For most businesses, contract execution marks the finish line. The ink dries, the document is archived, and the deal is done.
But what if your most valuable contract data is still buried—and untouched?
Finalizing a contract isn’t just about getting it signed. It’s about capturing the right information, ensuring compliance, and syncing critical terms back to the systems that run your business. And now, with the help of AI, that once-manual process is faster, smarter, and far more reliable.
In a recent demonstration, Marshfield Consulting showcased how DocuSign CLM’s AI-powered finalization tools are helping organizations move beyond execution—and into true contract intelligence.
The Problem with Traditional Finalization
Finalization has historically been a tedious, manual step. After a document is signed, legal or operations teams are expected to review the agreement (often a PDF), identify key terms, and manually enter that data back into CRMs, billing platforms, or spreadsheets.
This process slows down:
- Onboarding and service delivery
- Accurate revenue forecasting
- Compliance with negotiated terms
And it’s prone to human error—especially when dealing with hundreds or thousands of agreements.
Enter AI Finalization: From Manual Review to Intelligent Capture
Docusign CLM’s AI Extensions offer a new approach. Once a contract is signed, the system initiates an AI-assisted review to surface and extract key data points—automatically.
“What we start to see is something called AI extensions… not from a redlining perspective, but to identify those key data points that are in the agreement that require final review and blessing.”
For example:
- Renewal terms
- Termination clauses
- Payment schedules
- Service levels or custom obligations
Instead of combing through the document line-by-line, the AI presents reviewers with flagged sections for quick confirmation or correction. It becomes a final checkpoint—not a full audit.
This is particularly valuable in contracts that were redlined, negotiated, or generated using non-standard templates. For standard, no-touch agreements, the system can intelligently bypass finalization altogether, recognizing that no key terms have changed.
The Benefits for Legal and Revenue Teams
Implementing AI-driven finalization brings measurable impact across the contract lifecycle:
1. Faster Time to Value
Finalization no longer stalls the handoff to customer success, procurement, or finance. Contracts close faster—and downstream teams get the data they need to act.
2. Cleaner, Richer Data
Structured fields like renewal dates, payment terms, or governing laws are extracted and written directly into your CRM or ERP. That means fewer errors, less manual entry, and better forecasting.
3. Reduced Risk
Post-signature obligations are harder to miss when they’re automatically surfaced by AI. No more “we didn’t know that was in the contract.”
Final Thought
Execution is just the beginning. The true power of contract lifecycle management lies in what comes after—when negotiated terms are transformed into actionable data.
With AI-powered finalization from Docusign CLM, organizations can eliminate post-signature blind spots, reduce operational lag, and finally close the loop between contracts and the business systems they support.
Looking to add intelligence to your contract closeout process?
Marshfield Consulting helps organizations implement AI-enabled workflows that elevate accuracy, speed, and compliance at every step. Let’s explore your use case.
