Looking to overhaul how your mid-sized business handles contracts? You’re not alone. The jump from “just email it around” to a real contract management system is a big deal—and it’s easy to get lost in the sales pitches. This guide is for operations, legal, or business leaders who want a clear-eyed way to compare Juro to the usual crop of contract tools. We’ll skip the buzzwords and focus on what actually matters.
1. Get Clear on What You Actually Need
Before you even compare products, figure out your real pain points. No tool will magically solve problems you haven’t defined.
Ask yourself and your team: - Where do contracts get stuck right now? (Drafting, approvals, signatures, storage…) - Who’s involved, and how many contracts do you handle a month? - What’s the risk if something slips through the cracks? - Are you mostly handling NDAs, vendor agreements, sales contracts, or something else? - Is compliance (like GDPR or HIPAA) a major concern?
Pro tip: Don’t just ask the legal team. Sales, procurement, and ops all have skin in the game. Get their war stories.
2. Understand What Juro Actually Is (and Isn’t)
Juro bills itself as an “all-in-one contract automation platform.” Translation: it’s a cloud-based tool that lets you draft, negotiate, sign, and store contracts in one place—no bouncing between Word, email, and DocuSign.
The good: - Browser-based editing and collaboration (no Microsoft Word required) - Built-in e-signatures - Automated templates and approval workflows - Searchable contract repository - Live negotiation and comments
The trade-offs: - You’ll need to learn a new editor (it’s not Word or Google Docs) - Custom branding or complex layouts can be tricky - Integrations are solid, but not endless—double-check your must-haves - Not a full document management system (it’s for contracts, not everything else)
Ignore the hype: Juro won’t “transform your business overnight.” It’s a tool, not a strategy.
3. Know What “Traditional” Contract Management Means
When people say “traditional contract management,” it’s a spectrum:
- Manual: Word docs, email chains, shared drives, maybe a spreadsheet to track status.
- Legacy software: On-premise or older SaaS tools—think Conga, iManage, or even SharePoint setups.
- DIY combos: Using e-sign tools (like DocuSign), plus cloud storage, plus email, plus…you get the idea.
Strengths: - Familiar tools (everyone knows Word and email) - Maximum flexibility - Cheap (at first glance)
Weaknesses: - Version control nightmares - No central search or oversight - Approvals and signatures slip through the cracks - Hard to scale beyond a few people or contracts
Reality check: If you’re chasing signatures on PDFs via email, you’re already feeling the pain.
4. Stack Juro Up Against the Old Way—Feature by Feature
Let’s get specific. Here’s what usually matters for mid-sized businesses:
Drafting & Collaboration - Juro: Real-time browser-based editing, comments, tracked changes. No attachments or file downloads. - Traditional: Word docs, email versions back and forth, “final_v3_REALLY_FINAL.docx” everywhere.
Templates & Automation - Juro: Build templates, automate fallback clauses and approvals. - Traditional: Copy-paste from old contracts or Word templates. Manual edits = mistakes.
Approvals - Juro: Automated workflows—route contracts to the right people, track in-app. - Traditional: Email “please approve,” hope the right person replies.
E-signature - Juro: Built in. - Traditional: Usually a separate tool (DocuSign, Adobe Sign), more logins, more costs.
Repository & Search - Juro: Central, searchable database. Find “all NDAs with Acme Corp” in seconds. - Traditional: Dig through shared drives or emails. Maybe you get lucky.
Reporting & Reminders - Juro: Dashboard with key dates, renewal alerts. - Traditional: Calendar reminders (if you remember), or nothing at all.
Integrations - Juro: Decent set—Salesforce, Slack, Google Drive, Zapier. Not exhaustive. - Traditional: Whatever you cobble together—often manual.
Security & Compliance - Juro: SOC2, GDPR compliant. Fine for most, but check your own requirements. - Traditional: Depends on your setup; usually riskier if you’re winging it.
5. Price: What’s the Real Cost?
Nobody likes to talk about this, but you have to.
Juro: - Subscription pricing (per user, per month/year) - Upfront cost can feel steep, but it’s predictable - You pay for the platform, not just signatures
Traditional: - “Free” if you count only Word and email—but factor in: - Lost time chasing versions and signatures - Legal fees for missed clauses/renewals - Extra tools (e-signature, cloud storage) - Risk of mistakes
Watch out for: - Hidden costs of legacy tools (IT support, upgrades, training) - User minimums or setup fees buried in contracts - Overbuying features you’ll never use (AI clause analysis, anyone?)
6. Usability: Will People Actually Use It?
You can buy the fanciest system in the world, but if your team hates it, it’ll gather dust.
Juro: - Modern, browser-based UI - Quick onboarding (for most) - Some friction for die-hard Word users
Traditional: - Comfort of familiar tools - But process is slow, error-prone, and impossible to track at scale
Tip: Give your actual users (not just IT or legal) a hands-on trial. Watch what frustrates them.
7. Implementation: How Painful Is the Switch?
Switching systems isn’t fun. Be honest about how much disruption you can stomach.
Juro: - SaaS = no hardware, no installs - Training takes a few hours to a few days - Migrating old contracts is possible, but can be tedious - Support is responsive, but don’t expect hand-holding every step
Traditional: - You’re already using it, for better or worse - No transition, but you keep all the inefficiencies
Pro tip: Don’t try to migrate every contract you’ve ever signed. Start with active and high-value ones.
8. Ignore the Hype—Focus on Must-Haves
There’s no shortage of shiny features: AI clause detection, blockchain signatures, etc. Most mid-sized businesses need to:
- Draft and edit contracts quickly with version control
- Route for approvals and e-signatures without manual tracking
- Find contracts and key dates fast
- Keep things secure and compliant enough for your industry
If a feature sounds impressive but you can’t imagine your team using it weekly, skip it.
9. Make the Call: When Is Juro Worth It?
Juro shines if: - You handle enough contracts that manual tracking is a nightmare - Multiple people/departments touch every contract - You need better oversight, faster turnaround, and less risk
Traditional tools may still work if: - You do a handful of contracts a month, mostly with repeat partners - Your team refuses to leave Word/Outlook - You can live with slow, manual processes
Red flag: If you’re spending hours every week chasing signatures or missing renewal dates, it’s probably time to upgrade.
10. Keep It Simple—Then Iterate
Don’t overthink it. Pick a solution that solves your main headaches and can grow with you. Test-drive Juro with a real contract process, not a staged demo. If it works, roll it out wider. If it doesn’t, keep looking.
Most contract chaos comes from trying to bolt on too many tools or chasing “perfect” features. Start small, get results, and adjust as you go. That’s usually the best way forward—no matter what the sales reps say.