Contract intelligence 2026: Revisiting the 10 contracting pitfalls

More than a decade after World Commerce & Contracting first identified the 10 pitfalls of contracting, many of the same challenges continue to undermine commercial performance and erode contract value.

Developed in partnership with Ivo, this research revisits the original pitfalls to examine what has improved, where persistent weaknesses remain, and how emerging technologies are reshaping contract management.

Drawing on research involving 162 organizations and 40 practitioner interviews, the report reveals that organizations continue to lose almost 9% of contract value on average among those that measure value erosion, with much of the loss occurring after signature. While progress has been made in early commercial engagement, risk identification and contract development, significant gaps remain in performance visibility, relationship management, governance and organizational learning.

The findings also highlight a growing disconnect between AI adoption and its ability to deliver measurable commercial value. Although organizations are increasingly using AI for contract review, risk identification and drafting, few have established the data foundations and governance needed to translate these capabilities into better business decisions.

The report provides practical recommendations for moving beyond compliance-focused contract management towards contract intelligence, stronger cross-functional collaboration and improved commercial outcomes.