Sales thrives on momentum. Delays in contract approvals don’t just frustrate teams—they have a measurable impact on revenue, client satisfaction, and long-term business performance. Our recent survey of 200 professionals revealed that 31.33% of businesses struggle with approval delays, highlighting a widespread bottleneck in the sales process.
The impact of contract delays
- Missed opportunities
Lengthy contract cycles risk driving potential clients into the arms of more agile competitors. In today’s fast-paced environment, speed is often the difference between closing a deal and losing it. According to World Commerce & Contracting (formerly IACCM), organisations can cut contract processing costs by up to 30% through contract automation. - Strained client relationships
Delays send the wrong signal—suggesting disorganisation or inefficiency. In client relationships, first impressions matter, and hold-ups during onboarding or negotiations can damage trust. As the Financial Times has reported, AI is now being used to eliminate legal barriers that slow down business, reinforcing the importance of streamlined processes.
- Revenue leakage
Contract delays can defer revenue recognition, affecting financial forecasting and cash flow. Research from Gartner shows that businesses using Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems see substantial improvements in efficiency, directly impacting financial outcomes and reducing risk.
Case Studies: Success Through Streamlined Contracting
- Beatly
Beatly, a leading influencer marketing platform, previously relied on manual contract processes involving printing, scanning, and emailing documents—an approach prone to errors, wasted time and contract delays. After implementing Oneflow, Beatly drastically reduced administrative overhead and sped up deal closures. Their sales team was able to focus more on relationship-building and less on paperwork.
- Breakit
Breakit, a digital media company based in Sweden, faced delays due to manual workflows and siloed communications. By integrating Oneflow into their contract processes, they improved transparency, accelerated approvals, and reduced turnaround times. The result: happier clients and a more efficient sales operation.
Strategies to Overcome Contract Delays and Bottlenecks
- Implement CLM solutions
Modern CLM platforms simplify and automate the entire contract journey—from drafting and negotiation through to execution and renewal—helping sales and legal teams move faster together. The Forrester Wave™ report on CLM outlines key features to look for when selecting a provider. - Standardise templates
Using pre-approved contract templates minimises the need for lengthy legal reviews, cutting down negotiation time and ensuring compliance from the outset. Gartner research highlights standardisation as a key driver of contract efficiency. - Improve Cross-Team Collaboration
Encourage better coordination between sales, legal, and finance teams. Tools that support real-time collaboration eliminate the contract delays often caused by long email chains. As the Financial Times reports, AI-driven tools are helping remove the friction in legal processes—speeding up the route from draft to signature.
Read also: How Oneflow is a contract management platform for everyone?
Final Thoughts
Contract delays are an often-overlooked threat to sales success. But by embracing modern contract management and automation, UK organisations can accelerate deal cycles, improve client satisfaction, and protect revenue.
Integrating advanced CLM systems doesn’t just reduce risk—it strengthens your go-to-market strategy and empowers your sales team to focus on what matters most: building relationships and driving growth.
For more insights on improving sales efficiency through better contract processes, explore Oneflow’s sales solutions:
👉 https://oneflow.com/uk/solutions/sales/
