While the promise of automation, visibility, and compliance sounds great in a demo, behind the scenes, decision makers fear implementing a system that nobody uses despite months of effort. So, how do you avoid that? By focusing not just on the technology but also on the people and processes around it.
Taking lessons from our experience working with some of the biggest companies, we reveal what works and what doesn’t when it comes to CLM adoption. From bringing the right people into the process to rolling out in manageable phases, these insights come straight from the teams that have lived the change.
Here are the five key lessons to help ensure your CLM doesn’t just go live but takes off.
- Bring everyone to the table early
You’re missing the point if your CLM rollout is driven solely by legal or procurement. Instead of limiting the rollout to legal or procurement, consider bringing in a cross-functional group of change champions early in the process, bring sales, finance, HR, and even a few skeptics. You don’t need the entire team from day one, but involving a few key voices across departments builds broader understanding and stronger buy-in from the start.
Why include someone who might resist change? Because they’ll ask the tough questions others won’t, and once they are on board, their support helps drive broader adoption. Involving representatives from across departments also ensures everyone’s needs are considered early, and no one feels blindsided later. That’s how you turn resistance into ownership.
- Understand where you are before defining where you’re going
Before you can improve your process, you must understand it in detail. That means documenting how contracts flow through your organization, from how requests are submitted, how approvals are granted, where delays arise, and which redlines tend to hold things up.
Once you’ve mapped out the current state and challenges, you can visualize the ideal workflow. Where do you need automation? Where do you need better visibility? This gap between where you are now and where you want to be becomes your roadmap for successful implementation.
- Communicate early, clearly, and often
If there’s one thing that comes up again and again, it’s communication. Successful teams don’t just roll out new tools; they roll out clear messaging around why the processes were changing, what to expect, and how it would help. Many smartContract CLM’s clients used a countdown-style campaign to generate excitement before launch, while their change champions ensured consistent updates flowed across departments.
The formula? Tell them what’s coming. Tell them again, and then remind them what just happened. People accept change more readily when they understand it and feel involved.
- Start small, build trust, and scale
Don’t try to do everything at once. Several clients started with a simple use case like launching a central contract repository. It helped teams get familiar with the platform and gave effective early results. Once data was cleaned and user confidence grew, they expanded into workflow automation, clause libraries, and integrations like CRM or ERP.
This staged approach allowed flexibility to change when needed and built trust that the system worked. CLM platforms are built to evolve, giving your teams space to learn, adapt, and scale.
- Support doesn’t stop at go-live
Going live isn’t the finish line; it’s just the starting point. To drive lasting CLM adoption, ongoing support is essential. People learn differently: some prefer videos, others written guides. Offer a variety of training resources that are easy to access and revisit. Keep engagement alive post-launch.
And when executives actually use CLM-generated insights in meetings or push for data-driven contract processes, it naturally forces teams to use it consistently and makes adoption organic, not forced.
CLM success starts with people
The best CLM implementation plans give equal focus to technology and change management. Success comes from understanding that adopting new software is as much about people as it is about systems. When organizations invest time in preparing their teams, listening to feedback, and adapting processes, they create a foundation for lasting improvement. Technology can enable efficiency, but true transformation happens when clients feel confident and supported throughout the journey. By balancing tools with thoughtful change strategies, businesses can unlock high CLM adoption and achieve smoother, faster, and more reliable contract management over time.
