Finding a happy path: When simple e-signing solutions fall short but enterprise solutions seem overkill

While growing, companies of all sizes find themselves walking a path between manual operations and fully-fledged enterprise e-signature and contract filling solutions.

On one hand, manual contract operations offer simplicity and direct control. On the other, enterprise document filling and signing solutions provide powerful, automated systems designed to scale operations efficiently.

The gap between those two e-signing extremes can be a trouble maker for many companies - manual operations are no longer sufficient, yet enterprise solutions seem like an unnecessary leap. This is where tools like Agrello come into play.

The Limitations of Manual Operations

Manual operations often start as the backbone of small businesses. They are straightforward, cost-effective, and easy to implement without significant investment in technology.

However, as a business grows, the limitations become apparent. Processes that require manual input are time-consuming, prone to human error, and difficult to scale.

For instance, manually creating tens or hundreds of employment contract amendments can be a  frustrating experience . Getting them signed and managing the whole process is another challenge that is often managed with Outlook and Excel or Google Sheets . The result of managing these operations manually means mistakes and  oversights can be made, and processes can become slow and inefficient. All of which can spell disaster for businesses who need their contracts to be accurate, correct and sent out with haste.

What works with few employees is often not suitable for teams of 30-50.

The mighty Enterprise solutions

On the flip side, enterprise solutions offer a level of automation and integration that can streamline complex processes across various departments.

These systems are designed to handle large volumes of data, automate repetitive tasks, and provide comprehensive insights into business operations.

They are advantageous for companies with high volumes of contracts, lots of administrative employees and solid IT teams.

However, for many companies, the cost, complexity, and resource requirements for implementing these solutions can be a real obstacle.

Finding a Happy Path

So, how do you navigate this path? The key is to find a solution that offers the right mix of automation options and flexibility without being overwhelming and trying to do everything.

This middle ground involves using tools that can grow with your business, offer scalability and play nicely with other tools.

1. Modular Software Solutions: Look for software that allows you to add features or modules as your business evolves. This way, you can start with the features you actually need. When your needs change you can easily either add or remove additional functionality.

2. Automated Tools with Human Oversight: Don't try to automate everything right away. Start by combining automated tools for repetitive tasks with human oversight for quality control. This can significantly increase your efficiency while maintaining the quality of output.

Agrello is a great example for that:  You can use your existing contract templates together with your existing Excel tables for creating many documents with a couple of clicks.

3. Industry-Specific Solutions: Look for solutions tailored to your industry, which are likely to offer the right balance of features for your specific needs without the bloat of unnecessary functions.

Conclusion

Finding a happy path between manual operations and fully automated enterprise solutions  requires a careful assessment.

Based on our experience while helping companies to automate processes around contract creation and signature collection, in most cases it's a  better idea to start small and then scale as teams are getting more used to tools and processes.

By choosing scalable, flexible tools that can adapt to your needs, you can enjoy the benefits of automation without committing to overly complex and costly enterprise solutions.

Want to know more about what Agrello can do for your business? Reach out and schedule a workshop with us.

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