Contracts are the foundation of business relationships, yet managing them has long been a tedious, time-consuming process. But what if artificial intelligence (AI) could change all that? 

In a lively and insightful panel discussion, experts from NetApp, Workday, and Harbor Labs shared how AI is reshaping contract management today and where it’s heading in 2025 and beyond.

Here’s a glimpse into the conversation—plus, a chance to learn from these industry leaders in their own words.

“Legal demand is going up, and it’s getting more complex,” said Shelle Elzer, Legal Operations Manager at NetApp. Her team supports thousands of contracts across global operations. But when faced with 90,000 agreements to review during a corporate restructuring, it was clear that traditional methods weren’t going to cut it.

By adopting the contract intelligence platform Evisort, NetApp streamlined the process, achieving faster turnarounds and higher accuracy. The results? A savings of $2.5 million substantiated with clear proof on screen during the event. “Come at me with why you think you can’t do this,” Shelle added. “This slide will tell you that you can.”

Workday’s Greg Bennett echoed this, sharing how their legal team uses AI to make data-driven decisions faster. By connecting their contracts with Evisort’s AI-Powered contract intelligence platform, Workday transformed a labor-intensive process into one that supports smarter business moves. “The contract doesn’t stop at execution,” he pointed out. “Contracts are filled with data about your business and customers.”

Every panelist agreed: success with AI is driven by intentional planning and strong cross-functional collaboration. As Shelle emphasized, “It takes a team.” Clear goals and a shared vision are critical for any organization adopting AI. Justin Hectus, Managing Partner at Harbor Labs, described it this way: “We’re building muscles we didn’t have before. It’s not a straight line, and that’s okay.”

Pairing cutting-edge tools with human expertise also emerged as a central theme. Greg highlighted the pivotal role of Workday’s program manager in driving internal adoption of their AI solution. “AI works, but you need people who understand the data,” he said. Together, technology and people create the foundation for success—empowering organizations to deliver fast time to value with confidence and clarity.

Looking to the future, the panelists shared bold predictions for 2025 and beyond. Expect to see AI embedded in everyday tools, from procurement systems to collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams. "Nobody needs another tool to log into," Shelle explained. “We need AI where people already work.”

There’s also growing potential for AI to go beyond making processes faster. “This isn’t just about doing the same thing better,” Justin said. “It’s about doing things we’ve never done before. We’re going to see companies use AI to disrupt entire industries.”

For organizations that haven’t yet embraced AI to turn their contracts into actionable data, the panel’s message was clear: now is the time. “The opportunities are huge,” Greg said. “Contracts don’t just tell you where you’ve been. They tell you where you’re going.”

This recap captures just a fraction of the panel’s insights. To hear the full conversation, including actionable strategies and real-world results, watch the webinar on demand.

Make 2025 the year your team reimagines what’s possible with AI!