What is Contract Redlining Software?
From marketing and finance to legal and accounting, nearly every area of your organization is likely to touch contracts. Unfortunately, legacy contract review processes often slow productivity and lack proper 
security. They can also make contracts hard to find, share, and save.
Furthermore, someone mentions redlining and there are immediate moans and groans. It’s easy to understand why – it’s slow, frustrating, and can seem to drag on for way too long. Yet, it’s an incredibly crucial part of the contract process. It’s more than just editing. It’s a (sometimes) collaborative effort to effectively negotiate the contract’s terms and conditions, all while (hopefully) building a positive relationship across multiple parties.
It is the highlighting process that occurs when one of the parties involved in document or contract reviews makes changes to a document.
How can Contract Redlining Software Improve Contract Processes?
Contract redlining software relieves stress and time-consuming effort by optimizing the contract editing workflow. Some applications even include a collaborative platform for real-time, digital redline exchanges from all approved contributors with version control. It offers the following key benefits:
Streamlines the negotiation process
Time is critical when it comes to the negotiation stage of a contract. Lawyers want to execute a contract as fast as possible, without errors, in order to solidify a deal. So, finding ways to make the process more efficient is imperative. Redlining software tools streamlines negotiations by enabling legal professionals to quickly make edits and scan digital comments to execute a final agreement. Legal professionals no longer 
have to interpret red pen mark-ups and comments – all of which can look disjointed, sloppy, and illegible.
Enhances collaboration and transparency
Redlining technology allows legal documents to be shared securely and in real-time across all stakeholders, including the client, subject matter expert, lawyer, legal team, administrative personnel, etc. Everyone is part of the collaborative process and able to see the same document at the same time, instead of a document being passed back and forth and potentially getting lost in the shuffle. Version control is guaranteed, and a clear audit trail is available.
In addition, confidence is built among parties as everyone has the opportunity to view suggestions and/or changes. There is never a sense of secrecy or hidden agendas during any part of the contracting process.
Reduces errors and improves compliance
Manual efforts to redline contracts can often lead to misinterpretation, missed suggestions, and even multiple versions of the same document. By automating routine redlining tasks, the review process is not only accelerated but human error is minimized, which in turn lessens costly mistakes. In addition, outdated redlining techniques can make ensuring compliance unclear and difficult.
With redlining software, parties can be added and included to provide specific feedback on confusing issues. A subject matter expert can confirm the correct terms. A marketing specialist can confirm branding guidelines. Legal teams can confirm that terms are legally compliant. Getting their approval or incorporating their changes saves headaches, confusion, and even potential legal setbacks.
How Does Contract Redlining Software Work?
Redlining software helps to ensure that your business relationships start with a positive interaction from the beginning of contract negotiations. Redlines digitally flag any areas of the contracts that need to be changed, discussed, and further negotiated. Using ContractPodAi’s best-in-class software, the redlining stage is more manageable and consistent, facilitating an easier, faster, and smoother experience.
Overview of Key Benefits of Contract Redlining Software
Below is a list of several important benefits that should be included in redlining software tools.
1. Efficiency: Redlining software streamlines the contract review process by allowing users to track changes, comments, and suggestions in real-time. This reduces the need for manual markups and back-and-forth emails, saving time and effort.
2. Collaboration: It enables multiple parties to collaborate on contracts simultaneously, regardless of their physical location. This fosters better communication and collaboration among team members and stakeholders.
3. Version Control: Contract redlining software maintains a clear record of all changes made to the contract, including who made the changes and when they were made. This ensures version control and minimizes the risk of errors or discrepancies.
4. Accuracy: By providing a centralized platform for contract review and negotiation, redlining software helps ensure that all parties are working from the most up-to-date version of the contract. This reduces the risk of misunderstandings or discrepancies.
5. Compliance: Many redlining software solutions come with built-in compliance features, such as pre-approved clauses and templates, as well as reminders for key deadlines and milestones. This helps ensure that contracts comply with relevant laws, regulations, and company policies.
6. Audit Trail: Contract redlining software generates comprehensive audit trails that track every change made to the contract throughout the negotiation process. This provides transparency and accountability, which can be crucial for legal and regulatory purposes.
7. Security: Most redlining software solutions offer robust security features, such as encryption, access controls, and data backup, to protect sensitive contract information from unauthorized access or breaches.
8. Cost Savings: By streamlining the contract review and negotiation process, redlining software can help organizations reduce legal costs, shorten deal cycles, and improve overall operational efficiency.
9. Scalability: Redlining software is scalable and can accommodate the needs of organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. It can handle a high volume of contracts and users without sacrificing performance or reliability.
10. Integration: Many redlining software solutions offer integration with other business systems, such as document management platforms, allowing for seamless data exchange and workflow automation. This enhances overall productivity and efficiency.
Redlining within an end-to-end CLM
ContractPodAi offers an end-to-end CLM platform that includes Leah®, a GenAI-driven legal assistant to 
make redlining even easier. Contract redlining in CLM software plays an indispensable role in maintaining comprehensive records of all file versions, including redlined text, throughout the contract’s lifespan and beyond. In the event of any disputes regarding contract terms, tracked changes can serve as crucial evidence, pinpointing when a modification was agreed upon during negotiations prior to contract signing and execution.
Redlining within GenAI assistant
ContractPodAi’s Leah is a GenAI assistant who simplifies redlining. She analyzes contracts and receives summaries in minutes, including risk analysis by clause. She can also redraft contracts in Microsoft Word with embedded legal and customer models for negotiation recommendations.
Redlining within a Traditional Document Editor
Traditional document editors, such as Microsoft Word, have historically offered beneficial redlining features to make the redlining process more efficient. Simplistic capabilities such as track changes, strikethroughs, and highlighting are used. However, offer zero intuitiveness. Users are still forced to try to manage contract versions individually and then share contracts, often unsecured, via email exchange. In addition, Microsoft Word and Google Docs are very limited and basic tools.
End-to-end CLM VS Definitive Document Editors
End-to-end CLM systems provide a centralized platform for managing contracts throughout their lifecycle, offering features such as version control, automated workflows, and integration with other business systems.
Redlining within a CLM platform is seamlessly integrated into the contract management process, allowing for efficient collaboration, tracking changes, and ensuring compliance.
On the other hand, while definitive document editors like Microsoft Word are widely used, familiar, and beloved by attorneys and legal professionals, they lack the specialized functionalities tailored for contract management. Redlining in Word involves manual tracking of changes and may lead to version control issues and compliance challenges, especially in complex contract environments.
AI Assistant VS Definitive Document Editors
An AI legal assistant and a definitive document editor serve distinct roles in the redlining process. The AI legal assistant harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to analyze, interpret, and suggest edits to contracts based on context, legal precedent, and user preferences. It accelerates the redlining process by offering intelligent insights and recommendations, enhancing accuracy and efficiency.
In contrast, a definitive document editor, such as Microsoft Word, provides basic tools for manual redlining, requiring users to track changes and manage versions manually. While familiar and widely accessible, definitive document editors lack the advanced capabilities of AI legal assistants, often resulting in a slower and less precise redlining process.
Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on the user’s priorities: speed and precision facilitated by AI or familiarity and simplicity offered by traditional document editors.
AI Assistant VS CLM Platform
Using a full CLM software to redline contracts compared to employing a GenAI legal assistant presents distinct differences in approach and functionality. CLM software offers a comprehensive suite of tools, allowing users to manage contracts throughout their entire lifecycle, from creation to renewal. Redlining within a CLM system involves tracking changes, managing versions, and ensuring compliance with 
predefined templates and legal standards.
In contrast, a GenAI legal assistant utilizes artificial intelligence to assist in specific legal tasks, including contract redlining. While it may lack the comprehensive features of a CLM software, a GenAI legal assistant can swiftly analyze and suggest edits based on context and previous patterns, streamlining the redlining process with its rapid learning capabilities and contextual understanding.
The choice between the two depends on the organization’s needs, with CLM software offering broader functionality and GenAI legal assistants providing agile support for specific tasks and being faster to implement into workflows.
Tips for Software Training and Adoption Among Teams
Like any change, it can be difficult to get all your teams excited about incorporating a new process and new software. Yet when technology is fully embraced, productivity improves, and business goals are achieved. Moreover, user adoption can be indicative of a strong organizational culture that values innovation and continuous learning.
Here are a few key steps to take in order to gain buy-in and continuous support for redlining technology:
Establish a detailed training plan
Key stakeholders need to formalize a plan that covers all necessary topics. Begin by documenting current challenges and goals. Remember that people respond to different types of training styles, but focusing on real situations can add tangible value. Develop a plan that guides trainees from initial adoption to ongoing objectives.
Incorporate different types of training methods
While online tutorials allow flexibility to train at your own pace, teams can benefit from in-person, collaborative, hands-on workshops. When possible, fostering a positive, in-person environment can allow opportunities to share wins or concerns and promote adoption. Offering real-life scenarios that engage the trainees helps them better understand the application and creates confidence.
Identity champions in the organization
Identify champions within the organization who will empower others to show excitement about the new contract management software. Champions will support others and foster an enthusiastic environment for learning and growing together.
Recognize that resistance to change is normal
If your teams have been using legacy contract redlining processes for a long time, learning new software can seem cumbersome and unnecessary. Focus on the new benefits the technology will bring—both to the internal teams and the organization as a whole. Allow an open dialogue to address concerns as often as necessary.
Offer ongoing support
Formal training will end, but it is critical that you maintain an easy way and the right tools to communicate directly with team members and support resources. This could be via email, phone, printed FAQs, or online user manuals. Strive to make every team member feel supported and valued.
Continue regular check-ins
After training is complete, it is the perfect time to gather insight from trainees and users to determine whether the training was comprehensive enough or if areas need modifications. Leverage feedback to make future training sessions more effective.
How to Choose the Right Contract Redlining Software
Contract redlining solutions vary across providers. Choosing the right software is important to meet your business, Contract Lifecycle Management workflows, and contract negotiation process needs. Before you start vetting vendors, have an in-depth understanding of your current contract redlining state. How do you access and store contracts? What level of security can you guarantee to clients? How do you process signatures? And so forth.
Below are a few factors to consider when researching best-in-class solutions:
Budgetary Constraints
Align with all departments to fully understand what your budget is for redlining technology. What areas of the organization will utilize the software? How much does it cost and what is the value? Of course, you’ll need to consider pricing options, but that shouldn’t be the sole determinant of your decision because the price might not reflect the ongoing value to the organization.
User-Friendly Interface
User adoption will go much smoother if the software is easy to use and intuitive for all business users, not just those with IT backgrounds.
AI Capabilities
Technology is shifting to incorporate advanced AI for faster and more robust capabilities. Make sure your software vendor is able to leverage artificial intelligence for contract redlining.
Integration
What other tools does your team use in its CLM workflows? How will the contract redlining software integrate with those?
Security Measures
Clearly, it is imperative to handle all legal interactions with the utmost confidentiality. Learn how the solution will protect your information and how to allow access to verified users.
Customization
Every company is different, so you’ll need to identify areas that need potential customization now or in the future. Static technology that lacks flexibility can stump future growth and change.
Access Management
Ensure you can manage who has access to the system and at what level the access is.
Electronic Signatures
Once all approvals are made, signing a contract should be seamless and easy. Offering electronic signatures not only minimizes downtime and bottlenecks, it offers a sense of security both internally and with clients.
Next Steps
Archaic, outdated redlining processes are costing your company valuable time and money. Leveraging the vast benefits associated with ContractPodAi’s contract redlining software will help you enhance, optimize, and modernize this critical step in the CLM process.
