--- title: Contract Approval Software with Workflow Routing | Aavenir url: https://aavenir.com/solutions/contract-approval-software/ description: Contract approval software routes each contract to the approvers it needs, by reason and value. Contractflow runs on ServiceNow workflow, then sends to sign. updated: 2026-11-07 --- [Home](https://aavenir.com/) / [Contract suite](https://aavenir.com/solutions/aavenir-contract-suite/) / [Contractflow](https://aavenir.com/solutions/enterprise-contract-management-software/) / Contract approval Contractflow · Contract approval # Approvals routed by reason, not by who is copied on email. Contractflow sends each contract to the approvers it needs, for example legal for a clause deviation and finance above a value threshold. Approved contracts go out for signature through DocuSign, Adobe Sign or Conga Sign. Definition ## What is contract approval software? Contract approval software routes a finished draft to every person who must sign off on it, for the right reasons and in the right order, records each decision, and releases the contract for signature only when the route is complete. In [Contractflow](https://aavenir.com/solutions/enterprise-contract-management-software/), approval routing is automated: a route can add approvers for a clause deviation, a sourced award or a value threshold. On ServiceNow the routes run on your workflow and approvals. A leading Southeast Asian bank reported a [5x faster approval cycle](https://aavenir.com/case-study/contract-management-for-leading-banking-financial-services-company-servicenow/). - Approvers are added for a reason: a deviation, a sourced award, a value threshold - Routes run on ServiceNow workflow and approvals, or in Aavenir standalone - Every decision is logged on the contract record - Approved contracts go to DocuSign, Adobe Sign or Conga Sign Our customers ## Procurement, legal, IT, finance, and sales teams run their contracts on Aavenir. American Seafoods Group T.D. Williamson Thrive Express Employment Professionals MUFG State of Utah How it works ## How a contract gets to yes. - A clause deviation adds legal A sourced award adds procurement A value over your threshold adds finance. - Each approver sees why they were added Approve, or send back with a comment Parallel approvals where order does not matter. - E-signature through DocuSign, Adobe Sign or Conga Sign The signed contract returns to the same record Renewal and obligation tracking start from the signed version. Why approvals drag ## Most contracts wait between reviewers, not in review. Two customers described the same problem before moving approvals into Contractflow. ### No defined process A Fortune 500 insurer had no defined approval process before Contractflow and reported a [70% faster contract cycle](https://aavenir.com/case-study/source-to-contract-workflow-improve-contract-cycle-time-efficiency/). ### Too many stakeholders Approvals from several stakeholders delayed execution at a Southeast Asian bank and wore out its legal team. Routing by reason sends a contract only to the people it needs. ### Approval history on email Auditors ask who approved what and why. The reason and the decision now sit on the record. Results ## What customers report after moving to Aavenir. 42%reduced contract risk at a leading Southeast Asian bank [Case study](https://aavenir.com/case-study/contract-management-for-leading-banking-financial-services-company-servicenow/) 5xfaster approval cycle at the same bank [Case study](https://aavenir.com/case-study/contract-management-for-leading-banking-financial-services-company-servicenow/) 70%faster contract cycle at a Fortune 500 insurer on RFPflow and Contractflow [Case study](https://aavenir.com/case-study/source-to-contract-workflow-improve-contract-cycle-time-efficiency/) 5xfaster contract cycle time at a mining company on RFPflow, Onboardingflow and Contractflow [Case study](https://aavenir.com/case-study/accelerate-sourcing-cycle-by-25-source-to-contract/) “ Breakthrough results for our legal team. **Dominic Gyngell**General Counsel, Speedcast, on Contractflow in ServiceNow Aavenir and the alternatives ## How Aavenir compares with the other ways teams do this. | What matters | Aavenir | Standalone contract lifecycle management tools | Shared drives, email and spreadsheets | | Where it runs | Native on ServiceNow, or deployed standalone | Their own platform, connected to other systems by integration | Wherever the file was last saved | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | One record across the lifecycle | Sourcing, contract, obligations and invoices on one record | Usually the contract stage, other stages through partners | No record, only files and threads | | AI at each stage | Aavenir AI extracts terms, reviews against your playbook and tracks obligations, and a person approves | Varies by product, often strongest in review and search | None | | After signature | Obligations assigned, evidence checked, renewals flagged before the notice window | Varies by product | A calendar reminder, if someone set one | | Where others can be stronger | Configured to your workflow, one module or the whole suite | Often a quick start for a single legal team | Free and familiar, until volume grows | Comparisons describe categories of tools, not named products. For named comparisons, see [Aavenir compared](https://aavenir.com/compare/). ## Further reading [AI in contract lifecycle management AI-native vs bolt-on contract lifecycle management: how to tell the difference before you buy Read the article](https://aavenir.com/blog/ai-native-vs-bolt-on-clm/)[Contract management Where contract value goes after signature Read the article](https://aavenir.com/blog/post-signature-value/)[AI in contract lifecycle management AI agents in contract management: what they actually do Read the article](https://aavenir.com/blog/ai-agents-contract-management/) Questions ## Talk to a contract expert Bring a few sample agreements. We will show you Aavenir AI reading them, on ServiceNow or standalone. Schedule a demo ## Before and after sign off [Contractflow The full contract lifecycle on one record Learn more](https://aavenir.com/solutions/enterprise-contract-management-software/)[Contract redlining Agree the text before approval Learn more](https://aavenir.com/solutions/contract-redlining-software/)[Contract repository Where the signed contract lives Learn more](https://aavenir.com/solutions/contract-repository-software/)[Source to contract Awards that become signed contracts Learn more](https://aavenir.com/use-cases/source-to-contract/)[ServiceNow or standalone Compare the two ways to deploy Aavenir Learn more](https://aavenir.com/platform/deployment-options/)[For procurement teams Sourcing, contracts and suppliers together Learn more](https://aavenir.com/solutions/procurement-contract-management/) Frequently asked questions (FAQ) ## Common questions ### ### What is a contract approval workflow? A contract approval workflow is the set of rules that decides who must sign off on a contract before signature, in what order, and why. In Contractflow, approvers are added for reasons such as a clause deviation, a sourced award or a value threshold. [See Contractflow](https://aavenir.com/solutions/enterprise-contract-management-software/). ### ### Can contract approvals run on ServiceNow workflow? Yes. On ServiceNow, Contractflow approval routes run on your existing workflow and approvals, with your users and roles, and every decision lands in the platform audit history. Teams without ServiceNow get the same routing in Aavenir. [Compare deployment options](https://aavenir.com/platform/deployment-options/). ### ### Which e-signature tools does Contractflow support? Contractflow sends approved contracts for signature through DocuSign, Adobe Sign or Conga Sign. The signed copy returns to the same contract record, where renewal dates and obligations are tracked from the final version. [See integrations](https://aavenir.com/integrations/). Have a question we have not answered? [Ask the Expert](https://aavenir.com/contact/) Schedule a demo ## See your contracts run on one record. - **1****A 30 minute walkthrough**Built around your team, whether that is procurement, legal, IT or finance. - **2****Your contracts, not ours**Bring a few sample agreements and watch Aavenir AI extract and review them. - **3****ServiceNow or standalone**We show the deployment that fits the systems you already run. Prefer to talk first? [Contact the team](https://aavenir.com/contact/). The form did not load. [Contact the team](https://aavenir.com/contact/) instead, or refresh the page.