The Contracts Module is a powerful tool for storing, managing, and approving institutional agreements.
Permissions
- Users with the Community Administrator role.
Access the Contracts Module
- Go to the Administration module.
- Select Modules and > click Contracts.
Best Practices for Administrators
- Standardize Link Types: Before launching the module, define 3–4 standard link types so users don't create overlapping or confusing relationships.
- Required Documents: Use Document Types to signal to users which files are mandatory for a specific contract type.
- Workflow Simplicity: Start with a simple "Reviewer > Approver" workflow before adding complex branching logic to ensure user adoption.
Contract Types
This tab defines the high-level categories for your agreements.
- Flexibility: You can create types for Purchase Agreements, Certificates of Insurance, Master Agreements, or any other staff-signed document.
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Custom Forms: For each Contract Type, you can attach a Community Form. This allows you to mandate specific data entry (e.g., "Board Approval Date") whenever that specific type of contract is created.
- If your community has opted into Contracts eSignature premium feature, you will see the option E-Signature Required to enable when creating a custom Contract Type. Once enabled and the user selects the applicable Contract Type when creating a contract. The Signature tab will appear on the contract, after creation.
Note: If your are interested in the eSignature premium feature, please reach out to your Unimarket Customer Success Manager.
Document Types
Use this tab to keep attachments organized within a contract record.
- Organization: By creating types like "Signed Signature Page," "Amendment," or "Pricing Schedule," you ensure that anyone viewing the contract can quickly find the specific file they need rather than digging through a single list of attachments.
Link Types
Link Types define the relationships between different contracts in the system.
- Inward Relationship: Describes how the relationship points toward "this" contract (e.g., "Master Agreement of").
- Outward Relationship: Describes how the relationship points toward "the other" contract (e.g., "Sub-Agreement of").
- Use Case: This is ideal for linking a large Consortium Agreement to the specific supply agreements your institution has signed underneath it.
Workflow
Workflows provide a formal peer review and approval process for contracts before they become "Active."
- Customization: You can design unique paths for each Contract Type.
- Steps: Contracts can be routed through specific individuals or groups for review, editing, and final approval.
- Status: A contract remains in a "Pending" or "Draft" state until it successfully completes the designated workflow.
Settings
This tab controls global permissions for users who have the Create Contracts role (standard users/contract owners).
- Upload/Download: Enable this to allow owners to bulk upload or export their own contract data.
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Contract Renewal:
- Enabled: The "Renew" button appears on active contracts, allowing owners to extend agreements easily.
- Disabled: The "Renew" action is hidden globally, forcing new contracts to be created from scratch once old ones expire.