, lawsuits, a compromised reputation, data leakage, and worse.  Luckily, organizations can leverage leading contract management software to enhance corporate compliance and risk management.  Here's how.

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    6 Problems Faced in Contract Management (And How To Solve Them)

    By Sean Heck on 04/5/22

    As contract management is a multi-faceted process with numerous steps and moving parts, it is easy for your organization to face problems.  This risk of contract management issues is significantly increased if your organization leverages manual or antiquated contract management tools.  To elucidate the CLM hardships you face and encourage growth - here is a list of six problems you might encounter in contract management.  After that, we can note how to solve such issues with contract management software.

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    4 Important Contract Management Performance Metrics

    By Bradford Jones on 04/4/22

    When managing contracts, performance monitoring is one of the most important ways to measure success.  With a large variety of contracts, all with different terms, it can be difficult to know how you should assess contract management performance.  Luckily, you can boil down the success of each contract, no matter the complexity, to four key contract management performance metrics. Read on to discover how contract management software can help you optimize four key contract management performance metrics.

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    CobbleStone® Recognized as a High Performer in G2 Spring 2022 Reports

    By Joshua Hansen on 03/31/22

    We are pleased to announce that CobbleStone Contract Insight® Enterprise is recognized as a High Performer for Contract Lifecycle Management and Vendor Management in the G2 Spring 2022 Reports.  Such acknowledgment further establishes CobbleStone Software as a world-class contract management software provider.  Read on to learn more about CobbleStone Contract Insight Enterprise's robust features and high user satisfaction that support its standing as a High Performer in the G2 Spring 2022 Reports.

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    5 Key Stages in Awarding a Contract

    By Sean Heck on 03/29/22

    Awarding a contract is a complex, multi-faceted process.  There is room for error and missed opportunities without the right strategy.  This blog will delve into the five critical stages in awarding a contract and how to seamlessly navigate these stages with leading contract management software tools.

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    6 Ways Contract Creation Software Can Improve Your Contracting Process

    By Sean Heck on 03/28/22

    Contract creation is a multi-faceted process.  Without the proper procedures, your organization can suffer from increased risk, drawn-out contract lifecycle times, and missed opportunities - among other deleterious consequences.  Contract documents and data stored on spreadsheets, email servers, and shared drives alone can result in lost contract documents and versions.  Back-and-forth contract drafting via email can result in slow collaboration times and unclear document versions.  An inadequate clause management process can result in the wrong clauses being included in contracts and missed opportunities.  Wet contract signatures can result in long send-to-sign times and costly postage expenses.  What's more, risk can increase, resulting in lost revenue, data leakage, lawsuits, and more.  Fortunately, you can leverage contract management software to avoid sending your contract creation process into a tailspin.  To that end, here are six ways contract creation software can improve your contracting process.

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    CobbleStone Contract Insight® 17.11.0: Master New Tools to Enhance CLM

    By Sean Heck on 03/22/22

    CobbleStone Software's latest version – CobbleStone Contract Insight® Enterprise 17.11.0 – has come, introducing next-level CLM features and enhancements for you to master to bring your contract management software platform to the next level!

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    Is It Time to Hire a Full-Time Legal Reviewer or Paralegal?

    By Mark Nastasi on 03/21/22

    Over the last year, our clients - legal professionals - have expressed their seemingly increased workload for reviewing contract documents, negotiating agreements, and signing contracts.  Recently, I was asked: "When do you know it is time to hire a full-time legal professional for contract management and legal review?" Considering the innumerable times I've been asked this question, I resolved to write a thorough and thoughtful response as a blog that aligns with our audience of contract management software users and prospective CLM users as well.  Discover 5 steps to determine if you need to hire a full-time legal reviewer or paralegal.

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    What Is Vendor Management Software?

    By Sean Heck on 03/4/22

    Vendor management efficiency is critical for organizations to reap the highest ROI from vendor relations.  Unfortunately, many organizations still rely on vendor management methods that depend on costly pay-per-solicitations, unclear selection of the best possible vendors, tracking vendor insurance certificates manually, decentralized vendor management and contract management processes, and other deleterious procedures.  Luckily, you can automate these processes and more with vendor management software.  But what exactly is vendor management software?  Let's improve your processes with integrated vendor management and contract management software.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for February 2022

    By Sean Heck on 03/3/22

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from February?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management software and procurement best practices in February by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    CobbleStone® at Legalweek 2022: See AI-powered CLM Software in Action

    By Joshua Hansen on 03/1/22

    CobbleStone Software will be exhibiting its industry-leading and AI-backed CLM software, CobbleStone Contract Insight®, during the Legalweek conference from March 8th – 11th, 2022, at the New York Hilton Midtown in Manhattan – offering Legalweek attendees the opportunity to see AI-powered legal contract management software in action. 

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    5 Procurement Contract Management Best Practices to Blast Off in 2022

    By Sean Heck on 02/28/22

    Recent developments in procurement process digital transformation have made it more possible than ever to streamline procurement contract management processes and blast off into the sky to robust procurement and contract management software processes.  As such - if your organization is leveraging outdated procurement tools such as disparate spreadsheets, manual filing cabinets, a basic contract database, limited bid outreach, manually collecting bid responses via email, bottleneck-prone procurement contract management task management, disparate vendor management via emails, and others - you could suffer from failure to launch.  Luckily, you can leverage a one-stop-shop solution for the processes mentioned above and more.  To prepare for takeoff into positively transforming your strategy, here are five procurement contract management best practices to navigate 2022 and beyond with increased governance, procurement centralization, and ROI.

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    5 Ways Contract AI Can Automate Contract Lifecycle Management in 2022

    By Sean Heck on 02/17/22

    As we navigate 2022, it is clear that contract artificial intelligence - or contract AI - is sharpening contract management software practices and broader legal operations in significant ways.  How exactly can your organization leverage contract intelligence to automate and streamline contract lifecycle management?  Read on to learn five ways contract AI is positively transforming contract lifecycle management operations in 2022.

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    IntelliSign® eSignatures Streamline Remote Contract Collaboration

    By Sean Heck on 02/14/22

    As digitization continues to transform the workplace and working remotely is more commonplace, contract management professionals in a myriad of industries need the right digital tools to keep contract management, procurement, and sourcing operations running smoothly. Read on to learn how IntelliSign® electronic signatures within CobbleStone Contract Insight®  contract management software, can streamline your contract collaboration and signing processes in the office and on the go.

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    Contract Workflows - The Parts of Your Contract Software Symphony

    By Sean Heck on 02/11/22

    It's showtime, conductor.  You have just taken the metaphorical stage, grabbed your baton, and you are ready to conduct a contract management software symphony with a harmonious contract workflow process.  But how can you leverage contract workflow automation tools to make sure your CLM concerto is streamlined and simplified in a manner that is pleasing to the ear?  Read on to find out!

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    The Contract Management Suite - Your 5-Star CLM Software Experience

    By Sean Heck on 02/9/22

    After dealing with exhausting manual contract management software best practices, you are searching online for a pleasant, relaxing stay in a contract management suite.  There are many leading contract management software platforms out there, but only leading solutions offer the amenities you need to kick back and enjoy improved legal operations.  To virtually ensure you have the best possible CLM experience, here are the amenities you should look for in your contract management suite.

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    CobbleStone Software Blog Recap for January 2022

    By Joshua Hansen on 02/8/22

    Did you miss any of our blog posts from January?  Don't worry; we have outlined each of them for you.  Stay up-to-date with industry topics, real-world case studies, and contract management and procurement best practices in February by reading the latest CobbleStone® content.

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    The 2022 CobbleStone® “Roadshow” – Launch Into the Future of CLM!

    By Tyler Holzer on 02/4/22

    The CobbleStone "Roadshow"* is coming to a computer near you this year!  These masterclass and CobbleStone Contract Insight training events - Launch Into The Future Of Contract Management - are offered to help CobbleStone users optimize their contract management software and eProcurement procedures while offering non-CobbleStone users an immersive, preliminary venture into CobbleStone Contract Insight®.  Read on to discover what attendees can anticipate at The 2022 CobbleStone Contract Management "Roadshow."

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    Optimize Contract Creation Management in 3 Steps

    By Joshua Hansen on 02/3/22

    Contract creation management plays a vital role in the contract lifecycle, where contract contributors band together to form a cohesive contract.  However - inefficient contract creation management can stem from unorganized contract templates, obsolete contract language, and subcontracts divorced from original contract versions.  Read on to discover how leading contract management software can help streamline contract creation management in three steps.

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    New CobbleStone Contract Insight® Contract Management Software Wiki!

    By Adam Widmeier on 02/1/22

    The CobbleStone Contract Insight Wiki Has Moved!

    The CobbleStone Contract Insight Wiki has been drastically refreshed to provide a unique and conducive experience across contract management software system areas!  Here at CobbleStone, we are incredibly excited to introduce users to a contract management software Wiki to quickly address their contract lifecycle management software needs.  Whether you have been using CobbleStone® as your go-to contract software solution for days, weeks, months, or even years, there's a good chance that you are not familiar with every single detail the system has to offer.  Luckily, the new CobbleStone Contract Insight Wiki can allow you to follow along for a more streamlined and visually-engaging learning experience - complete with visual examples and walkthroughs.  Read on to learn how to navigate the new CobbleStone Contract Insight Documentation Wiki with ease!

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    Contract Management and Negotiation - A Delicious Recipe for Success

    By Sean Heck on 01/28/22

    As a contract management professional, you must be able to cook up a deliciously low-friction contract negotiations process.  However, without a centralized and organized system for contract negotiations, you can end up burning the meal for all contract lifecycle management stakeholders at the table.  But fear not: leading contract management software can be the secret ingredient to a savory, delectable contract negotiations process.  Read on to learn how.

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    How to Redline Contract Documents Better With Contract Software

    By Sean Heck on 01/21/22

    Redlining a contract document can prove to be an arduous facet of contract negotiations.  Collaborating with stakeholders to redline contract documents with outdated methods such as back and forth sharing of MS Word documents, sporadic emails, and disorganized shared drives can cause contract negotiation bottlenecks.  But there is a better way.  Start leveraging leading contract management software and enjoy online contract redlining for enhanced contract negotiations.

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    9 Must Read Contract Management Resources for Spring 2019

    By Maria Votlucka on 01/20/22

    ntractCobbleStone Software supports contract management, procurement, and legal professionals by releasing content to help you improve how you manage contracts. Whether you are managing ten contracts each year for a small business, or 100K contracts or more each year for a Fortune 500 company, we’ve created resources to supplement your contract management training and education, so you can be successful in your role and get the most value out of your organization’s contracts.

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    3 Contract Compliance Management Challenges Solved With CLM Software

    By Joshua Hansen on 01/19/22

    Contract compliance management can be challenging when leveraging primarily manual methods, such as spreadsheet management – especially when tracking multiple contracts with varying compliance standards.  Fortunately, contract lifecycle management (CLM) software tools can help remedy contract compliance management challenges.  Read on to discover how you can solve three contract compliance management challenges with leading contract management software.

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    5 Key Advantages of Online Contracts

    By Joshua Hansen on 01/18/22

    Managing contracts can be challenging for legal, procurement, and contract management professionals - especially when primarily relying on outdated tools such as spreadsheets, emails, and shared drives.  Without leveraging the advantages of online contracts within a leading contract lifecycle management software platform, you can find yourself running into compliance issues and minimizing contract value – among other setbacks.  Contract lifecycle management requires careful planning, the right technology, a well-planned contract strategy, and strong online contract management processes.  Fortunately, leading contract management software can help streamline your online contract management process flow.  Read on to discover five key advantages of online contracts.

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    4 Different Phases of Contract Management & How to Tackle Them

    By Sean Heck on 01/14/22

    Contract management is a multi-faceted process.  Without oversight over each stage in the life of a contract, your organization can suffer from process bottlenecks, missed contract obligations and tasks, wasted time, lawsuits, decreased revenue, and missed opportunities - to name a few.  Fortunately, you can increase your ROI by better understanding approaching contract management.  Here are the four phases of contract management and how to tackle them with contract management software.

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    6 Reasons Why Contract Management Is Necessary

    By Sean Heck on 01/11/22

    Contract management is a process that has been embraced by contract professionals of numerous industries worldwide.  But why do organizations need contract management?  Read on to discover six reasons why contract management is necessary - and how you can positively transform contract management with user-friendly contract management software.

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    4 Contract Visibility Tools To Prevent Lost Contract Management Value

    By Sean Heck on 01/6/22

    Contract visibility during contract management can be hard to maintain.  Without the right tools for successful contract oversight, your organization can lose sight of contracts.  Up-to-date contract document versions can be scattered amongst outdated ones.  Contracts and contract data can be lost or misplaced if stored improperly.  Contracts can be difficult to access and yield meaningful insights from with tedious and error-prone searching methods.  Key dates and milestones can be missed - causing contract lifecycle bottlenecks, missed obligations, and compliance issues.  Luckily, it doesn't need to be this way.  Read on to discover four contract visibility tools with user-friendly contract management software.

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