2026 State of Contracting Report Highlights Key Trends Shaping the Year Ahead
Icertis has released its 2026 State of Contracting Report for the third consecutive year, bringing together Icertis research, third-party data, and industry perspectives that help leaders strengthen performance across supplier, customer, and partner relationships. The report offers a clear view into how contracting is evolving – and what that evolution means for AI adoption, accuracy, and accountability.
Macroeconomic disruptions over the past year have required companies to rethink how they enter into business agreements – and how they analyze agreements already in place. Across the board, contracts continue to serve as strategic levers for business performance.
The 2026 report reveals defining trends shaping the future of contracting:
- AI adoption is growing across the contract lifecycle: 44 percent of companies have deployed, or are actively deploying, AI systems to support contracting workflows. 44 percent of respondents are using AI for contract review, and another 20 percent are using AI for contract redlining. More than 50 percent of C-suite executives expect AI agents to support contract negotiations within the next year.
- Accuracy is non-negotiable as trust remains a key pain point: 55 percent of contract managers cite data output quality as a barrier to adoption. 44 percent of C-suite executives say trust in an AI agent’s ability to complete tasks autonomously is a significant concern. While nearly 90 percent of legal teams that use AI rely on foundational models, only 40 percent use legal-specific or contract-specific models that are built on the right data to deliver accurate outcomes.
- Accountability is the new standard, and teams are measuring what matters: AI is enabling organizations to track contracting processes with greater rigor and connect work to impact. 95 percent of legal operations departments now track what percentage of contracts are on third-party paper; 90 percent track contract value; and 83 percent track obligation performance by counterparty.
“Contracting is entering a phase where AI adoption is being met with higher expectations for transparency, governance, and measurable outcomes,” said Bernadette Bulacan, Chief Evangelist, Icertis. “The organizations that succeed are adopting contract intelligence to bring clarity and control to work – helping teams move faster, adapt earlier, and operate with confidence.”
Despite continued economic turbulence, the imperative to execute contracts with speed, visibility, and precision remains. Looking ahead, the findings signal a pivotal moment for contracting organizations to harness AI’s full potential. The future will belong to those who proactively evolve, leverage technology for strategic advantage, and innovate in a rapidly changing landscape.
Download the 2026 State of Contracting Report