Linking Contract Types to Third-Party Paper Workflows (Mandatory Update)

With an upcoming update, contract types will need to be mandatorily linked to a published Third-Party Paper workflow to create new 'Third-Party Paper' contracts or 'Upload For Signature' contracts. With this update, only contract types linked to a Third-Party Paper workflow will be available for creating new Third-Party Paper contracts. This update ensures workflow consistency across your contract management process and enables planned workflow enhancements.

Note: The exact timeline for this change will be communicated directly to workspace admins via email and in-product notifications.

What's changing?

Previously, you could create contracts from contract types that weren't linked to any Third-Party Paper workflow. This will no longer be allowed to ensure seamless workflow integration and support upcoming workflow improvements.

This will not impact business teams or users creating contracts, since we will also do an auto-migration for the remaining unlinked contract types. Covered in detail here.

Note: This change only applies to contract types where the questionnaire and approvals setup have been migrated to workflows. Non-migrated contract types are not affected.

Why this change?

We’re consolidating all contract settings into Workflow Manager, starting with a major release - Conditional Signature Setup. This change also lays the foundation for other upcoming enhancements, like computation builder, giving you more flexibility and control over how workflows are managed.

To support these improvements, each contract type needs to be linked to a published Third-Party Paper workflow. Linking ensures that existing settings from contract types are migrated properly into workflows, so your current configurations carry over smoothly.

By making this transition now, you’ll not only be ready for Conditional Signature Setup but also be prepared to take advantage of future improvements as they roll out.

How to identify and link unlinked contract types

Identify unlinked contract types

We've developed a new feature to help you identify contract types that need attention:

Access Contract Types: In the navigation bar on the left, Click on “Manage” then “Contract Types”.
Check for warning banner:
- Look for an orange warning banner below the contract types heading. The banner will show the exact number of active contract types that need linking (e.g., "There are 8 active contract types...")
View detailed list:
- Click "View Details" button on the warning banner
- Review the complete list of contract types not linked to any published Third-Party Paper workflow
Access Workflow Manager:
- From the side panel, click "Open Workflow Manager" to start linking contract types to workflows

Link contract types to workflows

For each unlinked contract type, you have two options:

Option A: Link to existing workflow

Select a Third-Party Paper workflow that matches your requirements and add the relevant contract type to the Linked Contract Type field. Review all changes and then publish the workflow.

Option B: Create new workflow

Create a new Third-Party Paper workflow specifically for the contract type. Check this help center article to learn how to create a new Third-Party Paper workflow.
Link the relevant contract type to the new workflow and published

Note: If a specific contract type is not in use, you can directly archive it instead of linking it to a published Third-Party Paper workflow.

What happens if no action is taken

If active contract types remain unlinked by the deadline:

We'll automatically create a new Third-Party Paper workflow for each unlinked active contract type post the deadline
While this auto-migration ensures seamless continuity of your processes, taking action yourself gives you complete control over workflow configurations
You can still modify these auto-created workflows after the migration

What remains unchanged

Existing contracts: All existing contracts continue to function normally and will not be affected
Uploading executed contracts: You can still upload executed contracts even if the contract type is not linked to any published third-party paper workflow
Workflow functionality: No changes to how Third-Party Paper workflows operate
Contract editing: No impact on contract editing or collaboration features

Frequently asked questions

Will this affect contracts I'm currently working on?

No, there's no impact on any ongoing contracts.

Can I still upload executed contracts after the deadline?

Yes, uploading executed contracts will continue to work regardless of the linking status.

What if I don't see the warning banner in Contract Type Settings?

If you don't see a warning banner, it means all your active contract types are already linked to published Third-Party Paper workflows.

Can I change the workflow linking after the deadline?

Yes, you can modify workflow connections at any time after the implementation.

Will auto-created workflows have the same settings as my contract type?

Auto-created workflows will include the essential configuration from your contract type, but you may want to review and customize other workflow settings to match your requirements.

My contract type is already linked to a Template Workflow and doesn't need a Third-Party Paper (TPP) workflow. Do I still need to link my contract type to a TPP workflow?

Yes, linking is still required even if your contract type is primarily used in Template Workflows. Currently, you can create Third-Party Paper contracts from any contract type, and the signatories are pulled from the contract type configuration. To ensure seamless migration of these settings to the workflow, all contract types must be linked to a TPP workflow.

You can create a single Third-Party Paper workflow and link all contract types that you don't intend to use for Third-Party Paper contracts to this workflow. After the migration is complete, you can also unpublish this workflow to prevent Third Party Paper contract creation from those contract types.

Need help?

If you have questions about linking contract types to workflows or need assistance with this update:

Contact your Customer Success Manager
Email our support team at support@spotdraft.com

Important timeline

Deadline day: Auto-migration runs for any remaining unlinked contract types. Contract type linking becomes mandatory for all new contract creation

Note: Specific dates will be communicated directly to workspace admins via email and in-product notifications.

Take action before the deadline to maintain full control over your workflow configuration and ensure uninterrupted contract management.