Most contract work doesn’t need deep legal thinking. It needs time, and lots of it.

You probably spend a good chunk of your day drafting boilerplate, reviewing the same language again and again, and performing other menial and repetitive steps.

Luckily, these are the kinds of tasks that contract automation is quietly taking over.

As legal tech professor Gabe Teninbaum puts it, tools powered by AI are already starting to handle the routine tasks, like drafting, reviewing, and even negotiation, so legal teams can focus on the parts that require legal judgment.

This shift is what contract automation is really about. Here's what that looks like in practice, how it works behind the scenes, and which tools are actually worth your time.

What is Contract Automation?

Contract automation isn’t one fixed process. Rather, it’s more of an umbrella term. There’s no single way to do it, and that’s kind of the point. It just means using software to take over the parts of contract work that slow you down. How you set it up depends on what you need.

Some teams just want a simple template they can fill out without messing with formatting every time. Others need full approval flows, signature tracking, reminders, contract storage, and reporting to be all automated.

Plus, you can automate just the first step (like generating the contract), or go all-in and automate the whole thing from draft to signature to storage.

Some tools plug into your CRM and send contracts the second a deal hits a certain stage. Others handle contract review or kick-off reminders when contracts are about to expire.

So if someone says they’re automating contracts, they might mean five different things. That’s the idea. You build what works for your team and skip the parts you don’t need. Now, how do these tools work?

The Tech Behind Contract Automation

Let’s break down what’s really going on when you automate contracts. You’re using tools and clear rules to take care of the repeat steps. Here’s what’s usually involved:

• Templates: Create reusable contract templates with fill-in-the-blank fields. The system pulls in names, dates, and deal terms automatically.
• Workflows: Set up simple rules, like who approves, who signs, and when reminders go out. Once built, the system follows them every time.
• E-signatures: Send and sign documents electronically. You can monitor who viewed it and who still hasn’t signed.
• Storage and search: Signed contracts are stored with version history and search filters. You can find what you need in seconds.
• Reminders: Get notified when contracts are about to expire or need a follow-up.
• Integrations: Most tools connect with CRMs, cloud storage, and billing platforms, so contracts move through your full workflow.

Some tools also add artificial intelligence to speed things up even more. For example, AI can suggest clauses based on deal type, highlight risky language, and flag missing terms before the contract goes out. It can also compare changes across versions and point out what’s different.

For legal teams dealing with a high volume of contracts, this cuts review time and lowers the chance of errors slipping through.

What Are The Benefits Of Contract Automation?

Contract automation cuts down the manual work that usually slows things down. It keeps contract processes moving, starting from contract creation and continuing through the entire contract lifecycle, by handling the steps most teams waste time on.

Here’s what it improves:

• Faster contract creation: Use templates to build and send contracts in less time.
• Fewer delays: Set up automated steps so contracts move forward automatically.
• Fewer errors: Pre-approved language and smart fields reduce the chance of missing or incorrect info.
• Clear tracking: See where each contract stands, like who’s opened it, who signed, and what’s waiting.
• No skipped contract renewals: Get alerts before contracts expire, so you can follow up early or renegotiate on time.
• Organized storage: Keep contracts in one searchable system instead of scattered folders or inboxes.
• Better insight: Spot patterns and bottlenecks across the full lifecycle.
• Fits with your workflow: Contract management software often connects with tools you already use.

Top 5 Contract Automation Tools

Once you’ve seen how much time and effort this can save, the next step is choosing the right tool. Not every team needs the same setup, so it helps to know what’s out there.

Below are some of the top contract automation tools, each with a slightly different focus, depending on how your team works and what you need.

1. Aline

If contracts eat up way too much of your week, Aline is built for you. It’s an AI-powered platform that helps legal, sales, and finance teams skip the slow parts. That includes contract drafting, redlining, approvals, all of it.

Using Aline means no more switching between Word, DocuSign, and long email threads. Aline keeps everything in one place and cuts your contract turnaround down to minutes, not days.

The standout feature? Real legal AI that actually understands contracts. We're not talking about auto-fill or copy-paste. Aline’s AI reads the document, knows your playbook, and points out what’s off (or just fixes it for you).

With Aline, you can review third-party contracts, ask complex questions across thousands of agreements, or have it draft something from scratch.

Best Features

• Aline AI: Draft and redline contracts with speed and precision. You don’t have to fix formatting or follow every edit yourself.
• AI Playbooks: It pulls your preferred terms from templates you've already approved. That way, everyone stays consistent when reviewing or redlining.
• Aline Associate: Ask specific questions, like which NDAs are missing key clauses, and get answers instantly. It works across single contracts or entire libraries.
• AlineSign: Aline comes with unlimited e-signatures built in. You won’t need extra tools just to get documents signed.
• AI contract repository: Every signed agreement is stored in one central place. You can search by keyword or pull insights straight from the contracts.
• Workflows: Approvals, reviews, and sign-offs happen automatically once your process is set up. Teams stay in sync without needing manual check-ins.
• Security-first: Aline is SOC II certified and uses strong encryption. It doesn’t train on your data or expose sensitive info.

Pros

• Cuts review time by more than half
• Handles complex agreements
• Makes legal work easier for everyone, not just lawyers
• Designed for fast-growing teams that need to move quickly
• No bouncing between tools

Start your 21-day free trial today!

2. Juro

Juro is a contract automation solution suitable for teams that want to manage contracts without jumping between apps. It covers the full process, including drafting, reviewing, approving, signing, and storing, right in your browser.

It’s built to make managing contracts easier for everyone. Legal teams stay in control of contract terms and templates, while business teams can move deals forward without bottlenecks. 

Everything happens in one place, so it’s easy to track what’s going on and who needs to take action.

Best Features

• In-browser contract editor: Draft and update agreements without downloading or switching tools. The editor is built for speed and clarity.
• Real-time contract collaboration: Add comments, suggest edits, and loop in stakeholders right inside the contract. Everyone works on the same version.
• Automated contract templates: Create reusable templates that legal approves once. Teams can then launch new contracts in minutes.
• Built-in e-signatures: Send contracts for signing without needing third-party tools.
• Structured contract data: Store every signed agreement with searchable fields, filters, and tags. Pull reports or find specific contract terms quickly.
• CRM integration: Syncs with Salesforce and HubSpot so contracts stay tied to your pipeline.

Pros

• Handles the full contract workflow
• Minimizes back-and-forth between legal and business teams
• Keeps contract data organized and easy to search
• Helps teams move faster while maintaining control over contract terms

3. Agiloft

Agiloft is a contract lifecycle management platform that works well for companies with complex processes, multiple departments, or specific rules around approvals. If you’ve got more than just a few sales agreements or NDAs to manage, Agiloft gives you room to build exactly what you need.

This platform isn’t just for legal. Procurement, sales, HR—any team dealing with contracts can use it. You can automate contract management tasks, keep tabs on contract status, and even generate contracts based on specific triggers or forms.

Best Features

• Custom workflows: Build detailed approval and review flows without writing code.
• Clause library: Store approved clauses and insert them into contracts as needed. Keeps legal language consistent and accurate.
• Automated contract creation: Generate contracts from templates using form inputs, CRM data, or internal requests.
• Detailed reporting: Track contract status, performance, and key terms with flexible dashboards and filters.
• Role-based access: Control who can view, edit, or approve different types of agreements.
• Integrations: Works with Salesforce, Microsoft 365, and more to keep your systems aligned.

Pros

• Great for teams implementing contract automation software across departments
• Helps standardize how sales agreements and legal documents are created
• Supports detailed contract management tasks
• Scales well as your business grows or your process changes

4. ContractWorks

ContractWorks is a lightweight contract management tool built for speed, not bells and whistles. It focuses on the basics, such as signing, tracking, and storing contracts.

If your team doesn’t need a full-scale platform but still wants to automate parts of the contract process, ContractWorks gets the job done.

It’s a solid option for legal and sales teams looking to solve common contract automation problems without a complicated setup. You can launch contracts quickly, automate contract approvals, and monitor contract status from a simple dashboard.

Best Features

• Pre-approved clauses: Create templates with standard terms already in place. This makes contract creation faster and keeps language consistent.
• Automated contract workflows: Set up approval steps, alerts, and signature flows so contracts move without constant check-ins.
• E-signatures built in: Sign documents right in the system.
• Smart tagging and search: Organize contracts with custom tags and find what you need in seconds.
• Access controls: Limit who can view, edit, or sign contracts across teams.

Pros

• A good fit for sales teams that want fast, simple sales contract automation
• Helps standardize the contract creation process with pre-approved clauses
• Uses automated workflows to speed things up and reduce back-and-forth
• Easy to adopt for teams with limited bandwidth or tight deadlines

5. Zoho Contracts

Zoho Contracts is part of the larger Zoho suite, designed for businesses that want their contract work to connect with other systems they already use. It’s an integrated contract automation software that helps teams manage the full contract process.

This platform is especially useful for legal and operations teams looking to automate routine contract tasks. With built-in templates, approval flows, and smart tracking, Zoho Contracts takes care of repetitive tasks and gives you better control over timelines and contract execution.

Best Features

• Automated contract creation: Build contracts from templates using form data to keep things consistent.
• Approval workflows: Route contracts for review, edits, or sign-off based on your team’s structure.
• Obligation tracking: Set reminders and follow-ups for key contractual obligations so nothing gets missed.
• Centralized dashboard: See contract status, owners, deadlines, and risks in one place.
• No manual data entry: Pull in details from Zoho CRM or other connected tools to speed up the process.
• Audit trails and reporting: Monitor activity and performance across your contract portfolio.

Pros

• Connects well with other Zoho tools for smoother contract management automation
• Cuts down manual data entry and repetitive tasks
• Allows teams to finalize contracts faster with fewer errors
• Keeps contractual obligations visible and easy to follow up on

Make Contract Work Less Work With Aline

From fast-growing startups to legal departments buried in paperwork, teams are turning to automation to improve contract performance and get out of reactive mode.

But how do you start automating your contract workflow?

You don’t need a massive overhaul to get started. You just need the right tool that fits your workflow and takes care of the details.

Aline gives you that kind of system. It solves contract automation across legal, sales, and operations. However, it doesn't add more platforms or steps. The entire process stays in sync and on track from drafting all the way up to signing.

Want to stop chasing contracts and start closing them? Try Aline today!

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FAQs About Contract Automation

How does contract automation work?

Contract automation refers to using software to manage repetitive steps in the contract process. It helps draft contracts, route them for approval, send them for signatures, and track progress, without relying on manual processes like email chains or spreadsheets.

What is an automated contract?

An automated contract is a digital contract that moves through key steps using rules set in advance. For example, once someone fills out a form, the system can generate a contract automatically using standardized contract templates, then send it to the right person to approve.

What are the four types of automation?

There are four common types of automation in contractual processes:

1. Contract generation – Creating contracts from templates based on deal details or form inputs
2. Contract review – Speeding up legal checks with AI or automated approval workflows
3. Contract tracking – Monitoring contract status, important contract dates, and renewals
4. Contract storage and reporting – Storing legal agreements in a centralized space with search and reporting tools

What is the best AI tool for contract management?

That depends on your team size, process, and goals. If you're looking for an AI-powered tool that handles contract negotiation, approval, and review in one system, Aline is a strong choice. It supports legal teams, sales, and contract owners in managing employment agreements, digital contracts, and other legal documents from start to finish.

How does contract automation simplify contract work?

Contract automation solves the slow, manual parts of creating and managing agreements. With automated templates, teams can generate contracts faster, route them for approval, and follow progress. It keeps the negotiation process moving by using pre-approved language and cutting down edits. This helps close deals quicker and reduces the risk of legal disputes by keeping terms consistent and easy to review at every stage.

How do you choose the best contract automation tool?

Start by looking at where your contracts slow down, like the sales process, legal processes, and HR workflows. The right tool should reduce time-consuming tasks like drafting, tracking, and managing approvals. It should also fit into your existing systems so you’re not rebuilding your workflow from scratch. HR teams might focus on templates for employment agreements, while legal may need detailed approval processes. Sales will care about speed and visibility. The best fit is the one that brings measurable cost savings and actually removes friction across teams.