The Future of Contract Management and E-signing – Five Trends
Summary:
The way businesses handle contracts is changing fast. Regulations, smarter technology, rising expectations with security and user experience are reshaping how agreements are created, signed, and stored.
According to Visma Sign’s Nordic research, five key trends are defining this shift:
- Data location matters – Companies are choosing services that store information safely within the EU to protect data sovereignty and privacy.
- eIDAS 2.0 – A new EU regulation will make digital identification and E-signing more unified and accessible across Europe.
- Integrations and AI – Contract management is becoming more connected and intelligent, with automation linking E-signing to CRM and finance systems.
- Security as a standard – Strong authentication, encryption, and audit trails are now baseline expectations — and a clear competitive edge.
- User experience leads the way – E-signatures are now part of great customer and employee experiences, driven by ease, mobility, and trust.
Together, these trends show how contract management is evolving into a seamless, secure, and intelligent process — one that modern organisations can’t afford to overlook.
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1: Data location matters
Global uncertainty and shifting geopolitics are causing concern among business leaders. In this context, knowing where your company’s critical documents are stored is essential. If your provider’s servers are located outside the EU, where regulation may be less strict, both your company’s and your customers’ data privacy could be at risk. In times of geopolitical tension, access to or recovery of data stored abroad may also become more difficult.
With Visma Sign, all stored documents remain securely within the EU, encrypted and protected against disruption in cooperation with trusted data centre partners.
→ Check where your electronically signed contracts are stored — and ensure they are handled safely and in line with the law.
2: eIDAS 2.0
The EU’s eIDAS regulation (electronic Identification, Authentication and trust Services) laid the foundation for E-signatures and timestamps over a decade ago.
In 2024, its updated version, eIDAS 2.0, came into force — further strengthening the legal status of electronic signatures and harmonising standards across the EU.
One major innovation is the European Digital Identity Wallet, a mobile app that allows individuals to identify themselves online, share and manage personal data, and sign documents electronically.
EU countries must make the wallet available to citizens by December 2026. While using it is voluntary, every EU citizen will have the right to use it for digital identification and E-signing.
Visma Sign is fully committed to the requirements of the eIDAS regulation and continues to develop its service accordingly.
→ Ensure that your e-signature provider complies with eIDAS 2.0 and keeps pace with regulatory developments.
3: Integrations and AI reshape contract management
Modern contract management is far more than just signing documents digitally and storing them online. At its best, it’s a core part of efficient, automated business operations.
When an electronically signed contract is automatically transferred into a CRM or accounting system, processes speed up, errors decrease, and information becomes easier to find.
Yet integrations remain underused: only 40% of companies using E-signatures have connected their contracts to other business systems, according to Visma Sign’s Nordic trend report.
Artificial intelligence is also transforming contract management. AI can help draft documents, summarise contracts, automate workflows, and verify compliance.
Our research shows that 75% of large Nordic companies are already exploring AI’s role in contract management.
→ Maximise the value of digital signing by integrating your contracts with key business systems.
4: Security is both an expectation and a competitive advantage
Security is critical for companies of all sizes — and customers demand it. According to Adobe’s Digital Trends report, 88% of consumers expect companies to protect their personal data, but only 49% of businesses meet that expectation.
Security is central to every digital contract process. In Visma Sign’s survey, one in four companies said data security concerns still slow down their digitalisation efforts.
Yet E-signing is more secure than paper, thanks to strong authentication and detailed traceability.
All documents in Visma Sign are encrypted during transfer and storage, with automatic security checks and regular audits ensuring ongoing protection.
→ Meet customer expectations by offering a secure, verified way to sign contracts — and require strong authentication whenever necessary.
5: E-signing enhances both customer and employee experience
Competition for customers and talent is fiercer than ever. Both groups now expect seamless digital experiences. According to Adobe’s research, 77% of customers expect smooth, consistent interactions across digital channels.
E-signatures directly shape that experience. When signing a contract doesn’t require an in-person meeting, it builds trust and convenience.
For both customers and employees, being able to sign securely from a mobile device is particularly important.
Most of the companies in Visma Sign’s research said that customer experience will play a decisive role in how they develop contract management in the coming year.
Ease of use, fluency, and security will lead the way.
→ Make signing simple and seamless. Ensure your customers and employees can sign securely — anytime, anywhere.
Would you like to make your company’s contract management and e-signing more efficient and secure?
Terhi Tella is Senior Growth Marketing Specialist at Visma Sign. She’s inspired by content and communication that create real value, and always strives to see things from the customer’s perspective.
