When you’re looking for the best CLM (Contract Lifecycle Management) tool that integrates seamlessly with Salesforce, you need one that boosts your sales process, reduces bottlenecks, and integrates smoothly with your existing Salesforce workflows. After testing and researching several CLM options, here are the top choices that work beautifully with Salesforce.
Best CLM Solutions for Salesforce
1. Conga Contracts
Conga Contracts is one of the most popular CLM solutions for Salesforce, and for a good reason. It’s deeply integrated into the Salesforce ecosystem, making contract management a natural extension of your CRM workflows.
Why Conga is Great for Salesforce:
- Native Salesforce Integration: Conga is built directly into Salesforce, allowing sales reps to create, negotiate, and manage contracts without ever leaving Salesforce.
- End-to-End Contract Lifecycle: From contract generation and e-signature to approvals and renewals, Conga manages the entire contract lifecycle within the Salesforce platform.
- Template Automation: Create standardized contract templates that can pull data from Salesforce records, significantly reducing manual entry and errors.
- Approval Workflows: Automate complex approval workflows based on predefined conditions, which is particularly useful for contracts requiring management or legal approval.
- Advanced Analytics: Conga offers detailed reporting and analytics to track the status of contracts, monitor bottlenecks, and measure KPIs.
Downsides:
- Complex Setup: Since it offers so many features, the initial configuration can be time-consuming.
- Cost: Pricing can increase quickly as you add more advanced features or users.
Best For: Businesses already embedded in the Salesforce ecosystem that need a comprehensive, native CLM solution to streamline contracts and automate workflows.
2. DocuSign CLM
DocuSign CLM is another strong contender if you’re already using DocuSign eSignature within Salesforce. The integration between DocuSign’s eSignature and CLM products makes it a powerful option for Salesforce users who need to manage contracts efficiently from draft to signature.
Why DocuSign CLM Works Well with Salesforce:
- Direct Salesforce Integration: Contracts are generated, tracked, and managed directly from Salesforce records, such as Opportunities or Accounts.
- Automated Contract Workflows: Automate every step of the contract lifecycle, including generation, approval, and sending for signatures, all triggered from Salesforce data.
- Clause Library: DocuSign CLM allows you to create a library of pre-approved clauses to speed up contract drafting and negotiation, ensuring consistency and compliance.
- Custom Workflows: You can build custom workflows to automatically route contracts for approval based on conditions in Salesforce (e.g., deal size, contract type).
- Audit and Compliance Features: Built-in audit trails and reporting help you stay compliant with industry standards and regulations.
Downsides:
- Learning Curve: While powerful, the system can be complicated to implement, especially for non-technical teams.
- Pricing: As you add features like advanced automation or AI capabilities, the cost can rise significantly.
Best For: Teams already using DocuSign eSignature that want a robust, tightly integrated contract solution inside Salesforce.
3. SpringCM (Now Part of DocuSign CLM)
SpringCM, now a part of DocuSign, offers deep integration with Salesforce and has long been a favorite for contract management. It’s a cloud-based CLM solution that handles complex workflows, approvals, and document storage directly within Salesforce.
Why SpringCM is a Top Choice:
- Salesforce Integration: SpringCM syncs directly with Salesforce objects, allowing sales teams to manage contracts without leaving their familiar CRM environment.
- Automated Document Generation: Automatically pull data from Salesforce records to generate contracts, reducing manual errors and speeding up the process.
- Document Versioning and Approvals: Track multiple versions of a contract and set up automatic workflows for approval, making it easier for legal teams to review and approve changes.
- Collaboration Features: SpringCM facilitates better collaboration between sales, legal, and procurement teams by enabling real-time contract collaboration and editing.
- Contract Repository: All contracts are stored securely in a centralized, searchable repository, accessible directly from Salesforce.
Downsides:
- Complicated for Small Businesses: SpringCM can feel like overkill for smaller teams or those with less complex contract needs.
- High Cost: It’s a premium solution, so it’s most cost-effective for larger organizations.
Best For: Enterprises with complex contract workflows that need powerful document generation and approval capabilities within Salesforce.
4. Apttus (Now Conga CLM)
Apttus, which is now part of Conga, is one of the pioneers in CLM and CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) solutions for Salesforce. It’s ideal for businesses that have complex product configurations and need advanced contract management functionality.
Key Benefits for Salesforce Users:
- Deep Salesforce Integration: Apttus (Conga) is built natively on the Salesforce platform, so the contract management process is tightly woven into the sales cycle.
- CPQ and Contracting in One: If your business also needs a Configure, Price, Quote solution, Apttus offers a powerful combo of CPQ and CLM features all within Salesforce.
- AI and Machine Learning: Apttus uses AI-driven insights to help identify potential risks in contracts and improve negotiation outcomes.
- Automated Approval Workflows: Automatically route contracts for approval based on Salesforce data (deal size, product type, region) to speed up contract negotiations and reduce risk.
- Advanced Analytics: Apttus offers comprehensive reporting and dashboards that help you analyze contract performance and spot potential bottlenecks.
Downsides:
- Steep Learning Curve: Apttus can be quite complex to implement and requires in-depth knowledge of both Salesforce and the platform.
- Pricey: It’s an expensive option, particularly for smaller businesses, but it offers unparalleled functionality for enterprises.
Best For: Large enterprises that need both advanced CPQ and CLM functionality and are willing to invest the time and resources for implementation.
5. PandaDoc
PandaDoc is a lighter, more cost-effective CLM option for Salesforce users that need basic contract management features but don’t want the complexity or cost of an enterprise-level solution like Conga or DocuSign.
Why PandaDoc Works for Salesforce Users:
- Salesforce Integration: PandaDoc integrates with Salesforce to help generate, send, and track contracts directly from Salesforce objects like Opportunities or Accounts.
- Template Library: Easily create reusable contract templates that pull data from Salesforce, speeding up the proposal and contract generation process.
- E-Signature Capabilities: PandaDoc offers built-in e-signature capabilities, so you don’t need an additional e-signature tool.
- Affordable: PandaDoc is much more affordable than enterprise-level CLMs, making it a great option for small to mid-sized businesses that need essential contract management.
- User-Friendly Interface: PandaDoc’s interface is simple and intuitive, meaning you won’t need extensive training to get started.
Downsides:
- Limited Customization: While PandaDoc works well for smaller businesses, it lacks the deep customization and advanced automation that larger teams may require.
- Basic Workflow Automation: It has fewer automation capabilities compared to solutions like Conga or DocuSign CLM.
Best For: Small to mid-sized businesses that want a simple, affordable CLM with basic contract management and e-signature features inside Salesforce.
6. Salesforce CPQ + Contracts
For businesses already using Salesforce CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote), the built-in Salesforce Contracts feature is a good option for simple contract management tasks. This combination allows you to manage pricing, quotes, and contracts all within the Salesforce environment.
Why It’s Worth Considering:
- Native Salesforce Solution: Since this is part of Salesforce’s own CPQ suite, it works seamlessly with Salesforce CRM data, creating a smooth flow from quotes to contracts.
- Simple Automation: Automate contract creation based on quotes generated in Salesforce CPQ, with automatic population of customer data, pricing, and terms.
- Basic Contract Management: Salesforce Contracts is straightforward and easy to use, making it ideal for businesses with less complex contract needs.
Downsides:
- Limited Features: It’s great for basic contract creation and tracking but lacks advanced features like contract negotiation, collaboration tools, and detailed analytics.
- Not Ideal for Complex Contracts: If your contracts require multiple rounds of negotiation or detailed clause management, you’ll likely need a more robust CLM tool.
Best For: Businesses already using Salesforce CPQ that need simple contract management functionality without adding a third-party CLM.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Salesforce-Integrated CLM
- Integration Depth
The deeper the integration, the more seamless your contract management will be. Look for CLM solutions that are either native to Salesforce or offer direct, deep integrations with Salesforce data. - Automation Needs
If your contracts go through multiple approval steps or negotiations, you’ll want a solution that can automate workflows and trigger actions based on Salesforce data, like deal size or contract type. - Template Management
A good CLM should allow you to create reusable contract templates that pull data from Salesforce records, saving your team time and reducing manual errors. - Scalability
Ensure that the CLM solution can scale with your business as your contract volume increases or your workflows become more complex. - Ease of Use
Make sure the tool is intuitive and doesn’t require extensive training for your team to use effectively. User-friendly platforms reduce the learning curve and increase adoption rates. - Cost
CLM pricing can vary widely. Some solutions are more affordable but offer fewer features, while others provide enterprise-grade functionality at a premium price. Make sure you choose a CLM that fits your budget without sacrificing essential features.
Final Word
If you’re deeply embedded in the Salesforce ecosystem and need the most comprehensive solution, Conga Contracts or DocuSign CLM are your best bets for advanced automation and seamless integration. For a smaller business, PandaDoc offers a cost-effective, user-friendly option that integrates smoothly with Salesforce. If you’re already using Salesforce CPQ, leveraging the built-in Salesforce Contracts feature may be enough for simple contract needs.
Each of these tools has strengths, but the best choice ultimately depends on your business size, complexity of contract workflows, and budget.