Drafting contracts in business: a strategic challenge for organizations and employees

Contracts are fundamental pillars in business management. They formalize commitments, frame relationships, reduce risks, and provide strategic visibility.

Yet in all businesses, from the smallest to the largest, drafting contracts is an essential but often underestimated step. It affects compliance, operational efficiency, customer relations, and risk management.

Today, the challenges linked to this activity are numerous, both for organizations and for employees.

"Well written, well structured and well monitored, contracts become real levers of performance"

The 6 main challenges encountered in drafting contracts

1. Long and time-consuming processes

Drafting a contract often requires starting from a template, customizing it, collecting internal validations, formatting it, etc. This process can take several days or even weeks.

2. High variability in quality

Depending on the drafters, the department concerned, or the context, the quality and structure of contracts can vary considerably. This damages the company's image and can lead to legal inaccuracies.

3. Difficulties in collaboration

Drafting a contract often involves several parties: business, legal, finance, IT, etc. Without a structuring tool, exchanges multiply and versions accumulate.

4. Complex compliance management

Regulatory requirements are constantly evolving, and it is crucial to ensure that every contract complies with current rules, especially in regulated sectors such as finance, insurance or healthcare.

5. Poor management of templates and clauses

Too often, contract templates and standard clauses are scattered, outdated, or poorly adapted to specific needs. This increases the risk of errors or omissions.

6. Traceability and history issues

Knowing who wrote what, when, with what validations, and being able to find a contract or clause quickly: this is a real operational need, often poorly covered.

Towards smoother and more secure contract drafting

Faced with these challenges, more and more organizations are choosing to equip and structure their contractual processes, relying on technological solutions (model management, automation, AI, electronic signature, etc.) to gain speed, consistency and compliance.

Because when well written, well structured and well monitored, contracts become real levers of performance.

What are the most common contracts in companies?

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the types of contracts found in the majority of companies, across all sectors:

Commercial contracts

• Sales contract

• Service provision contract

• Partnership contract

• Distribution contract

• Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)

Supplier contracts

• Subcontracting contract

• Framework purchase agreement

• Purchase order with CGA (general purchasing conditions)

• Maintenance contract

HR contracts

• Employment contract (fixed-term contract, permanent contract, freelance)

• Amendments to the contract

• Employee Confidentiality Agreement

• Internship agreement

IT and digital contracts

• Software License Agreement

• SaaS contract

• Hosting contract

• Maintenance and support contract

• Specific development contract

Cross-functional legal contracts

• Lease agreements

• Financing or loan contracts

• Insurance contracts

• Settlement agreements

At NAELAN, we help more than 1,700 organizations in the fields of banking, finance, insurance, telecoms, industry, local authorities, hospitals, education, etc. to draft, send, and track their various contracts, proposals, responses to calls for tender, and generally all customer communications in a more efficient, productive, economical, and environmentally friendly manner.