What to expect in the first 90 days of adopting a CLM

When it comes to implementing Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), success starts on day one – or at least it should. With any AI-powered tool, you get what you give. And the onboarding process sets the tone for adoption, user confidence, and the return on your investment. Unfortunately, many organizations learn the hard way that some providers rely on slow, clunky, or third-party-led onboarding processes that leave teams frustrated and behind schedule.

At LinkSquares, we have spent more than a decade helping more than 1000 organizations implement CLM across many different industries and contract profiles. That experience has allowed us to perfect a proven onboarding process that delivers results quickly and consistently. Most customers are fully up and running within 90 days, and some in as little as six weeks.

Here is what you can expect during your first 90 days with LinkSquares and why our process sets the standard in CLM.

Weeks 1-4: Building the foundation

The first month is all about establishing a solid base for long-term success. This is where the first two stages of implementation take place.

• Stage 1: Workflow ideation. We begin by documenting your current contracting process, identifying an ideal future state, and building a tailored project plan that leverages LinkSquares CLM to optimize your contract operations. This ensures your implementation is designed around your unique business needs.
• Stage 2: Set up and training. Your dedicated LinkSquares Implementation Consultant partners with your administrators to configure your account and provide hands-on training. We also identify the early adopters within your organization to make sure the system functions properly before a full rollout.
  

Weeks 5-8: Refining the plan

The second phase is focused on preparing the software and your team for rollout. 

• Stage 3: Reconciliation. Once administrators feel confident navigating LinkSquares, we work with you to validate configurations and confirm that the system matches your contracting goals.
• Stage 4: Launch planning. Together, we implement the rollout plan for your broader organization. This includes communication, training schedules, and adoption strategies tailored to your business.

Weeks 9-12: Driving adoption and going live

The final stretch is focused on organization-wide adoption and measurable ROI.

• Stage 5: Go live. Your teams launch LinkSquares across the organization. Administrators, legal, finance, procurement, and sales all begin using the system with confidence. At this point, onboarding projects are considered complete and your return on investment begins.

By the end of week twelve (if not sooner) your CLM is fully configured, your reporting is established, and your teams are empowered to manage contracts more effectively.

What sets LinkSquares apart

Not all onboarding experiences are created equal. Some providers outsource onboarding to third parties, which often leads to slow ramp-up times, inconsistent training, and costly delays. Others provide only generic training that does not account for your business processes.

LinkSquares takes a different approach:

• Full in-house support. You work directly with our experienced consultants from start to finish, no need to find an implementation agency, no costly scope creep
• Proven timelines. Most customers are live within 90 days.
• A decade of expertise. Our team has refined the process through hundreds of implementations across industries, business sizes, and contract types.
• A tailored experience. Every stage is customized to your workflows, teams, and business goals.

Why onboarding matters

The best CLM in the world will not deliver meaningful ROI if it takes months or even years to implement. Poor onboarding creates risk in your rollout and adoption, which in-turn undermines your return on investment.

With LinkSquares, onboarding is not an afterthought. It is the foundation of your success (and ours!). Our experienced, in-house team ensures your organization achieves a smooth transition, high adoption, and measurable value right from the start. Our years of experience have honed our onboarding into a process that works for hundreds of different customers and contract profiles.

By the end of your first three months, your contracts are centralized, your insights are actionable, and your teams are empowered.

Ready to experience the best onboarding in CLM? Schedule a demo with LinkSquares today.