Contract Insights

Contracts are living documents that are frequently revisited by parties, counterparties, auditors, and other regulatory bodies. Ever wondered what happens when a contract is changed and no one remembers who made that change? That's where a contract audit trail comes in. What about when a company is being audited or needs to prove several compliances? Ding ding ding! Audit trails. Speaking of compliance, Gartner reports that 97% of Chief Audit Executives (CAEs) have included "Regulatory Compliance" as a top-priority area in their 2026 audit plans¹. Whether you are being audited, checking on compliance, or just need to revisit the terms of a contract, contract audit trails are here to help. Here's how.

Imagine you're at the park when - suddenly - a baseball is flying at your face at full speed. Do you wait for it to hit your face and then deal with the consequences? Well, of course not. Instead, you instinctively put your hand up as soon as you see the object meteoring toward you. But how does this apply to contract management?

2026 will see the continuation of recent trends pertaining to increased regulatory scrutiny and elevated risk from missed obligations. According to Gartner, legal and compliance department investment in governance, risk, and compliance tools will increase 50% by 2026¹ - and it's clear to see why! Modern CLM software - such as CobbleStone Contract Insight^® - helps automate obligation oversight, reduce risk, and get a firm grasp on compliance. Here's how.

Vendor management in 2026 is more critical than ever. Increased third-party risk. Compliance changes. Far-reaching digital transformation. It's all cause for a shift in strategy. What's more, there are very real consequences to poor vendor oversight. Breaches and compliance failures could leave your organization's reputation and standing at risk. According to a 2024 study published by Prevalent, a whopping 61% of organizations reported a third-party breach or security incident in the past year¹. Thankfully, a robust strategy and vendor management software tools can help address modern vendor management challenges!