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The use of paper forms of documentation is rapidly dwindling. Increasing numbers of governments are realizing that going paperless saves both time and money. If a document is legally binding, it doesn’t need to be physically signed by the parties involved.
It was the COVID-19 epidemic that spurred the majority of companies to adopt paperless. Electronic document signing software has been embraced by businesses at an astronomical rate. The use of electronic document signing software makes it possible to digitally sign key documents such as contracts and invoices.
The use of best document signing software will only grow in the future. A snag in this adoption, however, is the need to select the appropriate electronic document signing software free.
There are a number of programs that allow you to type, draw, and digitally add to the papers, making this procedure difficult.
With so many options for the best electronic document signing software, it’s no wonder that the workplace is becoming digital. As part of the workplace’s digitalization, it encompasses technologies like corporate mobility, digital information management, and more.
As soon as you’ve landed on this page, we’ll walk you through the process of selecting the best document signing software for business.
The best document signing software for small businesses may be found in the list provided below.
➤ CEO — Borya Shakhnovich
➤ Mobile App: iOS | Android
➤ Location — Brookline, Massachusetts
To sign and submit papers electronically, there is no better program than this one. Automating and optimising operations, gaining access to payments, and keeping track of paperwork are all made easier with its support.
Reusable templates in this program make mailing papers a breeze and a time saver. SignNow’s workflows let you bundle documents and transmit them to specific people depending on their roles. After signing a document, SignNow allows you to choose from a variety of options for how the document will be handled.
➤ CEO — Ryan Pegram
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — Thornton, Colorado
WeSignature is a current example of best document signing software for business that allows users to digitally sign papers. This app has been used by a large number of professionals for both personal and professional reasons.
Individuals and businesses may sign a wide range of online documents using this easy, fast, and painless program. The WeSignature software allows you to sign documents, fill out paperwork, and follow up with the recipients on a regular basis once you’ve adopted the program.
For years, it’s been the greatest tool for electronically document signing in the industry. Once you start utilizing WeSignature, you’ll be amazed at how quickly your documents will be delivered. With the use of this technology, enterprises may send out a large number of papers simultaneously.
➤ CEO — Will Cannon
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location —340 S Lemon Ave Ste 1760 Walnut, CA 91789
Signaturely is another popular best document signing software. Many individuals choose it when they want a quick and easy approach to get their documents officially signed. The ease with which it may be used makes Signaturely a standout. Online document signing is made simple with our user-friendly and speedy platform.
Signaturely is unique in that it focuses on removing features rather than adding new ones. It focuses on streamlining the signing process by eliminating any stages that aren’t absolutely essential.
➤ CEO —Dan Springer
➤ Mobile App: iOS | Android
➤ Location — San Francisco, CA
DocuSign, with its electronic document signing capabilities, is also a preferred platform. One of the key reasons why the firm has been able to maintain its position as a market leader is because of its simplicity of use.
DocuSign makes it simple to upload documents, add a signature box, and email signed documents to recipients. Teams may easily sustain momentum when sending and receiving critical papers as a result of this.
If you use Google Docs or any other spreadsheet for business, you can easily create electronic signatures using DocuSign and your Google Drive account.
You may use DocuSign to electronically sign papers that can be readily integrated with a wide range of products since it is simple to use and straightforward to understand.
➤ CEO — Joseph Walla
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — San Francisco, CA
Document signing software like HelloSign is highly regarded for the unique capabilities it offers. It excels in the areas of personalization, client service, and pricing flexibility. Embedding and branding the signature alternatives in the papers is also made possible by the API.
It also offers a wide range of extensions and integrations that are compatible with all major online signing rules. It is the greatest electronic document signing software owned by Dropbox, and it has excellent connectivity with many other products, like Google Suite, Gmail, and more.
➤ CEO — Shantanu Narayen
➤ Mobile App: iOS | Android
➤ Location —San Jose, CA
With Adobe Sign, you can manage your processes from any place and on any device because of its feature-rich software. Using this program to sign papers is a common practice because of the ease with which it creates an electronic signature in word format.
In addition to its focus on worldwide compliance, Adobe Sign is noted for its extensive interaction with third-party applications. For both electronic and digital signatures, it has a wide range of options.
➤ CEO — Mikita Mikado
➤ Mobile App: iOS | Android
➤ Location — San Francisco, California
Electronic document signing software like this one is well-known for its user-friendliness and simplicity of use. A free document signing software for business that aids in document management is provided by this service. There is also an automatic workflow, audit history, as well as a drag and drop connection included.
Additional interfaces include CRM, file storage, and payment options for PandaDoc users. The contract management software PandaDoc is worth a try for those searching for an efficient solution.
➤ CEO — Martin Holmstrom
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — Portland, Oregon
Electronic document signing software free that is utilised by a large number of companies. Many hours may be saved by using this service, which is also consistent with e-signature requirements.
In addition to document monitoring, configurable workflows, and automated reminders, this tool offers a free plan.
➤ CEO — Sunil Patro
➤ Mobile App: iOS | Android
➤ Location —Brookline, Massachusetts
This is another excellent electronically best document signing software for business. It’s one of the greatest apps for personal usage of electronic signatures. You may begin uploading papers, preparing them for signatures, and submitting them immediately after signing up for a free trial.
SignEasy is compatible with a broad range of third-party apps and can be easily integrated into your existing workflows. You don’t have to worry about opening, signing, and sending documents using Gmail. Finally, you may take use of a variety of features, like automated reminders, tracking, and signature sequences, among others.
➤ CEO — Julian Zehetmayr
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — Wien, Wien
If you need legally enforceable electronic signatures but don’t want to spend a lot of money, Eversign is a perfect option for you. For a low monthly subscription, you can send a large number of documents without incurring additional charges.
Audit trails, contract management, and app connections are all included in Eversign’s basic features. If a company is trying to expand its user base, or if it wants additional incentives like in-person signing, there is no additional cost.
➤ CEO — Daryl Bernstein, Cary Dunn, and Jonathan Siegel
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — Fort Lauderdale, FL
Electronic signatures are quick, simple, and secure using RightSignature. It’s one of the greatest solutions for mobile electronic signature software since no apps need to be downloaded or installed. With RightSignature, you can drag and drop form fields into PDFs, much like other document electronic signature providers.
Multiple papers may be submitted simultaneously, as well as templates created and shared with others. Documents may be sent out and signatures requested in a certain order.
Custom branding, team stats, and the option to request signer attachments are included in the higher-level plan. While RightSignature’s connectors and partner options are attractive, the company falls short of interacting with a more diverse technology stack.
➤ CEO — Mahender Bist
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — Cupertino, California
Even if the price of eSign Genie appears to be a bargain, it’s actually a high-quality digital signature service. eSign Genie, despite its modest price, is packed with features that make the e-signing process easier and more convenient for both signers and corporations. Connecting to eSign Genie is as simple as establishing a network connection and using the form signing tools.
As opposed to alternatives like PandaDoc or GetAccept, eSign Genie can help you collect electronic signatures at a fraction of the expense. The pay-as-you-go option for infrequent clients is one of the most interesting parts of the business. Additionally, the Professional plan allows for the signing of documents in person and assigning signers, both of which are generally reserved for more expensive e-signature programs.
➤ CEO — Geert-Jan Persoon
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
For senders that need to distribute several documents each month, SignRequest looks to provide a lot of functionality and customization choices.
A post-signature landing page and the option to change the document signing sequence are all included in the Professional plan when generating documents for multiple signers. For small business owners that don’t need to send a lot of paperwork each month, this platform has everything you’ll need to get your docs out there.
SignRequest’s document management features make it easy to keep track of what paperwork is still pending and what paperwork has been completed.
With the ability to create templates, collect signer attachments, and even select the authentication mechanism your signatures may utilise to authenticate themselves, SignRequest is a best document signing software for business or anybody looking for a quick and easy way to sign.
➤ CEO — Ron Cogburn
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — 2701 E. Grauwyler Road Irving, TX 75061, USA
You may use it with a wide variety of business apps thanks to its cloud-based best document signing software for business, it may help speed up internal and external sign offs, decrease the need for paper procedures and boost team efficiency.
DrySign is compatible with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and Salesforce. At the same time, it may be used on desktops, laptops, and mobile devices.
This approach conforms with a number of electronic signing requirements, including the ESIGN Act and the UETA. Smart tracking, audit trails, and multi-factor authentication are provided in DrySign in order to help enterprises lower the risk associated with their transactions.
Thanks to the platform’s dashboard, all documents and activities may be viewed at once. It is possible to request multiple signatures, establish automated notifications, view changes in real time, alter document fields and upload bulk files, and many more options are available.
➤ CEO —Vasiliy Ivanov
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — Bronx, New York
Using KeepSolid Sign, users may electronically sign a variety of documents, including contracts, transactions, and other types of agreements. This product may be set up in the cloud or on-premises.
It is possible to sync documents across several devices, such as PCs, tablets, and smartphones, using KeepSolid Sign. AES-256 encryption is used to safeguard the data in the system. The firm also offers mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.
It is possible for users to sign and annotate files even while they are not connected to the internet, and the edits are then kept. An activity dashboard supplied by the service allows users to keep tabs on the progress of a particular document.
➤ CEO — Samir Smajic
➤ Mobile App: iOS | Android
➤ Location — 2261 Market St #4358, San Francisco, CA 94114, USA
When it comes to sales teams of all kinds, GetAccept’s cloud-based document signing software. Papers like as contracts, agreements, personnel files, and personal documents may all be signed electronically using this system. Sales professionals can give personalized support to their customers thanks to GetAccept, which automates the sales documentation process.
With GetAccept, sales proposals may be accompanied by video presentations. A document analytics tool lets users see when a document is accessed and keeps track of how many times it has been viewed. For those who are interested, they may also observe which parts of the document were the most popular with the receiver.
Customer relationship management and marketing automation systems are compatible with GetAccept’s integrations. Contracts and other papers can be saved for future reference. Signatures may be renewed at any moment, and they can be imported at any time. GetAccept includes a live chat option as well.
➤ CEO — Matthew Moynahan
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — 121 W Wacker Drive, Suite 2050, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Onespan Sign is another best document signing software that are legally binding. Your bank account or insurance policy application may have been signed via OneSpan Sign without your knowledge. OneSpan’s customers can completely white-label the e-signature process so that their brand is always in the limelight, from beginning to end, resulting in high completion rates.
While OneSpan’s e-signature technology has been employed by some of the world’s most security-conscious enterprises (such as IBM and NASA), the company is recognized for its focus on security and compliance.
According to Gartner, OneSpan Sign is also a leading provider of electronic documents signature software for businesses of all sizes.
Fair pricing and willingness to go the additional mile for clients of all sizes are hallmarks of OneSpan’s business model.
➤ CEO — Stephen Curry
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — Singapore
Over the past few years, CocoSign has emerged as an extremely renowned online electronic document signature software. It is one of best document signing software for business for sending, signing, saving, and accessing documents online.
It is capable of automating business processes by closing deals quickly, safely, and legally.
CocoSign enables users to choose a free trial for understanding how the platform should work and how useful it can be. It is easily the best place for online signatures as it improves businesses by automating significant parts of business deals. It is empowered with multiple applications, integrations, APIs, and industry-specific solutions.
CocoSign allows you to get signatures digitally without facing problems in managing paperwork. It provides a user-friendly, digital, and integrated experience for creating e-signatures.
In addition, it also offers cross-platform functionality and can be accessed anywhere. People use it because it is safe, legally compliant, and efficient.
➤ CEO — Jessica Kelly
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — 700 N Valley St Suite B Anaheim, CA 92801
DigiSigner is a cloud-based electronic document signing software and one of the best PandaDoc alternative that focuses on speed, affordability, and convenience of use.
Using the service, businesses and people can sign contracts and agreements from any location in the world, regardless of their location.
DigiSigner is compatible with a wide range of devices, including laptops, tablets, smartphones, and more.
All main e-signature laws, such as ESIGN, UETA, and European eIDAS, are met by DigiSigner.
DigiSigner’s signatures are legally binding and can be used in a court of law.
➤ CEO — Jay Jumper
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location —Chattanooga, TN
A next best document signing software is SIGNiX, which makes it easy for partners in highly regulated industries like real estate, wealth management, and healthcare to use digital signature and online notarization software together.
There are no costs or risks to using the patented SIGNiX FLEX API.
It allows partners to offer military-grade cryptography, enhanced privacy, and permanent legal evidence of a true digital signature without having to deal with paper-based processes.
➤ CEO — Viktor Wrede
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location — Stockholm, Stockholm County
Scrive was founded in 2010, and since then it has grown to become one of the most popular document signing software in the Nordic region.
Over 6,000 satisfied users in 40+ countries have already adopted Scrive’s electronic signature and ID-based solutions to streamline their onboarding and agreement procedures.
Scrive is a reliable digitalization partner that aids companies of all sizes in undergoing digital transitions, even those in highly regulated sectors.
Enhancing the quality of data, security, compliance, and the customer experience all fall under this category. Scrive is a Swedish company owned by Vitruvian Partners with headquarters in Stockholm. To put it simply, it employs over 200 people.
➤ CEO — Gal Thompson
➤ Mobile App: None, web-based only
➤ Location —800 W. El Camino Real, Suite 180 Mountain View CA 94040
A cloud-based service called Secured Signing Software is used to manage electronic signatures. It serves clients across a wide range of industries, from banking and education to construction and real estate.
With this best document signing software, users may digitally sign documents, invite others to fill out their paperwork, and design and distribute customised forms.
Secured Signing facilitates mass invitation distribution. In order to aid businesses, reminders can be set up and more document fields can be added.
Users are able to implement approval workflows and digitally sign Word documents with this solution. The recipient may be able to make changes to the text before signing.
Secured Signing can be used in tandem with popular platforms like Salesforce, Realme, and Microsoft Dynamics 365. Customers can verify their identification with an SMS code and digitally sign documents in a face-to-face transaction.
Users may check how long it will take to sign a form, download and save signed copies of forms, and more from the dashboard.
Secured Signing offers its services on a monthly subscription basis or on an as-needed basis.
Numerous channels for contacting customer care are made available, including a ticketing system, a knowledge base, a toll-free number, and an email address.
➤ CEO — Chris Byers
➤ Mobile App: iOS | Android
➤ Location — Fishers, IN
If you’re looking for an alternative to DocuSign, go no further than Formstack Sign, the top-rated document signing software that’s integrated into the Formstack data management system.
Formstack Sign’s signature automation features and user-friendliness make it ideal for a wide variety of online form uses, including but not limited to online surveys and job applications.
Ade Olonoh, the company’s founder, laid the groundwork for FormSpring on February 28, 2006. There was an earlier platform called FormSpring, which was a precursor to FormStack.
Its original intent was to serve the higher education and marketing sectors as a web-based form maker and workflow management system.
Customers of Formstack who don’t have programming or software talents can nevertheless take use of the integration of more than 50 web applications including customer relationship management (CRM), email marketing (email marketing), payment processing, and document management.
➤ CEO — Shamsh Hadi
➤ Mobile App: iOS | Android
➤ Location — Phoenix, AZ
ZorroSign may be used to manage document-based transactions like payroll and employee onboarding. It’s a digital transaction management and electronic document signing software that runs in the cloud.
For document and signature forgeries based on Blockchain technology, ZorroSign employs a patented forensics tool.
A better and more secure alternative to DocuSign for signing legal, medical, and government documents is available here. In comparison to other document signing software, ZorroSign prioritises protecting the environment.
➤ CEO —Boris Shakhnovich
➤ Mobile App: iOS | Android
➤ Location — Brookline, Massachusetts
PDFFiller is the most convenient online document signing software for creating, editing, signing, and managing PDF files.
Since its implementation in 2008, it has facilitated the transition to paperless operations for many businesses and individuals.
PDFFiller is also included in the airSlate Business Cloud, a convenient package that provides access to many helpful tools.
Using the best document signing software for business to electronically sign papers in the future will save both time and money, making it a need in the near future. Using online document signing software, businesses may keep track of their activities and even set reminders.
Using online best document signing software makes it possible to enhance your journey and provide a helpful signing experience. Take your time, learn more about the applications we’ve already listed, and make an informed selection before committing to one of them.
By using electronic document signing software, individuals can legally bind themselves to a digital agreement. Desktop solutions allow you to edit and sign documents on your own laptop, computer, or mobile device, whereas cloud-based solutions allow multiple users to sign from different locations.
Your acceptance, approval, or obligation to the terms set forth in a contract or instrument signified by your signature or mark. A signature is typically the act of physically placing one’s own handprint on a document. However, handwritten documents are not always required for legal validity.
This provides you with evidence that the other party intended to engage into the contract with you and be bound by the responsibilities that are stipulated in the contract.
YES! When signed with the best document signing software, agreements and other documents become legally binding. When all the conditions for an agreement to be valid and enforceable are met, it is legally binding. The offer, an acceptance, consideration, mutual responsibility, and competence are all necessary parts of a legally binding agreement.
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People often confuse document management vs content management systems. In this article, we’ll explore both DMS and CMS, what the similarities are and how their differences dictate which platform is the best for your business.
Document management and content management are closely related. On the surface, they appear to be the same thing, but when you begin to analyze document management vs content management, you begin to see the differences.
If your business is looking to implement a document management system (DMS) or a content management system (CMS), you may be left wondering which one is right for you. 
The best document management software and content management systems can come with a hefty price tag, so it’s best to learn what you’re investing your money in and which platform will best serve your needs.
We’re here to help ease confusion and answer some common questions, which will put you in a better position to select which type of software you need to use.
Document management software is specifically designed to hold business documents that multiple users can organize, create, edit and access. A content management system applies to several content types like text, video and images, all of which are published publicly through a website.
Technically yes, you can use a CMS to create and store text-based documents. However, we wouldn’t advise using a CMS for document management as it doesn’t provide the same organization and creation tools as dedicated document management software.
Microsoft SharePoint is a document management system that also includes some traditional CMS features. For example, you can create private web pages and share content with other users in your business.
To help you learn more about document management systems and content management systems, we’re going to explore each platform separately, then look at some of the core differences and similarities. 
A document management system is a piece of software that allows companies to manage documents throughout their business. See it as somewhat of a digital filing cabinet, where a range of documents exist and various users are able to access them.
However, unlike a physical filing cabinet, which is only capable of holding documents, an electronic document management system offers much more. 
For example, certain document management software allows you to send out internal communications that help keep everyone up to date on critical business processes. You can also collaborate on documents, access older versions and allow multiple users to edit them.
The most common types of document management systems are on-premise and cloud-based. On-premise document management software gives you total control over your internal servers and allows you to establish security for your documents. 
The cloud-based option means your documents exist on a third-party company’s servers. Cloud solutions make it easier to access documents on multiple devices, as well as collaborate on documents with others.
Among other things, good document management software enables you to create and store document types such as invoices, employee contracts, spreadsheets, training materials and almost any other business document you can imagine. 
The very best also have tools that offer scanning capabilities so you can transfer paper documents to your electronic DMS. Scanning tools include optical character recognition, which lets you edit paper documents that you have migrated to electronic documents.
If you would like more information on what a DMS can do, check out our document management basics article. We also have a document management best practices guide, that outlines how to choose a DMS and make the most of its features.
A content management system is a space that allows you to upload various types of content such as text, images and video. Through various software options, a content management system lets you easily publish content publicly on the web without needing to know how to code it from scratch.
Whether you’re a blogger or a large online publication, you’ll need a content management system in order to create, schedule and publish content. A leading CMS, like WordPress, also offers templates for your website, and gives you the ability to create a unique design. 
Most content management systems let you add multiple users to one centralized content stream. You can give users permission to create, edit and publish content. Other users, such as editors, can also access content and edit where appropriate.
After your website goes live, you can access your content management system and create new web pages within your website. You can also modify content even after you publish it online, and all of this can be done without the need for a web developer. This makes it simple for even inexperienced CMS users.
Now that you have a better understanding of what a DMS and a CMS are, let’s take a closer look at some of the core differences and similarities.
A DMS tends to handle what’s called structured data; it’s a space that allows you to easily categorize, search and share data within one centralized platform.
By contrast, a CMS is a place for unstructured data, where content does not have a defined data model and isn’t organized in a defined manner.
Structured data includes easily searchable data, such as names, addresses, charts, documents and PDF files; whereas unstructured data involves data that’s not easy to search, for example video files and audio files.
The platforms share similarities in that they offer a centralized space to upload, create, retrieve and share content. That’s really where the common ground ends, as the type of content created and shared is vastly different.
By now, you should be able to ascertain which platform is the best for your business. If you’re still unsure, here are some things to consider.
Two other terms you’re likely to come across are enterprise content management (ECM) and enterprise document management (EDM). Despite the different terms, not much separates an enterprise content management system from a standard CMS, and the same is true with a DMS. The main difference is scalability. 
ECM software allows you to add and manage more users, while also giving them the ability to access content and documents from multiple devices in different locations. 
Due to the size of each platform, it’s common to see more tools for automation that allow you to provide fluid updates on business processes and content. This makes enterprise-level management systems ideal for large businesses. 
While the foundations of a DMS and CMS are similar, you can clearly see that each software type is built for different purposes. Both of them will certainly help you manage content and work with others on different content and document types; a defined objective will help choose which platform you need.
Which DMS do you use? What’s your favorite CMS? Do you utilize enterprise content management? How do you keep track of your business’ digital assets? Is there something you wish we explained in the article? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading.

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by Elizabeth Gonzalez | Updated Aug. 5, 2022 – First published on May 18, 2022
Image source: Getty Images
Back in the day, records management was all about wrangling reams of company paperwork into some kind of sensible filing system. Today, most of those physical files have been replaced by electronic records that practically take care of themselves.
And that can be a real problem, according to the Association for Intelligent Information Management (AIIM).
AIIM reports that technology is allowing businesses to collect data faster than they can manage it. The result is serious legal and operational risks.
For example, say your small business accepts credit cards. The way you collect and store that information affects everything from payment card industry (PCI) security to state sales tax to your federal tax return. Without a comprehensive record-keeping strategy, you can create massive administrative headaches down the road — and even run afoul of the law.
This article walks you through the steps to create a records management system that drives efficiency and ensures compliance.
A business record is a document or other evidence of a commercial activity. Business records can be a data point such as a timecard swipe or a paper document filed in a locked cabinet.
When you think of records that way, it’s easy to see how every new technology you introduce in your business creates new data. And every record presents a specific value and risk to your business.
Consider these different record types and the potential value and risk of the information they provide:
These are the questions a document management system needs to address.

Nearly half of Image source: Author
business leaders are not actively engaged in information management. Source: AIIM.
The more technology you use, the more options you’ll have for amassing, storing, and sharing data. An effective electronic record keeping system helps you ensure you’re meeting legal requirements, protecting employee and customer data, and making the most of the data you collect to drive your company’s success.
Consider these benefits:
A records management system ensures your staff has ready access to the records they need when they need them. That can enhance productivity and help you control expenses. It also reduces administrative wheel spinning searching for documents or duplicating data.
Electronic records management software such as DocSend and eFileCabinet can help you manage documents efficiently and move closer to a paperless environment.
According to IBM’s 2019 Cost of a Data Breach, the odds of a business suffering a data breach were nearly one in three in 2019. Small businesses are not exempt; the report showed that small businesses suffer higher costs relative to their size.
An effective digital record management system ensures security levels for all digital records to protect your business from those risks.

Software such as DocSend can make digital records management easier and more secure. Image source: Author
Approaching business records strategically also helps your company capitalize on the data you collect every day to drive organizational results.
For example, job applications and offers are key human resources (HR) records you can use to shape talent management strategy. Digital touchpoints such as content downloads can be used for customer journey mapping and targeted marketing.
Records management allows your business to respond promptly and effectively to lawsuits and complaints. For example, if you fire an employee who files a discrimination and retaliation complaint, the EEOC may require you to produce hiring and pay records covering the entire department.
Knowing the legal significance of your business records and how long to retain them protects your business.
Regulatory authorities such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) require businesses to store and secure company records for specific periods.
Payroll records must be retained for at least two to three years under federal laws, and accident records must be kept for at least five years. Businesses must know the minimum retention standards that apply to each record they create.

eFileCabinet is another great choice for storing and organizing your digital documents. Image source: Author
Following are the phases your business needs to consider when creating a records management system.
A record may be created manually, received, or generated automatically through a transaction. It could be collected by your customer relationship management (CRM) system, received through the mail, typed by an employee, or recorded, as with a Zoom meeting.
AIIM estimates that 60% of data coming into businesses is unstructured, leading to what the organization calls “information chaos.” To combat this, a records management strategy must ensure all records created by company systems are classified according to their value and risks to the business.
Proper record classification allows for efficient filing, retrieval, archiving, and destruction of documents.
Records may be classified under multiple categories. For example, a nondisclosure agreement might be tagged as having a digital signature certificate, as a confidential record, and as a personnel document. Examples of record classifications include:
The next phase in a records management system involves maintaining active records to allow security and access based on your classification system. This includes physical and electronic document storage.
For example, training materials and employee handbooks are often uploaded into an online library of employee resources for easy reference anytime. Employee health records may be stored in a locked cabinet for occasional reference only by a HR manager.
Customer data may be created and maintained by sales staff in a CRM. Some documents such as tax returns might be stored in both online records and secure paper files.
The goals of your maintenance plan are to avoid duplication, enforce version control, and allow efficient access by the right people.
Once records reach the end of their lifecycle, they should either be archived permanently, disposed of, or destroyed.
To create a disposition plan, you will need to identify the retention period for all of your company’s records and create a plan for pulling and disposing of them at the appropriate time.
Many businesses are lax about disposition because it is so easy today to amass and store data online. But obsolete data can overwhelm your records management system, interfere with version control, and impede operational efficiency.
If you’re leery of destroying files, you can simply archive them instead. The important thing is to remove them from active use and to uphold security protocols throughout the document’s lifecycle.
Chaos is costly in your personal life and your business life. With so much data being collected, created, and stored automatically today, creating efficient filing protocols is more important than ever.
With a solid records management plan, you can protect sensitive customer and employee data, access it efficiently, and use it to drive better decision-making.
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BOZEMAN, Mont. & GIVISIEZ/FRIBOURG, Switzerland–(BUSINESS WIRE)–FICO (NYSE:FICO), a leading applied intelligence software company, has reached an agreement to transition its Siron^® compliance business to IMTF. IMTF, a global leader in regulatory technology and process automation for financial institutions, and a strategic partner in the Siron business for more than 20 years, will assume responsibility for the entire Siron anti-financial crime business worldwide. FICO and IMTF are entering into an exclusive agreement for relevant software and intellectual property. This enables IMTF to further develop and extend the Siron Suite and to support the applications and related SaaS offering globally. The transaction includes FICO transitioning all Siron-related customer relationships and commitments to IMTF. IMTF is also buying Fair Isaac Germany GmbH.
Siron’s anti-financial crime solutions provide organizations with analytics-driven applications for end-to-end financial crime compliance. The Siron suite of products include AML (Anti Money Laundering), KYC (Know Your Customer), EMBARGO (sanctions) and TCR (Tax Compliance) with associated case management and reporting.
IMTF has in-depth knowledge of both the regulatory space and the Siron product solutions. This agreement will help expand Siron customers’ current investments in the Siron products with functionalities and new innovations. IMTF’s long-term roadmap is focused on increasing the precision and efficiency of all compliance solutions, along with greater flexibility and ease of adaptation to changing regulations.
“As a leader in regulatory technology, IMTF understands the complexities of financial compliance. We are proud of the work and innovation that the FICO team put into Siron to make it an industry-leading solution and the fact that this same team will be joining IMTF means that customers can rely on a seamless transition. We are confident that IMTF’s investment in the development and growth of Siron will best serve the needs of the customers and partners of the Siron business,” said Will Lansing, CEO of FICO.
Gion-Andri Büsser, CEO of IMTF adds, “The addition and combination of the Siron products with our existing complementary technology offers a unique opportunity to better serve our clients and move towards integrated solutions in the compliance and Regtech space. Through the transaction, we will not only be able to offer existing customers confidence, support and a long-term roadmap for their products but also increase customer value through complementary tools, leveraging the latest developments in AI and data science.”
In addition, Dr. Sebastian Hetzler, currently Vice President of Compliance Product Management at FICO, will move to IMTF in a Co-CEO role to further strengthen the business and extend the global leadership position of IMTF in the RegTech space.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements herein may be “forward-looking” statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual events to be materially different from any future events expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” “should,” “anticipate” and other similar terminology are intended to identify forward looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including risks that the transaction will not be consummated within the expected time period, or at all, and the risk that conditions to the closing of the transaction may not be satisfied. These forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved, or when such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to vary significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect current assumptions and expectations regarding future events and are made as of the date hereof, and IMTF and FICO assume no obligations, except as required by law, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances.
About IMTF
IMTF is a global leader in AML compliance and process automation for financial institutions and has been a strategic partner of Siron for over 20 years. From its headquarters in Switzerland and offices in Europe, Middle East, India and APAC, IMTF serves clients around the world. With repeatedly ground-breaking solutions, IMTF is helping to fight financial crime and to enhance the customer journey while being compliant every step of the way.
IMTF’s offering includes document management solutions and key regulatory use cases to digitize back-office and compliance to improve financial institutions’ bottom line.
Learn more: https://imtf.com/
Join the conversation at https://twitter.com/IMTF_Group & https://www.linkedin.com/company/imtf/
For IMTF news and media resources, visit https://imtf.com/en/insights
About FICO
FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, telecommunications, health care, retail, transportation and supply chain, and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 120 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of airplanes and rental cars are in the right place at the right time.
Learn more at http://www.fico.com.
Join the conversation at https://twitter.com/fico & http://www.fico.com/en/blogs/.
For FICO news and media resources, visit www.fico.com/news.
FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.
FICO:
Julie Huang
press@fico.com
+1 925-405-7803
IMTF:
Maud Vonlanthen
maud.vonlanthen@imtf.com
+41 26 460 66 50
FICO:
Julie Huang
press@fico.com
+1 925-405-7803
IMTF:
Maud Vonlanthen
maud.vonlanthen@imtf.com
+41 26 460 66 50

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When you think of bots, you may think of fake followers or spam, or why a multi-billion dollar takeover bid went bad. But there’s another type of bot — one that’s welcomed within companies — silently plugging along in the back office with little fanfare. And they’re not out to replace us. They’re only here to make our workdays less monotonous by knocking out all those mind-numbing tasks no one, if they’re being honest, really enjoys doing.
These little helpers are born out of robotic process automation, or RPA, a software technology that programs “virtual bots” with specific rules or scripts so they can tackle simple, repetitive, often back-office actions (like, say, copy and paste, program login and data migration). While humans are more than capable of pointing, clicking and dragging, the monotony of spending all day doing something like pulling data from various spreadsheets and documents often prevents us from doing what we do best — thinking critically and creatively. It can even lead to burnout.
More on Robotics35 Robotics Companies on the Forefront of Innovation
 
RPA-powered bots are assisting workforces in a number of industries, ranging from financial services to healthcare. Return on investment is often high, and integration within existing workflows is fairly simple, since RPA is able to imitate how humans work within various apps and programs, doing what we don’t want to do more efficiently and without the negative consequences.
As a result, adoption of RPA technology is only expected to increase, as these software robots continue to free teams up to work on higher-value projects and initiatives. In 2021, the RPA market was valued at $1.89 billion, according to a Grand View Research report, and is forecasted to increase by more than 38 percent year over year until 2030.
While Forrester is predicting a “flattening” in market growth of RPA software beginning in 2023, they do expect rapid growth in RPA services, TechCrunch reports. That means more individual companies will shift resources to managing and maintaining RPA bots and platform infrastructure through consulting, development and other services, instead of software. Also fueling that shift is a move toward AI, with some RPA companies already expanding capabilities by integrating more intelligent automation and machine learning methods.
With more intelligence, RPA is poised to increase automation across industries, expanding from the back office to direct interaction with customers. Even today, RPA and conversational AI tools are working together to provide real-time, in-call guidance to customer service agents. In the future, RPA and other chatbots are expected to join forces to further automate and improve customer experience.
While RPA companies are preparing to take even more off our plates in the future, the work these bots are doing today is having a big impact. Here are some current examples of how robotic process automation companies are helping organizations automate workflows and support their teams.
 
Location: McLean, Virginia
Appian’s RPA works with AI and intelligent document processing to help organizations comply with environmental, social and governance initiatives. Massive amounts of data across departments is automatically ingested by Appian’s RPA, which then identifies opportunity areas to further meet ESG standards.
More on RoboticsA Software Revolution Is About to Sweep Robotics
 
Location: Köln, Germany
Automaited’s RPA technology analyzes an organization’s administrative workflow and identifies the repetitive tasks to automate, such as extracting and transferring document data. The RPA software is able to scrape table rows of data — say, from Excel spreadsheets and other sources — and quickly transfer it into an organization’s enterprise resource planning system.
 
Location: San Jose, California
Automation Anywhere has nearly 2.8 million bots working globally across banking, manufacturing and other industries. The bots handle tasks related to data processing and even quote generation for sales departments. At Bancolombia, a large financial institution in South America serving more than 14 million clients, Automation Anywhere’s bots are working alongside human counterparts, taking on many of the repetitive tasks required in credit review, collections, clearance and settlement, capital markets and international business processes. After implementing RPA and intelligent automation capabilities, Bancolombia saved more than 100,000 human hours across its branches.
 
Location: London, England
Blue Prism, with its team of “intelligent digital workers,” is automating much of the behind-the-scenes HR work inherent in new-hire onboarding. Easily integrated with onboarding platforms like Workday and Oracle, Blue Prism’s digital assistants automate email, forms and calls, and improve multi-channel communication. For Santander, a global financial services organization based in Argentina, Blue Prism reduced onboarding time from six weeks to two days. While HR staff were relieved of some of the more tedious tasks on their to-do lists when hiring a new team member, Santander also found that its new onboarding process improved employee satisfaction and retention.
 
Location: Austin, Texas
BP3 works with companies like Walgreens, Boeing and eBay to optimize and automate business processes using RPA. During the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, BP3 worked with a healthcare organization to optimize the dose registration process, using RPA to automate and upload dose registration, so medical staff no longer had to.
 
Location: Shanghai, China
Cyclone Robotics is a China-based RPA firm that automates business processes across logistics, banking, government and e-commerce. For the Shanghai branch of the Postal Savings Bank, Cyclone Robotics used RPA to create an “intelligent assistant” for each employee. These new assistants took over many of the repetitive tasks that previously led to employee errors and have helped the bank save nearly 450 human hours each month. Cyclone Robotics is also using RPA intelligent robots to assist the finance department of Xingcheng Special Steel. The bots automate orders, receipts and invoicing, as well as product profit process analysis reporting.
 
Location: Edison, New Jersey
Datamatics’ RPA- and AI-powered Trubot helps media companies automate structured content generation and advertising. For improved search capabilities, Datamatics incorporates other deep learning methods, such as natural language processing, natural language generation, image processing and machine learning with its RPA technology to pull metadata — such as title, episode name and synopsis — from over-the-top (known as OTT) and archived content.
 
Location: San Jose, California
By combining robotic process automation and artificial intelligence, Element5 has been able to eliminate much of the backend admin work, like sending and receiving physician orders, that leads to burnout among post-acute care providers. As a company, Element5 aims to eliminate 200,000 manual hours a year to better support home health, senior living and hospice workers with solutions grounded in RPA and AI.
 
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Evention automates the cash management process for hotels, casinos, grocery stores and other businesses using RPA and cloud-based reconciliation. Cash is tracked with biometric-based hardware, automatically reconciling with point of sale and payment management systems. As a result, staff no longer have to count cash, businesses can keep less cash on hand and drops are automatically verified.
More on RoboticsThe Future of Robots and Robotics
 
Location: Tokyo, Japan
In June 2022, HeartCore launched its Robot Store, an online retail space for companies to purchase “ready-to-use” RPA bots capable of processing invoices, reconciling accounts, new-hire onboarding and data entry. HeartCore’s RPA tools will “seamlessly automate a multitude of tasks in an effective and error-free manner,” CEO Sumitaka Yamamoto said in a press release.
 
Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota
During the mortgage application process, RPA bots designed by HelpSystems take over manual tasks like pulling data from internal databases and other portals, automatically entering information into a bank’s mortgage loan origination system. HelpSystems’ bots also automate workflows across multiple applications, from loan origination system to core banking, and detect missing information, automatically emailing the appropriate contact.
 
Location: Westlake, Ohio
For counties and other municipalities managing tax information, Hyland’s RPA is able to handle much of the processing without human help. Recently, Hyland worked with the auditor’s office in Horry County, South Carolina to implement an RPA tool that processed a third of the 90,000 personal property tax returns it receives each year, entering tax return data into its management system and detecting errors and potential fraud by cross-referencing other databases and resources.
 
Location: San Francisco, California
Informed helps lenders verify supporting documents related to income, identity, residence and insurance. The company’s RPA and AI software is able to quickly break down and verify vital information like pay stubs, appraisals, odometer disclosures and proof of insurance against existing data to speed up the loan approval process while rooting out potential fraud and reducing errors in real time.
 
Location: Irvine, California
Kofax uses RPA and intelligent automation to optimize workflows in finance, customer experience and operations. Kofax worked with an Australian transport company to help speed up status update processing for their trip and freight information. By integrating an RPA workflow within the company’s telematic system and data warehouse, Kofax increased update speed by 30 times to “almost real-time” processing.
 
Location: Tokyo, Japan
RAX Suite, Monstarlab’s robotic process automation tool, is helping companies manage employee workloads. With RPA integrated into an organization’s workflow, automated assignment tools determine staff availability to complete tasks while “rules-based task prioritization” decides which tasks take priority.
 
Location: Bellevue, Washington
RPA bots deployed by Nintex Kryon are helping analysts across various industries, from banking to manufacturing, take advantage of the vast amounts of data they acquire. Nintex’s RPA platform provides analysts real-time dashboards, system integration and enhanced cleaning capabilities, helping them process data more efficiently.
 
Location: Orem, Utah
With RPA, Plena Data is able to take over many of the repetitive tasks accounting departments face. For accounts payable, Plena Data’s software robots are able to flag duplicate invoices and zero in on any important details. They also handle bulk deposits and third-party payments, and have the potential to analyze incoming payments throughout the day.
 
 
Location: Pune, India
Propero provides automation solutions to direct-to-consumer brands and other enterprise organizations in partnership with Robocorp, a leading RPA firm offering open-source tools and cloud platform. Working off Robocorp’s open-source platform, Propero helped U.K.-based accounting firm FD Works automate their payroll system. Before integrating RPA into their payroll process, staff at FD Works had to complete numerous tasks manually, like payment file creation and government reporting. By handing off menial tasks associated with payroll to RPA, more attention could be paid to accounting and strategy.
 
Location: San Francisco, California
A robot for every person? That’s the goal of UiPath, a robotic process automation company that provides an RPA platform to organizations to help them become fully automated. UiPath helped Transcom, a global digital customer experience firm, embrace an “automation first” strategy to better manage customer needs, for example. Working with UiPath, Transcom reduced clicks and other manual processes customer service agents had to navigate when assisting customers. Now, 250 bots are completing 2 million tasks each year to support Transcom agents.
 
Location: Palo Alto, California
Uniphore provides conversational AI and automation capabilities to customer service centers. Combining RPA with voiceprint biometric technology, enterprise-grade software as a service, intelligent decision support and self-service guidance, Uniphore provides sentiment, emotion and intent analytics along with in-call guidance. Additionally, it automates after-call work, like call summarization and parts replacement.
 
Location: New York, New York
WorkFusion uses RPA and AI to help financial institutions automate their adverse media search, a process aimed at curbing money laundering. Evelyn, Workfusion’s AI-enabled adverse media screening analyst, searches and records evidence across multiple sources, including internal systems and commercial databases.

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Michael Otey
Oct 18, 2022
Effective project management is essential for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Project management can help your organization to better manage project timelines, deliverables, and budgets while giving increased visibility into the status of a project. As well as into a project’s costs, risks, and team members.
This post is sponsored by Brightwork
The role of project management has been changing within today’s organizations. Project management is no longer just for specialized project managers working with complex software. Projects are now typically owned by each different team. The tools and processes used to deliver projects have also changed. Today, light-touch and easy-to-use project management applications are becoming more popular.
There are a number of ways that businesses can implement project management. Businesses can try to use basic Excel spreadsheets, implement complex project management solutions, or even attempt DIY solutions. Each of these methods has its own advantages, challenges, and limitations.
Excel spreadsheets can be inflexible and fragile – they are easily broken by changing business conditions. Spreadsheets provide limited visibility into projects, and they can also be difficult to share.
Some businesses also attempt to build their own project management solutions using tools they already have like the Microsoft 365 platform. However, they often find that building their own project management system isn’t that easy.
Let’s take a closer look at using Microsoft 365 for project management. BrightWork 365, a unique and advanced project management software, leverages the Microsoft 365 platform to provide a lightweight and effective project management system. The key is that you can use the tools that you are already familiar with.
Previously known as Office 365, Microsoft 365 is the clear leader in cloud productivity suites. Microsoft 365 is based in the cloud, which means there is no need for local servers or other legacy infrastructure. It offers businesses a multitude of tools, applications, and features designed to enhance the user’s ability to work, collaborate, and communicate.
Fueled in part by the pandemic, Microsoft 365 usage has continued to grow rapidly. According to some of the latest Microsoft Office Statistics and Facts, there are 155 million active Office 365 business users, 400 million Outlook.com users, and 115 million daily Microsoft Teams users.  
Microsoft 365 includes many tools that can be used for project management:
All of these tools are part of Microsoft 365, however, combining them into a coherent project management process can be challenging. First, you need to be knowledgeable about all these different technologies. Second, you also need project management expertise and software development skills.
BrightWork 365 is a project management solution built on top of Microsoft 365 and the Microsoft Power Platform. BrightWork 365 is deployed in your Microsoft 365 cloud environment. It provides project management templates, dashboards, reports, and collaborative features to enable project teams to increase their project success rates. While at the same time, giving management high-level visibility of your ongoing projects.
Deploying a project management solution in Microsoft 365 reduces the friction of implementing a separate project management system. BrightWork 365 delivers project management to wherever people are using Microsoft 365, and on the devices they are familiar with.
Let’s look at some of the main Microsoft 365 components that the BrightWork 365 solution utilizes.
BrightWork 365 is suitable for all project types. It offers a small learning curve, and you are able to use it right away (Start) or you can customize it (Evolve) to fit your own business processes, rules, and project workflows.
Built-in dashboards and reports are designed to increase project visibility and information sharing. BrightWork 356 utilizes four main project management pillars:
Let’s have a closer look at how these components work together to help you manage your projects by leveraging the Microsoft 365 platform.
Project and portfolio management templates enable you to get your projects up and running quickly. PPM templates in BrightWork 365 help you to organize and manage the project workflow. These templates allow you to create projects that can record and track all the project information in one place.
BrightWork 365 uses Microsoft Power Apps to build project templates. You can see an example project created by a template shown in Figure 1 below.
BrightWork 365 comes with several built-in templates. Figure 1 shows a project created using the Standard template that’s supplied with the BrightWork 365 PPM tool. Across the top you can see the default Initiate, Plan, Execute, and Close Out processes.
The menu across the top enables you to display information about several different project aspects including:
In the lower portion, you can see a project management dashboard representing the schedule dates along with the current project status.
You can use the built-in templates directly or copy and modify them to create customized templates that better fit your own project management processes.
Projects can be created by project administrators or by team members submitting project Requests. BrightWork 365 helps you set up a smooth project request management system. It provides a Request form that users fill out and then submit to an approval process that is outlined in Figure 2.
The default Request states are:
The request intake form can be configured to match your local requirements and ensure users submit the information that’s most important to describe the project. Requests are built using Power Apps for the forms and Power Automate for the workflow.
BrightWork 365 provides visibility into your  different projects. Projects are the collections of work items that you’re either managing or working with as a part of the project team. The Project view enables you to list projects as well as edit and update project information.
You can optionally approve and assign budgets, as well as track individual cost items and vendor information. You can also log various actions, resolutions, approvals, and notes during the course of the project’s lifetime.
The Project list is built on top of Power Apps. Power Automate drives workflows and automation. Projects are added to Microsoft Teams as channels. SharePoint Online is used for document management and it enables you to create new Office documents, like Word documents, and you can export project management information to Excel.
Portfolios are collections of related projects and programs. You can see a sample of the BrightWork 365 Portfolio view in Figure 3 below.
Portfolios provide visibility into multiple projects so that management can understand the status of each project and make better business decisions. Dashboards are designed to make project statuses more visible for easier decision making. Power Apps provide the dashboard displays and the ability to drill down into portfolios, programs, and related projects for more details. 
Reports use Power BI. Unlike the rest of the Microsoft 365 platform, Power BI requires an additional license. Power BI reports give management visibility into portfolios, programs, and projects. Connectors can pull data from hundreds of on-premises and cloud sources into a single reporting engine. Reports and project status can be delivered to project users on screen and through Outlook email.
Accounts in BrightWork 365 are managed using Azure AD security. There are several security roles in BrightWork 365 that come setup out of the box. The roles included are:
You assign Azure AD users to these different roles.
BrightWork 365 is built on Microsoft Dataverse as the underlying datastore. Dataverse has multiple connectors that enable you to integrate it with a number of other systems like Microsoft Dynamics 365.
Using mobile devices to access your project management systems is another requirement for easy project access and management. PowerApps provides a mobile device interface for BrightWork 365.
Built on the Microsoft 365 platform, BrightWork 365 provides a complete and effective project management solution.  It’s also easy to adopt as it is built using the Microsoft 356 tools that users are already familiar with. Businesses don’t need to cope with complex and unfamiliar tools that require additional infrastructure.
You also don’t need to attempt to reinvent the wheel by building your own project management system. Instead, BrightWork 365 leverages the Microsoft 365 platform to bring the BrightWork 365 team’s years of project management expertise within easy reach of all businesses using Microsoft 365.
See BrightWork 365 in a short video demo!
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October 12, 2022 | Microsoft News Center
STUTTGART, Germany, and REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 12, 2022 — Mercedes-Benz and Microsoft Corp. collaborate to make vehicle production more efficient, resilient and sustainable. With the new MO360 Data Platform, Mercedes-Benz is connecting its around 30 passenger car plants worldwide to the Microsoft Cloud, enhancing transparency and predictability across its digital production and supply chain. The MO360 Data Platform is the evolution of Mercedes-Benz’ digital production ecosystem MO360 and allows teams to identify potential supply chain bottlenecks faster and enable a dynamic prioritization of production resources toward electric and Top-End vehicles. This unified data platform is standardized on Microsoft Azure, providing Mercedes-Benz with flexibility and cloud computing power to run artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics at global scale while addressing cybersecurity and compliance standards across regions. The platform is already available to teams in EMEA and will be deployed in the United States and China.
“This new partnership between Microsoft and Mercedes-Benz will make our global production network more intelligent, sustainable and resilient in an era of increased geopolitical and macroeconomic challenges. The ability to predict and prevent problems in production and logistics will become a key competitive advantage as we go all electric,” said Joerg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Production & Supply Chain Management.
“Mercedes-Benz’ partnership with Microsoft is a testament to the power of the industrial metaverse,” said Judson Althoff, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Microsoft. “Together, we are merging the physical and digital worlds to accelerate value creation. Mercedes-Benz can simulate and refine manufacturing processes infinitely in the Microsoft Cloud before bringing them to the shop floor to enhance efficiency and minimize its environmental impact amid constant change and uncertainty.”
“With the MO360 data platform, we democratize technology and data in manufacturing. As we are moving toward a 100% digital enterprise, data is becoming everyone’s business at Mercedes-Benz. Our colleagues on the shop floor have access to production and management-related real-time data. They are able to work with drill-down dashboards and make data-based decisions,” said Jan Brecht, Chief Information Officer, Mercedes-Benz Group AG.
Redefine production excellence with a unified data platform
With the MO360 Data Platform, the Stuttgart-based carmaker can create a virtual replica of its vehicle manufacturing process, combining insights from assembly, production planning, shop floor logistics, supply chain and quality management. The virtual simulation and optimization of processes before running them on the shop floor helps accelerate operational efficiency and unlock energy savings. For example, managers can optimize operational patterns to reduce CO2 emissions in production.
Mercedes-Benz is also exploring the integration of the MO360 Data Platform with data sources from other departments to enable a digital feedback loop that will spur continuous learning and innovation across the Group.
The recently opened Mercedes-Benz Digital Factory Campus Berlin is the home base for the MO360 Data Platform engineering teams and will become the MO360 training and qualification center for implementing digital approaches globally.
Increase supply chain resilience and efficiency
With the new centralized data platform, teams can instantly analyze and visualize production data, to faster optimize production processes and identify potential supply chain bottlenecks. This enables a dynamic allocation of operational resources within and across plants to prioritize the manufacturing of low-emission and Top-End Luxury vehicles.
The Mercedes-Benz Operations Logistics team will be able to solve supply chain bottlenecks much faster. They can compare the availability of components, including semiconductors, with production orders and position this data against production parameters including operational running plans. As a result, plant managers can keep the production running and prioritize relevant vehicles even if supply chain challenges occur.
Move at full speed toward an all-electric future
The MO360 Data Platform will make it easier to maintain production of both electric and combustion-engine vehicles on a single production line as the market demand gradually shifts toward an all-electric future.
To tackle shortages in components and prevent delivery delays, the MO360 Data Platform will enable teams to explore a variety of production scenarios depending on the availability of components like semiconductors, based on real-time data about the quality of parts and equipment. This is expected to result in productivity gains of 20% in passenger car production by 2025 and help avoid unplanned downtimes and schedule maintenance work in a timely and CO2-friendly fashion.
Reduce ecological footprint from water and energy use to waste management
As part of the MO360 Data Platform, Mercedes-Benz has implemented an analytics tool to monitor and reduce its ecological footprint during vehicle production, a crucial milestone toward the company’s Ambition 2039 initiative to become carbon neutral by 2039. With the data analytics tool, teams can track and forecast carbon emissions, energy and water usage as well as waste management and roll out best practices across the production network. Mercedes-Benz plans to cover more than 70% of its energy needs through renewable sources by 2030 by expanding solar and wind power at its own sites and through Power Purchase Agreements and plans to cut its use of water by 35%¹ through the reuse of water in production.
Democratize data to enhance workforce productivity and distributed teamwork
Mercedes-Benz production staff gets access to the MO360 Data Platform via a self-service portal available on any company device including tablets, smartphones and laptops. Its visualization with Microsoft Power BI provides a what-you-see-is-what-you-get experience, allowing employees to become data workers with the ability to model and correlate data. The Teams Walkie Talkie app provides workers with an instant push-to-talk (PTT) communication on their business phones — no extra device needed.
With the MO360 Data Platform, teams at Factory 56 have shortened their daily shop floor meeting by 30%. In addition, they identify priority tasks to optimize production workflows within two minutes, which took up to four hours prior to the introduction of the platform. From team leads and process engineers to shop and plant managers, employees are encouraged to contribute new use cases to drive process innovation with Microsoft Power Platform.
Working with a global community of internal and external developers, Mercedes-Benz’ process software engineers are committed to open collaboration. They use Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) including GitHub to improve the quality of the software and the speed of delivery. They benefit from Azure Data Lake, Azure Databricks and Azure Purview to process and govern huge amounts of data and run AI and analytics using their preferred development frameworks. For software deployment and operations, they work with Azure DevOps.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
Mercedes-Benz Group at a glance
Mercedes-Benz Group AG is one of the world’s most successful automotive companies. With Mercedes-Benz AG, the Group is one of the leading global suppliers of premium and luxury cars and vans. Mercedes-Benz Mobility AG offers financing, leasing, car subscription and car rental, fleet management, digital services for charging and payment, insurance brokerage, as well as innovative mobility services. The company founders, Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, made history by inventing the automobile in 1886. As a pioneer of automotive engineering, Mercedes-Benz sees shaping the future of mobility in a safe and sustainable way as both a motivation and obligation. The company’s focus therefore remains on innovative and green technologies as well as on safe and superior vehicles that both captivate and inspire. Mercedes-Benz continues to invest systematically in the development of efficient powertrains and sets the course for an all-electric future: The brand with the three-pointed star pursues the goal to go all-electric, where market conditions allow. Shifting from electric-first to electric-only, the world’s pre-eminent luxury car company is accelerating toward an emissions-free and software-driven future. The company’s efforts are also focused on the intelligent connectivity of its vehicles, autonomous driving and new mobility concepts as Mercedes-Benz regards it as its aspiration and obligation to live up to its responsibility to society and the environment. Mercedes-Benz sells its vehicles and services in nearly every country of the world and has production facilities in Europe, North and Latin America, Asia and Africa. In addition to Mercedes-Benz, the world’s most valuable luxury automotive brand (source: Interbrand study, 20 Oct. 2021), Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, Mercedes-EQ and Mercedes me as well as the brands of Mercedes-Benz Mobility: Mercedes-Benz Bank, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services and Athlon. The company is listed on the Frankfurt and Stuttgart stock exchanges (ticker symbol MBG). In 2021, the Group had a workforce of around 172,000 and sold 2.3 million vehicles. Group revenues amounted to €168.0 billion and Group EBIT to €29.1 billion.
Further information on Mercedes-Benz Group is available at group-media.mercedes-benz.com and group.mercedes-benz.com.
¹ In production compared to average 2013/14
For more information, press only:
Microsoft Media Relations, WE Communications for Microsoft, (425) 638-7777, [email protected]
Edward Taylor for Mercedes-Benz, +49 176 30 94 1776, [email protected]
Birgit Zaiser for Mercedes-Benz, +49 160 86 14 753, [email protected]
Katja Liesenfeld for Mercedes-Benz, +49 160 8621488, [email protected]
 
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://news.microsoft.com. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-public-relations-contacts.
 
Forward-looking statements:
This document contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current views about future events. The words “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” ”can,” “could,” “plan,” “project,” “should” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties, including an adverse development of global economic conditions, in particular a decline of demand in our most important markets; a deterioration of our refinancing possibilities on the credit and financial markets; events of force majeure including natural disasters, pandemics, acts of terrorism, political unrest, armed conflicts, industrial accidents and their effects on our sales, purchasing, production or financial services activities; changes in currency exchange rates, customs and foreign trade provisions; a shift in consumer preferences towards smaller, lower-margin vehicles; a possible lack of acceptance of our products or services which limits our ability to achieve prices and adequately utilize our production capacities; price increases for fuel, raw materials or energy; disruption of production due to shortages of materials or energy, labour strikes or supplier insolvencies; a decline in resale prices of used vehicles; the effective implementation of cost-reduction and efficiency-optimization measures; the business outlook for companies in which we hold a significant equity interest; the successful implementation of strategic cooperations and joint ventures; changes in laws, regulations and government policies, particularly those relating to vehicle emissions, fuel economy and safety; the resolution of pending governmental investigations or of investigations requested by governments and the outcome of pending or threatened future legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties, some of which are described under the heading “Risk and Opportunity Report” in the current Annual Report or in the current Interim Report. If any of these risks and uncertainties materializes or if the assumptions underlying any of our forward-looking statements prove to be incorrect, the actual results may be materially different from those we express or imply by such statements. We do not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements since they are based solely on the circumstances at the date of publication.
 
 
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These top contract management software tools will make your contracting process easier and more efficient.
Whether you're a small business owner or a freelancer, managing your contracts is a vital part of any organization. Each step in the contract process can be time-consuming, and the chances of data entry errors are high.
Regardless of the contract management software you choose, you will benefit from efficiencies. It can help you and any team members on the same page about any changes to the document. Most of the software platforms mentioned below can ensure you don't miss any contract renewals, so you don't lose out on any revenue.
Trackado stores all your contracts in one spot, so you can instantly access them from anywhere. You get automatically notified of critical tasks and dates and discover insights about the financial health of your contracts.
With automatic reminders of contract milestones and important dates and the ability to monitor activity, you can manage your contracts more efficiently. You also get full financial transparency over your contract financials, with all the contract billing details in one spot.
Trackado keeps your data safe and private with TSL/SSL and file encryption to guarantee what's yours remains yours. Since the platform is cloud-based, you can access it with a web browser from anywhere without downloading complex programs.
You don't have to worry about extensive training for yourself or any team members because the software is easy to use. You can sign up for free, and if you have questions, you can contact Trackado's support team.
The free option includes one user, 15 contracts, and two custom fields. If you need more, the paid options start with three users, 60 contracts, and five custom fields. If you're a freelancer, you might want to learn the reasons why freelancers should create contracts for work.
PandaDoc is a full-service contract management platform. You can negotiate, customize, e-sign complicated contracts, and keep communication moving with a platform that works at the same speed as you do.
You can create templates and use pre-approved clause choices to customize, build, and fill in error-free contracts quickly. PandaDoc has CRM integrations that allow you to allow your chosen CRM platform to do the hard work and input customer data into your agreements.
PandaDoc allows you to make your sales process more efficient with a simple approval system, signing, order, and customizable user permissions to help keep your stream organized and automate tedious tasks. You might be interested in the things to include in your freelance contract if you are currently creating one.
You can collaborate easily, allowing everyone to remain on the same page as contract changes occur. You can redline parts of a contract and comment on certain document sections. You can also use the general chat feature to collaborate or negotiate quickly.
PandaDoc's other features include reminders about contract renewals. The platform will let you know when it's time for a contract renewal, so you can avoid any issues before the contract renewal by setting up renewal notification emails.
You can store and manage all your contracts in one place with the PandaDocs document repository. You can keep and organize your contracts and other documents in one convenient location and take advantage of the powerful filter and search capabilities.
ContractSafe allows you to store and manage all your contracts. With ContractSafe, you can quickly search for anything, including scanned documents, and stop losing your contracts and folders in shared drives.
ContractSafe takes the safety of your contracts seriously. The company's cloud-based contract management software is SOC2-certified and stores your data in Amazon's AMS ISO 27001-certified data centers with encryption to keep your documents secure.
The platform's permission capabilities enable you to ensure the right people can access each contract. ContractSafe ensures you don't miss any contract deadlines by providing a feature that sends you an alert when a contract deadline is approaching, so you can prepare ahead of renewal time.
There is a free trial, and monthly plans start at $299 per month. The basic plan includes 500 contracts, unlimited users, date reminders, attachments, archives, amendment tracking, fast contract search speed, and OCR bank-level security. If you're unsure where to start with contracts, you may be interested in learning how to write a freelance contract (with templates).
ContractHound allows you to set reminders, so you won't lose track of another contract. You can easily store and organize your arrangements, and you won't have to worry about finding a file again.
Like other contract management software, you can set automatic reminders to receive an email reminder when a contract is approaching its expiry date. If you need to manage and sign documents, ContractHound has a contract tracking and workflow system that helps you manage your agreements. You can use its DocuSign integration to create legally binding signatures.
ContractHound is easy to understand, so you don't have to spend much money on training. The company's support team can help if you have any questions. There isn't a fee to add additional users to the platform, and ContractHound believes it offers its platform at a reasonable price. The company believes its software does the job without the extra bells, whistles, and complex features you don't need.
You can test the software for free with ten contracts, and monthly subscriptions start at $95 a month for 50 contracts. If you're on the fence about investing in the software, you may want to learn the benefits of using contract management software in remote work.
Concord makes managing and signing contracts easy. You can manage your contract lifecycle in the platform since you can create drafts, manage approvals, allow e-signatures, and store documents in one spot.
The platform offers you an all-in-one solution, so you don't have to switch back and forth between programs to handle your contracts. Concord eliminates the need to work on contracts using Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Adobe Acrobat, DocuSign, or other electronic signature platforms.
If you work with a team, you can collaborate in Concord, giving editing permissions to fellow team members or third parties. Concord makes the approval process more efficient because it automatically routes documents to the right person according to your settings, improving speed and compliance.
Like other contract management software mentioned in this article, Concord has features that ensure you'll never miss a deadline or renewal with automated email alerts. The platform also offers reports to help you manage upcoming renewals and terminations proactively.
You can try Concord for free, and pricing starts at $17 per month. You receive unlimited signatures, documents, guest collaborations, unrestricted views, and templates at that subscription level. You also receive negotiation tools, deadline reminders, bulk sending, amendment management, custom rules, and teams.
Being organized is one of the essential elements of personal and professional success. You know what it's like to need a document fast and waste time looking for it. It may even have cost you business in the past.
Contract management software can help you get organized, regardless of your business size. The reviewers of each software mentioned above celebrate the time they've saved using the respective software. You may want to learn about contract proposals if you're starting a business.
Staff writer at MUO, self-published author, and former loyal Blackberry user. She started a personal blog at the end of 2009 and published her first book in 2013. Freelance writing since 2020, she is a Master Certified Life Coach and has her MBA specializing in Entrepreneurship and business sustainability.

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