The conventional view categorizes contracts in three types: those that govern what you buy, what you sell, and how you run. A true contract management system should be able to work with any type of contract, on any platform, for any type of user.

Many roles within an organization can author, edit, or approve a contract. A salesperson may use the system to negotiate with a customer. A procurement manager might use it to author a supplier agreement. A business analyst may need access to the system to evaluate the financial impact of a contract.