Generative AI turns spotlight on contract management

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the growing importance and demand for contract lifecycle management (CLM) software, which helps companies manage their commercial agreements. It highlights the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in CLM software, the recent mergers and acquisitions in the CLM market, and the potential for further consolidation and growth in this industry.

🙋 Q&A

[01] Contract Lifecycle Management Software

1. What is contract lifecycle management software, and how is it used?

• Contract lifecycle management software helps companies draft, store, search, and manage their commercial agreements, such as supply deals, non-disclosure agreements, and government outsourcing contracts.
• It is widely used by lawyers, procurement, and finance departments.

2. What are the key trends and developments in the CLM software market?

• The CLM software market is growing, with an estimated value of $1.5 billion in 2022.
• There has been a recent surge of mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships between established legal tech providers and smaller companies using advanced AI for contract management.
• Generative AI is being increasingly incorporated into CLM software to automate tasks like contract drafting and review.

3. What are the benefits of using AI-powered CLM software?

• AI-powered CLM software can help companies be more strategic and proactive in managing their contracts, rather than being reactive.
• It can assist lawyers with tasks like "redlining" (reviewing and editing contracts) and provide insights on supplier performance and risk management.
• Some companies have reported potential cost savings of up to one-third in their contract review teams by using AI-powered CLM software.

[02] Market Trends and Consolidation

1. What are the key market trends driving the growth of the CLM software industry?

• The convergence of several tech and market trends, such as the increasing demand for digital contract management and the rise of generative AI, has fueled the interest in CLM software.
• Legal services is one of the industries most exposed to the impact of generative AI, which is being increasingly incorporated into CLM software.

2. What is the current state of the CLM software market, and what are the expectations for future consolidation?

• The CLM software market is currently fragmented, with around 150-200 players in the space.
• Experts predict further consolidation around larger suppliers of CLM software, as corporate legal departments prefer to work with fewer providers that can offer broader technology solutions.
• The market is not yet saturated, with just over 50% of corporate legal departments currently using a CLM system, leaving room for growth.

3. How are the acquisitions and partnerships in the CLM software market shaping the industry?

• Established legal tech providers are acquiring or partnering with smaller companies that have strong AI capabilities in contract management, as a faster way to incorporate these technologies.
• This trend of consolidation is expected to continue as the CLM software market evolves and incorporates more AI features.