# Planning to automate your contracts? Here’s how to build your case

You know your contract process could be faster, easier, and a lot less manual. But to get buy-in from your team or leadership, you need more than a gut feeling. You need a clear plan.

That’s where a business case comes in. With a few simple steps, you can show exactly why contract automation matters—and how to roll it out without the drama. [Oneflow’s business case playbook](https://oneflowcom.notion.site/Oneflow-business-case-playbook-17e93a8eb77b80318e0ff269650bb8ca) is a great place to start:

Let’s break down how to use that framework to build a solid, realistic plan for automation.

## Step 1: Start from the real problem

Start with what’s not working today. Chances are, your contracts involve some mix of:

- Uploading and downloading PDF contracts
- Long email threads to approve or update documents
- Paper signatures that require printing and scanning
- Delays from people being out of office or not at their desk

In the latest [Oneflow’s study on contract management pains](https://oneflow.com/library/the-state-of-contracts-reports/contract-management-pains-report/), 28% of companies still use standard e-signatures via PDF upload, and 25% still rely on pen and paper. Even more surprising? 26% still manually upload PDFs into e-signing tools, despite better options.

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and it’s the perfect place to start your case.

Read also: [What is contract management? A complete guide](/contract-management)

## Step 2 towards automating your contracts: Show what’s at stake

Once you’ve laid out the problem, it’s time to zoom in on why it matters.

Use language that connects with your team’s goals: time, speed, simplicity. For example:

- "We’re spending hours chasing down signatures and sending documents back and forth."
- "Too many steps = more mistakes and slower deals."
- "Our current process isn’t mobile-friendly, and that’s holding us back."

The Oneflow survey highlights that the top three challenges in contract signing today are authenticity concerns, back-and-forth delays, and time-consuming processes. These pain points are exactly what automation can solve.

## Step 3: Frame the value, not just the tool

In this part of your business case, focus on benefits, not features. Think:

- **Speed**: Less time spent managing PDFs, more time moving deals forward
- **Simplicity**: Everyone works in the same platform—no more email chaos
- **Mobility**: Contracts can be signed on any device, from anywhere
- **Control**: Built-in tracking and compliance without extra effort

Oneflow’s report shows that 48% of people already sign contracts from a mobile device at least once a month. Automation means you’re meeting people where they are—no desk required.

#### Most popular business agreement templates

Get access to 40+ business agreement templates in Oneflow

 [ Learn more ](https://oneflow.com/free-contract-templates/) 

 

  

 

 

## Step 4: Keep the rollout plan simple

You don’t need a massive overhaul to get started. A few quick wins can make a big difference.

Here’s a simple timeline you can use, inspired by the[ Oneflow business case playbook](https://oneflowcom.notion.site/Oneflow-business-case-playbook-17e93a8eb77b80318e0ff269650bb8ca):[ ](https://oneflowcom.notion.site/Oneflow-business-case-playbook-17e93a8eb77b80318e0ff269650bb8ca)

- **Week 1–2**: List the contracts you send most often and the teams involved
- **Week 3–4**: Pick a contract automation platform
- **Month 2**: Set up your templates and approval workflows
- **Month 3**: Roll it out to your team and support them through the change

This shows stakeholders that automation isn’t just effective—it’s easy to implement.

## Step 5: Highlight the gap and the opportunity

Here’s a stat that drives it home: 42% of companies say they never experience signing delays.

That means the other 58%—maybe including yours—still face holdups, missed approvals, or manual mistakes. But it also means improvement is totally possible. Your business case doesn’t need to sell a dream. It just needs to show what’s already working for others—and how you can get there too.

## Key takeaways

- Your contract process might be costing you time, speed, and simplicity
- A strong business case focuses on the problem, the impact, and a clear plan
- Use [Oneflow’s playbook](https://oneflowcom.notion.site/Oneflow-business-case-playbook-17e93a8eb77b80318e0ff269650bb8ca) to structure your case
- Back your case with stats from our comprehensive [market reports on contract management trends such as AI](https://oneflow.com/library/the-state-of-contracts-reports)
- Keep the plan focused on outcomes and quick wins