Enterprise Contract Management offers numerous features that you will find from the leading vendors. Those features generally include:
1. Robust Repository for all contracts and related attachments
2. Automatic email alerts and notifications for key dates and milestones
3. Graphical Workflow System
4. Automating the management and monitoring of every step
5. Sophisticated searching and reporting
6. Personalized Dashboard

This article will discuss a few features that are not as common. However, you should consider the benefits they provide to a hosted contract management system that might be used by your organization.

Mobile access

Being able to access your system from any device is not only convenient; it is a necessity in today’s environment. This feature gives your users the ability to immediately obtain critical information from any location worldwide. It can also help accelerate the complete of a request/approval in your workflow process. Users are more likely to respond to that activity via the phone vs. logging into a separate system. This can changed a stalled process into an approved agreement simply by providing a mobile interface.

Contract Editing in Mass

Editing one contract at a time is the normal process. However, there are times that you wish to change numerous contracts that have data in common. Mass editing generally enables their editing process by selecting the contacts they wish to edit by filtering on multiple fields. They typically are presented a series of fields in a spreadsheet type interface. Now, the user can edit all of the contracts at one time viewing them in a spreadsheet type interface while leveraging the contract system business rules. Again, this is a very efficient process for editing multiple agreements that have some commonality.

Auto Complete Agreements

Auto Complete options are typically a comprehensive document / contract automation feature. It facilitates the creation and sharing of multiple documents by fetching data entered into the contract management repository. One can typically link template agreements to be completed via the mapping of repository fields into the agreement. You can link unlimited document templates to be completed via the mapping of merge fields. Benefits include the elimination of errors and assure consistency, expediting the completion of contracts, requests, quotes, etc. and being able to leverage an unlimited number of templates.

Custom Data Fields

Some people believe that everyone has true custom fields in contract management software. Unfortunately, many vendors have a fixed number of fields only allow you to create some basic text fields. Be sure that you can leverage an unlimited number of custom fields to be associated with whatever contract type you desire. You will also want to be able change the captions that will typically appear on the screen and report. It is not unusual for users to change their description after using a system for a period of time. Some of the more popular types of fields should include:

Auto increment establish starting value and increment
Checkbox Yes/no indication
Currency Properly format any dollar amounts associated with your contract
Date Calendar popup and picker for enter the date
Email [email protected]
Multiple Drop Down drop down field with the ability to check more than one (you define the drop down values)
Paragraph essentially unlimited text for your contract
Phone (555)-123-4567
Drop Down drop down with a single option that can be selected
Text box basic text content for a field

Having these custom fields assures you that only the contract information that is relevant to the type of agreement appears on the screen and reports.This will save time and eliminate confusion.For More information www.contractguardian.com