Contract Lifecycle Management in Poland: Market Insights and Strategic Pathways

As Polish businesses navigate increasing regulatory complexity and global competition, Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) is gaining recognition as a strategic lever for operational efficiency, compliance, and competitiveness.

Current Market Landscape

Despite growing awareness, many Polish companies – especially mid-sized enterprises – are still in the early stages of CLM adoption. A recent industry scan identified over 60 companies offering contract management solutions in Poland, reflecting a maturing but fragmented market.

Globally, as more and more organizations have invested in CLM over the past years, the Contract Lifecycle Management market is growing at 12–15% annually.

However, contract data is still fragmented across various systems, engaging significant portions of the workforce in contracting processes (26% on average) which indicates inefficiencies. According to World Commerce & Contracting (WorldCC) benchmark studies, contract-related data in large organizations typically resides in up to 24 different systems, making integration and visibility a persistent challenge that hinders performance and strategic decision-making.

In Poland, many CLM projects seems to fail due to poor change management and lack of strategic alignment. Companies often underestimate the importance of preparing data, standardizing templates, and training users.

Challenges Impacting Competitiveness

Polish enterprises face several structural barriers that hinder their ability to compete effectively:

• Regulatory burden: Poland scores 2.69 (on a scale, the less, the worse) in legal and administrative efficiency, below the EU average of 3.87
• Limited innovation financing: Venture capital investment in Poland is just 0.01% of GDP, compared to the EU average of 0.05%
• Long payment terms: Average settlement time between companies is 65 days, affecting liquidity and agility

These issues directly impact contract execution, risk management, and the ability to scale operations.

Strategies to Improve CLM in Polish Companies

To unlock the full potential of CLM, Polish businesses should consider the following strategic actions:

Start with Process Assessment

Before implementing technology, assess current contract workflows to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Use this insight to design a standardized core model that aligns with business goals. Don’t get swept away by trends or flashy marketing – focus on what your company truly needs, and avoid forcing change where it isn’t necessary. New doesn’t always mean better – so be careful not to discard what’s working just for the sake of change. At the same time, stay alert to outdated practices that have survived only due to inertia or convenience.

Invest in Change Management

Successful CLM transformation requires executive sponsorship, cross-functional collaboration, and comprehensive training. Change agents within the organization can help drive adoption and mitigate resistance. Think about how you felt during the last major transformation announced by the management. Now consider how the entire organization can be engaged so that the change occurs as smoothly and painlessly as possible.

Improve Data Readiness

Prepare legacy contracts, clause libraries, and metadata before implementation. AI tools can assist in extracting and organizing this data, ensuring the system is not launched as an “empty shell”. The golden rule is simple: trash in, trash out. If we don’t first organize our data, even the most advanced technology won’t make the end-to-end process truly effective.

Focus on Integration and Usability

Choose CLM solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing systems and are user-friendly. Avoid over-customization and prioritize scalability to future-proof the investment. Think about how many people – and from how many different departments – you’ll need to convince to adopt a new solution. Make sure it’s easy to use, intuitive, and flexible enough to handle varying data volumes.

Measure and Optimize

Monitor key metrics such as contract cycle time, compliance levels, and administrative costs. Most organizations invest in contract lifecycle management to gain greater visibility and control, accelerate processes, and achieve cost efficiencies.3 Ensure your investment in CLM brings the desired impact.

Our Comments

Contract Lifecycle Management is no longer a back-office function – it’s a strategic capability. For Polish companies, especially mid-sized ones, investing in CLM can reduce regulatory friction, improve financial agility, and enhance competitiveness in the European market. By focusing on process optimization, data quality, and change management, organizations can transform contracts from static documents into dynamic assets that drive growth and resilience.