How to use Agreement Scorecards in DocuSign IAM for auditing

Understanding DocuSign IAM: A Key Tool for Contract Management

In the evolving landscape of digital agreements, businesses are increasingly relying on intelligent agreement management (IAM) platforms to streamline contract lifecycles, ensure compliance, and mitigate risks. DocuSign IAM stands out as a comprehensive solution within the DocuSign ecosystem, designed to handle everything from drafting to auditing agreements. At its core, IAM integrates advanced analytics and automation to provide visibility into contract performance and adherence. One of its standout features, Agreement Scorecards, empowers organizations to evaluate and audit agreements systematically, offering a data-driven approach to risk assessment and operational efficiency. This article explores how to leverage Agreement Scorecards specifically for auditing purposes, while providing a neutral overview of DocuSign IAM and its competitive positioning.

What is DocuSign IAM?

DocuSign IAM, or Intelligent Agreement Management, is an extension of the DocuSign eSignature platform that focuses on contract lifecycle management (CLM). It goes beyond simple signing by incorporating AI-powered insights, workflow automation, and governance tools to manage agreements end-to-end. Key components include centralized repositories for storing contracts, customizable workflows for approvals, and analytics dashboards for monitoring agreement health. IAM is particularly valuable for enterprises dealing with high volumes of contracts, as it supports features like clause extraction, obligation tracking, and compliance reporting.

For auditing, IAM’s Agreement Scorecards serve as a scoring mechanism that assigns numerical or categorical ratings to agreements based on predefined criteria. These scorecards help auditors identify deviations from standards, track renewal risks, and ensure regulatory alignment. Pricing for IAM typically falls under DocuSign’s Enhanced or Enterprise plans, which are customized but start from around $40 per user per month for base features, scaling with add-ons like advanced analytics.

How to Use Agreement Scorecards in DocuSign IAM for Auditing

Implementing Agreement Scorecards in DocuSign IAM for auditing requires a structured approach, blending configuration, data input, and analysis. This feature is accessible primarily in the Enhanced and Enterprise tiers, where auditors can create scorecards to evaluate agreements against internal policies, legal standards, or industry benchmarks. Below is a step-by-step guide to get started, emphasizing practical application for compliance and risk management.

Step 1: Set Up Your IAM Environment

Begin by logging into your DocuSign IAM dashboard. Ensure your account is upgraded to a plan that includes IAM capabilities—Standard or Business Pro users may need to contact sales for access. Navigate to the “Agreements” section and enable the Analytics module if not already active. Here, you’ll create a new scorecard template:

• Click on “Manage Scorecards” under the Admin panel.
• Select “Create New Scorecard” and define the scorecard type as “Audit-Focused.” Input basic details like name (e.g., “Q4 Compliance Audit”), description, and applicable agreement categories (e.g., NDAs, vendor contracts).

This setup lays the foundation, allowing you to tailor the scorecard to your organization’s auditing needs, such as financial audits or regulatory reviews.

Step 2: Define Scoring Criteria and Weights

The power of Agreement Scorecards lies in their customizability. Identify key audit metrics, such as clause completeness, expiration dates, obligation fulfillment, and risk levels. DocuSign IAM uses AI to auto-populate some data from agreements, but manual criteria ensure precision.

• In the scorecard editor, add sections like “Compliance Check” or “Risk Assessment.”
• For each criterion, assign a weight (e.g., 30% for regulatory adherence, 20% for timely execution). Use dropdowns for qualitative scores (Low/Medium/High) or numerical scales (1-10).
• Integrate conditional logic: For instance, flag agreements with missing signatures or unverified identities as “High Risk” automatically.
• Leverage IAM’s clause library to pull in standard terms—e.g., auto-score based on whether GDPR-compliant data protection clauses are present.

Auditors can preview how these criteria apply to sample agreements, ensuring the scorecard aligns with frameworks like SOX or ISO standards.

Step 3: Populate and Apply Scorecards to Agreements

Once configured, apply the scorecard to your agreement repository. IAM’s search functionality lets you filter by date, type, or status.

• Select agreements from the repository or upload new ones via bulk import.
• Run the scorecard: Click “Apply Scorecard” to generate scores. IAM processes the data, extracting metadata like sign dates, parties involved, and attached files.
• For auditing depth, enable webhook integrations to pull external data, such as payment confirmations from ERP systems, to validate fulfillment.

This step is crucial for ongoing audits; for example, in a quarterly review, you could score 500+ agreements in minutes, highlighting those below a threshold (e.g., score < 70%) for manual review.

Step 4: Analyze Results and Generate Audit Reports

With scores generated, dive into analytics. IAM’s dashboard visualizes results via charts, heat maps, and trend lines.

• Review individual agreement scores: Click on a low-scoring item to see breakdowns—e.g., a contract deducted points for lacking renewal reminders.
• Aggregate data: Use filters to audit by department or region, identifying patterns like recurring non-compliance in vendor agreements.
• Export reports: Generate PDF or CSV outputs with embedded scores, audit trails, and recommendations. IAM includes tamper-evident audit logs, ensuring reports are court-admissible.

For advanced auditing, schedule automated scorecard runs via workflows—e.g., monthly scans for expiring agreements. If discrepancies arise, use IAM’s collaboration tools to tag stakeholders for corrections.

Step 5: Monitor and Iterate for Continuous Improvement

Auditing isn’t one-off; use scorecard insights to refine processes. Track historical scores over time to measure improvements, such as reduced risk post-training. IAM supports version control, so updates to criteria (e.g., new regulations) automatically re-score affected agreements.

In practice, this method has helped organizations reduce audit times by up to 50%, according to industry reports, by shifting from manual reviews to AI-assisted scoring. However, users should note limitations: Scorecards rely on accurate data input, and complex legal nuances may still require human oversight.

Benefits of Agreement Scorecards for Auditing in DocuSign IAM

From a business perspective, Agreement Scorecards enhance auditing by providing quantifiable insights into contract health, reducing errors, and supporting proactive risk management. They integrate seamlessly with DocuSign’s eSignature for end-to-end traceability, making them ideal for regulated industries like finance and healthcare. Yet, as with any tool, effectiveness depends on proper configuration and user training.

Comparing DocuSign IAM with Competitors

In the competitive e-signature and CLM market, DocuSign IAM faces rivals offering similar auditing capabilities but with varying strengths in pricing, regional compliance, and ease of use. Here’s a neutral overview of key players.

Adobe Sign, part of Adobe Document Cloud, provides robust CLM features including agreement analytics and compliance tracking. Its auditing tools allow for custom scoring similar to DocuSign, with strong integration into Adobe’s ecosystem for PDF handling. Pricing starts at around $10 per user per month for basics, scaling to enterprise levels with add-ons for advanced audits. Adobe excels in creative industries but may involve steeper learning curves for non-Adobe users.

eSignGlobal, a rising APAC-focused provider, offers global compliance across 100 mainstream countries and regions, with particular advantages in Asia-Pacific. The region features fragmented regulations, high standards, and strict oversight, contrasting with the more framework-based ESIGN/eIDAS standards in the US and Europe. APAC demands “ecosystem-integrated” solutions, involving deep hardware/API integrations with government digital identities (G2B), which surpass the email verification or self-declaration models common in the West. eSignGlobal supports this through seamless ties to systems like Hong Kong’s iAM Smart and Singapore’s Singpass. Its pricing is competitive— the Essential plan at $16.6 per month allows sending up to 100 documents for electronic signature, unlimited user seats, and verification via access codes, all while maintaining compliance. This cost-effectiveness positions it as a viable alternative, especially for 30-day free trial. eSignGlobal is expanding globally, including in Europe and the US, to challenge incumbents with lower entry barriers.

HelloSign (now part of Dropbox), emphasizes simplicity for SMBs, with basic auditing via templates and logs but lacking DocuSign’s advanced scorecards. It’s affordable at $15 per user per month, suiting low-volume needs without deep CLM.

This table highlights trade-offs: DocuSign leads in maturity, while alternatives like eSignGlobal offer value in compliance-heavy regions.

Conclusion

DocuSign IAM’s Agreement Scorecards provide a powerful framework for efficient auditing, balancing automation with oversight. For businesses seeking alternatives, especially in regions with stringent compliance like APAC, eSignGlobal emerges as a neutral, regionally optimized choice with cost-effective features.