For any business, contracts are the backbone of transactions. They protect your interests, secure agreements with other parties, and set expectations and obligations.
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, companies can save up to two percent of the annual costs using a contract management system, thus avoiding risks, inaccuracies, and non-compliance.
Let’s examine contract risk, how it occurs in different aspects of commercial activities, and helpful advice on how best to manage them effectively.
Strategies for Mitigating Contract Risk Through Effective Negotiation and Communication
When businesses sign a contract with another party, risks can cause financial and legal problems. However, these risks are manageable through effective negotiation and communication.
Here are some of the strategies worthy of implementation.
1. Establishing clear expectations
Before signing a contract, establish clear expectations and goals for both parties. This includes understanding the scope of work, timelines, payment terms, and any potential risks. By addressing these issues upfront, both parties can ensure they are on the same page and reduce the likelihood of disputes.
For example, a software company is hired to create a new website for its client. Before signing the contract, both parties discuss the website’s features, design elements, and desired launch date. They also clarify the payment structure, including the penalties for missed deadlines.
2. Conducting thorough risk analyses
Both parties should conduct a thorough risk analysis to identify any potential issues that may arise during the contract term. This includes assessing costs, legal compliance, intellectual property, and risks.
For instance, a construction company is hired to build a new office building. Before signing the contract, both parties assess the potential risks, such as material costs, labor disputes, zoning compliance issues, and weather-related delays.
3. Drafting clear and concise contract terms
The language of a contract should be clear and concise to avoid any misunderstandings. Both parties should ensure the contract terms are well-defined, specific, and enforceable. As such, it is vital to establish the appropriate legal framework to govern the contract terms.
A vendor is contracted to supply raw materials to a manufacturing company. The contract legally defines:
- the types and quantities of materials
- payment terms
- quality standards, and
- dispute resolution processes
4. Maintaining open communication
Open communication between the parties is key to effective contract management. Both parties must be willing to communicate openly and honestly throughout the contract term to avoid misunderstandings or potential problems.
Say an advertising agency is contracted to create a branding campaign for a new product launch. During the contract’s term, both parties maintain regular communication to ensure the campaign meets the client’s brand vision and expectations.
5. Reviewing and updating contract terms
As circumstances change, contract terms may also need to be updated. Both parties should review the contract periodically to ensure that it continues to meet their expectations and is still enforceable.
In anticipation of possible future contractual risks, both parties should be prepared to negotiate and update the contract terms.
Let’s say an insurance company updates its policy contract terms to include new regulatory requirements. Before renewing policy subscriptions, the company notifies its customers of the revised contract terms and re-negotiates as needed.
In conclusion, managing contract risk is essential to doing business effectively. The abovementioned strategies can help mitigate contract risk and ensure both parties benefit from the agreement.
What Is Contract Risk?
Contract risk refers to the potential for financial loss or legal liability resulting from breaches or failures in fulfilling contractual obligations. It happens when parties fail to meet their respective duties or circumstances prevent them from doing so.
Contract risks significantly impact the business if not mitigated early on. Here’s a list of contract risk implications.
- Firstly, failure to adhere to them can lead to litigation, financial loss, and harm to brand reputation.
- Secondly, if not resolved, contract disputes can escalate into damaging legal battles that drain vital resources, time, and energy.
- Thirdly, failure to manage and mitigate contract risk can lead to legal and regulatory sanctions that can severely impact businesses, such as the banning of products or services to a particular region or country due to unethical manufacturing processes.
In short, understanding contract risk is critical to safeguarding your reputation, assets, and prospects.
How to Successfully Manage Contract Risk Using Fill
If you’re looking for a platform to help you manage contract risk, Fill is the best solution. Here are some key features and what to do with Fill in your mobile device or computer.
- Contract Template Library: Fill has a library of pre-made contract templates customizable to your specific needs. This ensures that your contracts are legally compliant and reduce the chances of missing essential clauses that could result in future risks.
- Automated Reminders: The platform sends reminders for contract renewals, deadlines, and other important dates. It reduces the likelihood of missed deadlines and potential legal disputes.
- Collaborative Review: Collaborate with other stakeholders to review contracts. All parties agree before signing, reducing the chances of legal disputes or misunderstandings.
- Secure storage: Fill app offers secure storage of contracts, ensuring that your sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access or potential breaches, thereby eliminating the risk of potential data risks.
Using the Fill app to manage your contract risk ensures smooth business operations, saving you time and money.
Sign up for a free account on Fill’s website today and see the other features in action.
