What to Look for in a CLM Solution: A Checklist for Legal and IT Buyers
For legal and IT leaders, selecting a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) solution isn’t just about digitizing signatures — it’s about building a foundation of speed, control, and security across the business.
A modern CLM doesn’t just store contracts; it connects people, systems, and insights. But with dozens of vendors claiming “end-to-end automation,” how do you separate real capability from marketing noise?
Here’s a practical checklist to help you evaluate your next CLM — and ensure your investment delivers measurable impact across teams.
1. Unified Collaboration, Not Email Chaos
Ask: Can teams redline, comment, and approve contracts in one workspace — or are they still sending “v5_final_FINAL.docx” over email?
Modern CLM platforms should:
- Provide real-time redlining and commenting within a shared document interface.
- Include version control and audit history to eliminate confusion.
- Support internal and external collaboration securely — without requiring extra licenses.
📍 With Intellistack Streamline CLM, collaboration happens live and trackable — no disconnected tools, no lost edits.
2. AI That Empowers Legal, Not Replaces It
Ask: Does the platform’s AI actually enhance your review process — or just flag keywords?
Look for:
- Clause comparison and risk detection powered by AI Playbooks.
- Pre-approved fallback recommendations for consistent, compliant language.
- Continuous learning based on past negotiations and contract data.
📍 Streamline CLM’s AI-guided Playbooks help legal teams scale expertise without sacrificing oversight.
3. Seamless System Integrations
Ask: Can your CLM connect with your existing stack — or will it become another silo?
Your platform should integrate with:
- Salesforce, to trigger and track contracts directly from opportunities.
- Data storage systems like Google Drive, Dropbox, or your internal databases.
- Security and compliance systems, ensuring end-to-end governance.
📍 Streamline CLM integrates natively with Salesforce and connects across your ecosystem to deliver real-time data integrity.
4. Security, Compliance, and Auditability
Ask: Does the CLM meet your enterprise-grade security standards?
Check for:
- SOC 2 and GDPR compliance
- Role-based access controls and audit trails
- Encryption at rest and in transit
- Centralized repository with granular visibility
📍 Intellistack’s Trust Center ensures that every contract action — from creation to signature — is secure, logged, and traceable.
5. Scalability and Transparent Pricing
Ask: Will your costs grow every time your business does?
Legacy CLMs often charge per seat, per envelope, or per transaction — restricting adoption and collaboration.
Instead, look for:
- Unlimited users and workflows
- Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
- Flexible scaling without performance trade-offs
📍 Intellistack Streamline CLM offers unlimited users and no per-signature pricing — so every team can collaborate freely.
6. Insights That Drive Better Decisions
Ask: Can the platform turn contract data into actionable business intelligence?
The best CLMs transform your contract repository into a strategic data asset, surfacing insights like:
- Cycle time and bottleneck analysis
- Renewal and obligation tracking
- Risk exposure and clause trend mapping
📍 Streamline CLM converts every agreement into structured, searchable data — turning legal operations into business intelligence.
Choosing Smarter Starts Here
Selecting a CLM isn’t just an IT decision or a legal one — it’s a business decision that touches revenue, risk, and reputation.
The right CLM solution unites legal precision with operational agility — empowering teams to move faster, stay compliant, and unlock the full value of their contracts.
👉 Ready to evaluate your next CLM?
Request a demo of Intellistack Streamline CLM and see how modern contract management is built for both Legal and IT — without limits, hidden fees, or growing pains.
