D365 CRM Software Integration with Icertis Contract Lifecycle Management

In the complex world of business, contracts are the foundation of every transaction. Yet, managing these contracts often becomes a time-consuming and fragmented process, pulling resources away from more strategic tasks. What if there were a way to simplify this process—making it more efficient, transparent, and aligned with your business goals? 

Enter the integration of CRM with Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM). Through a strategic partnership with Icertis, a leader in the CLM space, Microsoft has introduced a cutting-edge feature in Dynamics 365 CRM that transforms the traditional contract management approach. This integration isn’t just about digitizing documents—it’s about creating a seamless, end-to-end contract management experience that enhances the entire Source-to-Pay process. 

This blog explores how this integration elevates your operations, strengthens customer relationships, and drives better business outcomes. 

How CLM Integration Transforms Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM

Managing procurement from start to finish (also known as the Source to Pay process)—sourcing suppliers, negotiating deals, purchasing, receiving goods, and handling payments—is no easy task. However, when you bring a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tool like Icertis into Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM, things get a lot simpler. This integration cuts down on manual work and brings more clarity to every step. 

Breaking Down CLM Integration

Think of CLM integration as plugging powerful contract management features straight into your ERP system, like Dynamics 365 CRM. You can draft contracts, get approvals, track compliance, manage changes, and handle renewals—all in one place. No more jumping between systems or losing track of important details. 

Microsoft and Icertis: A Game-Changing Duo 

Microsoft teamed up with Icertis, one of the top names in contract management, to make handling contracts inside Dynamics 365 CRM straightforward. This partnership of CRM software integration lets you manage everything from sourcing to contract execution without leaving the Dynamics platform. The result? Faster processes, fewer mistakes, and a smoother procurement experience.

What This Integration Brings on the Plate

Key Features and Advantages of CLM Integration

1. Comprehensive Contract Management 

The integration for CRM allows users to leverage Icertis’s advanced CLM functionalities. This includes contract creation, redlining, negotiation, signing, amendments, and termination. By automating these processes, organizations can reduce the time and resources required for contract management.

2. Enhanced Source-to-Pay Capabilities 

The Source-to-Pay process is expanded through CLM integration, enabling platform-level collaboration with external CLM applications. This ensures efficient management of vendor contracts without the need to build custom solutions from scratch.

3. Streamlined Purchase Agreement Flow 

Purchase agreements in Dynamics 365 CRM typically capture transactional data such as agreement periods, product prices, and quantities. With CLM integration, the entire lifecycle of these agreements—from authoring and negotiation to legal approvals and signing—is managed seamlessly. Contracts are initiated in the CLM system, while transactional details are handled within Dynamics 365 CRM.

4. Efficient NDA Management 

Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are critical in many business transactions. The integration allows for the creation, management, and signing of NDAs within the CLM application while Dynamics 365 CRM tracks and manages the associated supplier records. 

Expanding the Source-to-Pay Business Process with CLM Integration 

The Source-to-Pay process involves several key steps, including: 

• Developing procurement and sourcing strategies 
• Managing supplier relationships 
• Sourcing and contracting goods and services 
• Procuring goods and services 
• Receiving materials and services 
• Managing accounts payable 
• Analyzing procurement and sourcing data 

The integration of CLM capabilities strengthens each of these steps by providing a unified platform for contract management. This leads to improved efficiency, accuracy, and transparency, ultimately enhancing cash flow and vendor relationships. 

Making the Source-to-Pay Process Easier with CLM in Dynamics 365 CRM 

Managing contracts can be challenging but integrating a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) tool with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Relationship Management (CRM) changes that. It organizes and simplifies every part of the contract process from start to finish. Two main workflows highlight how this integration makes life easier. 

1. Purchase Agreement Workflow 

Dynamics 365 CRM is great for storing purchase agreement details, but that’s just part of the story. Writing contracts, negotiating terms, handling legal reviews, and getting approvals involve a lot of back-and-forth. This is where CLM tools like Icertis come into play. They take care of the complicated stuff, while Dynamics 365 CRM keeps everything updated automatically. So, when a contract starts in the CLM system, it follows a clear process, and all the important info gets synced with Dynamics without extra effort.

 
2. NDA Workflow 

Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) also go through several steps—creating the document, adding supporting files, and getting signatures. The CLM system handles these steps, making sure nothing is missed. Meanwhile, Dynamics 365 SCM keeps a record of everything, linking the NDAs to suppliers and other key data. This setup keeps everything in order and easy to track.

What Makes Icertis Different?

Icertis is a strong player in the world of contract management. Here’s why people trust them: 

• Built on Microsoft Azure: Icertis runs on Microsoft Azure, so it’s secure and reliable. You don’t need to stress about where your data is stored—it's in a safe, trusted place.

• Manages All Kinds of Contracts: Whether it’s contracts with suppliers or internal agreements, Icertis helps you manage them all. It’s flexible, so you can set it up the way you need.

• Smart AI Insights: Icertis uses AI to give you useful insights. For example, their Risk Assessment tool can help you spot potential issues with contracts and figure out where you can improve.

• Better Risk Management: They also work with language models like Llama and Harvey to improve risk detection. This helps them catch things early, keeping you ahead of any problems.

• Easy to Integrate with ERPs: If you’re already using ERPs like Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, or Salesforce, Icertis fits right in. It also works well with e-signature tools like Adobe, so everything flows smoothly. 

Architectural Overview of CLM Integration

The goal of CLM integration is to sync data and make it easy to connect to external systems. 

Key components include: 

1. ODATA Entities: ODATA entities allow systems like Icertis to pull and sync data in real time. This keeps everything updated as it happens.
   
2. Customizable Workflow Logic: This integration lets you change things up based on what your company needs. You get to decide how updates and processes happen.
   
3. Data Transfer Methods 

• ODATA: For smaller data transfers that need to happen right away, ODATA is the way to go. It helps keep everything in sync within the SCM system. 
• REST APIs: When you’re dealing with larger volumes of data, REST APIs step in. They’re designed to handle bigger tasks and keep things running smoothly. 

Steps for the Integration of CRM with CLM (Dynamics 365 CRM integration with CLM)

Integrating a third-party CLM system like Icertis with Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM involves four main steps: 

1. Enable the Feature:

• Navigate to Feature Management in Dynamics 365. 
• Turn on the (Preview) feature to integrate with external contract lifecycle management systems.

2. Set Up CLM Connection Parameters:

• Go to Procurement and Sourcing > Setup > CLM Integration > Contract Management Parameters. 
• In the Connection tab, enter

1. Connection Name 
2. Base URL 
3. External Navigation Base URL

3. Set Up External Navigation Links: 

• Navigate to Procurement and Sourcing > Setup > CLM Integration > Contract Management Parameters. 
• Under External Navigation Links, configure: 

1. Navigation Type 
2. Navigation Name 
3. Relative URL 
4. Action 
5. Add Navigation Link Query Strings with key-value parameters as needed. 

4. Set Up Your Contract Types:

• Define and categorize the different contract types relevant to your procurement processes to ensure seamless integration and management. 

Conclusion: Transforming Customer Relationship Mangement with CLM Integration

Integrating Icertis CLM with Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM makes life easier. It streamlines the Source-to-Pay process, so you get things done faster and more efficiently. No more endless back-and-forth on contracts. Everything—from drafting to signing—is handled smoothly. Plus, AI tools give you insights that help you spot risks and opportunities in real-time.  

At DynaTech, we know how to make Microsoft Dynamics 365 work for your business. We specialize in setting up tools like Icertis CLM to take your customer experience to the next level. Reach out to us today and learn how we can help you transform your customer relationship management with cutting-edge technology.

Inside Image Source: Microsoft