If you manage contracts, you know the pain: contracts get signed, then disappear into a void. Deadlines get missed, obligations slip, and no one’s sure if things are running smoothly or about to go sideways. If you’re using Contractbook, you’ve got analytics tools at your fingertips—but just staring at dashboards won’t fix anything.
This guide is for anyone who wants to actually use Contractbook analytics to keep contracts on track, spot problems early, and avoid headaches later. No buzzwords, just the steps you need (and what you can safely ignore).
Why Contract Analytics Matter (and Where They Fall Short)
Let’s be real: Most contract management tools promise “insights” but deliver pie charts you’ll only look at when your boss asks for them. The real value is in catching problems early—like missed renewals, slow approvals, or obligations falling through the cracks.
Contractbook’s analytics can help you:
- Track key contract milestones (signing, renewal, expiry)
- Monitor bottlenecks in your workflows
- See who’s dropping the ball on approvals or reviews
- Get notified about deadlines (before they bite you)
But don’t expect magic. Analytics won’t fix a broken process or make people care. It’s a tool—not a replacement for clear responsibilities and regular check-ins.
Step 1: Know What You Want to Measure (Don’t Skip This)
Before you even open Contractbook’s analytics, get clear on what you want to know. Otherwise, you’ll drown in data and miss what matters.
Common metrics worth tracking: - Cycle Time: How long does it take from draft to signature? Where does it stall? - Renewal/Expiry Dates: What’s coming up, and are you prepared? - Obligation Tracking: Are deliverables and payments happening on time? - Approval Delays: Who’s holding things up, and when?
Ignore for now: Most “engagement” stats (like document views) aren’t useful unless you’re sending out sales contracts and actually care who opened what.
Pro Tip: Ask your team (or yourself): “If this metric looked bad, what would I actually do about it?” If there’s no action, it’s probably not worth tracking.
Step 2: Set Up Your Contracts for Tracking
Analytics are only as good as the data you feed them. If your contracts are a mess—missing dates, no clear owners, inconsistent templates—you’ll get garbage out.
Here’s how to set things up right:
- Use Standard Templates: Make sure key fields are always filled in (dates, parties, responsible owner).
- Tag Contracts: Use consistent tags for contract type, department, or risk level. This makes filtering easier later.
- Assign Owners: Every contract should have someone responsible for tracking it. Otherwise, “everyone” means “no one.”
- Enter All Dates: Don’t skip start, end, renewal, and key obligation dates. If it’s not in the system, analytics won’t catch it.
Pro Tip: Spend an hour cleaning up your existing contracts now. It’ll save you days later when you actually need to pull a report.
Step 3: Navigate to Contractbook Analytics
Once your house is in order, head to Contractbook’s analytics dashboard:
- Log in to your Contractbook account.
- In the left sidebar, look for “Analytics” or “Reports.”
- You’ll land on the main analytics overview.
You’ll see a mix of charts, stats, and filters. Don’t get overwhelmed—the goal is to find answers, not stare at graphs.
Step 4: Use Filters and Views That Matter
Most people just look at the default dashboard. That’s fine, but you’ll get more value by slicing the data:
- Filter by Contract Status: See only active, pending, or expired contracts.
- Filter by Owner or Department: Spot who’s overloaded or which teams are falling behind.
- Date Ranges: Check how things looked last quarter versus this month.
- Contract Type: Compare sales contracts vs. NDAs, or whatever makes sense for your business.
What to skip: Don’t waste time building fancy custom views unless you actually need them for a decision or meeting. Start simple.
Step 5: Track Key Metrics (And Set Up Alerts)
Here’s how to get the metrics you actually care about:
1. Contract Cycle Time
- Find the “Cycle Time” or “Time to Signature” report.
- Look for average and outliers. Are some deals dragging on for weeks?
- Drill down by owner or type to see patterns.
2. Upcoming Renewals and Expiries
- Use the “Upcoming Renewals” or “Expiring Contracts” widget.
- Set up email alerts or tasks for contracts coming up in the next 30/60/90 days.
- Don’t rely on your memory or sticky notes.
3. Obligation Tracking
- If you’re tracking deliverables or milestones, see if those fields are available in analytics.
- Not all contract software tracks obligations out-of-the-box—sometimes you’ll need to use custom fields or reminders.
4. Approval Bottlenecks
- Look for reports showing “Contracts Waiting for Approval.”
- Who’s always slow to sign off? That’s your process weak link.
Pro Tip: Set up recurring reports to land in your inbox. If you have to remember to check the dashboard, you’ll forget.
Step 6: Share Results and Actually Act On Them
Contract analytics are useless if only you see them. Here’s what works:
- Share Summaries: Send a quick Slack message or email with the top 2-3 things that need attention. No one reads long reports.
- Set Tasks or Reminders: Assign follow-ups for contracts that need action.
- Flag Risks Early: If something looks off (like a big deal about to expire), escalate it before it’s a crisis.
What to ignore: Don’t forward every chart to your team—just the stuff that actually needs a decision or fix.
Step 7: Review and Refine Regularly
Don’t set it and forget it. Every month or quarter:
- Review metrics: Are you catching issues earlier? Are cycle times improving?
- Tweak what you track: If a metric isn’t helping, ditch it.
- Get feedback: Ask your team if the analytics are making their lives easier. If not, adjust.
Pro Tip: The goal isn’t to have perfect dashboards. It’s to avoid surprises and keep contracts moving.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What’s Overhyped
What works: - Setting up alerts for renewals and expiries (saves your bacon) - Using filters to spot bottlenecks by person or department - Keeping contract data clean and consistent
What doesn’t: - Tracking every possible metric “just in case” - Relying on dashboards alone—someone needs to own follow-ups - Assuming analytics will fix a broken approval process
What’s overhyped: - AI “insights” that promise to predict the future—nice idea, but focus on what you can control - Engagement stats (unless you’re in sales or compliance)
Keep It Simple—And Iterate
Don’t overcomplicate contract analytics. Start with the basics: track what matters, act on what you see, and review regularly. If you’re consistent, you’ll catch issues before they get expensive, and your contract headaches will shrink. And if a report doesn’t help you make a better decision, skip it.
Just keep things simple, fix what you can, and tweak as you go. That’s how you actually get value out of Contractbook analytics—no magic required.