Saturday, March 27, 2010

How to Organize Your Contracts With Contract Management Software

One of the main purposes of contract management software is to keep your contracts organized so that you can tell with only a little looking that your contracts have been followed or that you have commitments on your side of a contract that need to be followed soon. Many businesses use this software to make the organization of their contracts much easier and you can also organize contracts for your small business with contract management software.

Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Use the software to make new contracts. By using contract management software to develop your contracts you not only ensure that your contracts abide by laws, but you are also putting each new contract directly into the system so that it will already be easily accessible when you need it.

  2. Step 2

    Make sure all of your contracts are added to the system. Even if the terms of the contract is up, you should always have a record of contracts to ensure that if there are ever any legal actions taken you can have proof available to show that you've complied with your side of any contract.

  3. Step 3

    Set your system up in an organization that you can easily use. If you try to organize it in ways that you've never used before, you'll find yourself losing track of contracts. Keep it organized in your preferred method, whether that means by name, date or other information.

  4. Step 4

    Choose the settings that suit your needs and business better, such as reminders that a contract has been complied with or that someone has paid too little according to their contract. This software has the capability of putting in terms of a contract such as discounts, interest or other such items and telling you if the amount is correct. If not, you can take action.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_5922468_organize-contracts-contract-management-software.html

How to Get Contract Management Software Personalized for Your Needs

Contract management software can be very useful to many businesses because it keeps track of contracts and ensures that the making of a new contract is simple. Unfortunately, it is often not personalized and that can be a problem for some businesses. When you want to have your contract management software personalized for your business, you need to do more than simply buy the software.

Difficulty: Easy Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Find out if the company that makes the software has any personalization options. Typically the site that you are buying from will make it clear if there are personalization options. If you find that there aren't, you might want to find a different company that does offer customized software or you might want to find out if the company has any suggestions for your needs. They might have the customization options built into the software, so if you are unsure, you should call their customer service and ask.

  2. Step 2

    If the company doesn't offer any options for customized software, see if you can take the software to a programmer for personalized options. Many programmers might be able to take the software and give you back something that is more suitable for your business. For some businesses, a small change can be all you need for the software to be something you can more easily use.

  3. Step 3

    In the case that you cannot get the software customized, you might need to work with the software to make something a bit more personal. This last option will take time on your part, so if you don't have the time to mess with the software, you should stick with the less personal touch and use the software as it was designed until you are able to find the time to work with it.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_5922473_contract-management-software-personalized-needs.html

Contract Management Software

Contract Management Software allows organizations to effectively manage the various types of contracts they engage in, including: buy side, sell side, and non monetary.

This type of software can help an organization:

  • create boiler plate templates that would help in ensuring consistent contract creation that has been sanctioned by the organization's legal group,
  • assist in versioning documents during negotiation and award phases,
  • manage the tender / pre-contract phases of agreements ensuring that a buildup of corporate knowledge may be used for ongoing management of the contract,
  • instill contract governance rules so that each type of contract follows a pre-defined or dynamic workflow but always ensures it is within the organization's established conduct, promoting corporate consistency of process and accountability,
  • ensure visibility is available across all contracts to the authorized people,
  • notify stakeholders of impending trigger points ensuring that contract management is pro-active, not re-active,
  • validate payments, deliverables, commitments and compliance terms that are established in the actual contract, and
  • ensure compliance to negotiated terms and conditions including rates, discounts, and rebates.

Both Gartner Group and Forrester Research cover contracts management software in their respective analyst reports.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract_management_software