CLM Hub:
Your Essential Guide

Choosing a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) solution is a big opportunity for your business, but how should you begin? Let’s dive into the key CLM essentials you need to know.

Explore our CLM Hub

From understanding the CLM process, how it all works, to the benefits it creates.
Explore all of this and more in our CLM Hub.

What is a CLM? Definition and meaning

What is a CLM?

Contract lifecycle management (CLM) is the management of a business’ contracts covering all parts of the contract journey, from creation, to review, to analysis, to renewal.

Implementing a robust CLM strategy can greatly benefit businesses by improving efficiency, reducing legal and financial risks and accelerating business revenue.

In legal, we don’t purchase a ton of software. But when we do, we need it to work. Summize made the AI integration so simple that we had no pushback from our team. Everyone was excited because it’s a tool that helps us move faster, not something that complicates our jobs.
Kimberly Trull
Head of Legal at Matillion

What is the CLM process?

Even though each contract and each business is different, the contract lifecycle can be quite similar in terms of the process.

To help you understand the most common CLM process, we have put together the six stages of contract lifecycle management. From creation, to execution, to reporting.

Learn more about all six stages of the CLM process.

The CLM stages and process

What are the CLM benefits?

Reduced risk with a CLM solution

Reduced risk

Leading CLM software breaks down contractual information into easy-to-read summaries, highlighting risk and including comments, red flags and notes.

faster revenue generation with a CLM solution

Faster revenue generation

CLM software reduces legal bottlenecks, helps sales teams self-serve and ultimately accelerates the contract sales-cycles, enabling sales teams to close deals faster.

Uncover data with a CLM solution

Uncovered key data

The best CLM tools reveal hidden data, helping stakeholders uncover patterns, assess risks and identify opportunities, empowering them to make informed business decisions driven by insights.

We've managed to close deals about 40% faster, and we've shaved the deal length down to 4 months from 8 months. So, the business is loving us right now.
Martin Cotterill
General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer at Thought Machine

What is the best CLM software?

The once underserved market of CLM is now overflowing with vendors, all with a different approach. Seeing a huge range of features can make you want them all, even if they are not the most useful or necessary for your team.

We've narrowed down the best contract lifecycle management software on the market, to help you identify the essential features you should consider in your search for your CLM solution.

The best CLM software
CLM implementation

Considerations for a successful CLM implementation

CLM implementation is a process that requires strategic foresight and careful execution. From understanding how your chosen CLM provider executes your implementation plan, to making sure your entire business is prepared.

Learn more about how to avoid common pitfalls in your CLM implementation and gather expert tips for a successful contract management rollout.

FAQs about CLM

What does CLM mean?

CLM is short for Contract Lifecycle Management. Contract Lifecycle Management refers to the end-to-end process of effectively managing contracts throughout their lifecycle. From pre- to post-signature.

In our guide, learn how CLM works.

What is the purpose of CLM?

Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) automates the entire contract lifecycle, digitalising and automating each process. This enables businesses to improve their efficiency, eliminate delays, mitigate risk and enhance cross-functional collaboration.

In our guide, learn even more about the purpose and benefits of CLM.

What is CLM software?

Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) software is a tool that helps organisations manage their contract portfolio throughout the contract's entire lifecycle.

In our guide, learn how CLM software works.

Who uses CLM?

Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) can be used by businesses of all shapes and sizes. Typically the in-house legal team or General Counsel will take ownership of CLM software, but non-legal teams such as sales, HR, procurement and finance also benefit from CLM solutions.

In our guide, learn even more about the use and benefits of CLM.

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