What is the recommended approach to importing existing contracts into CLM?

• A. Import as-is with no validation.
• B. Prepare data to match the Data Dictionary, use the import tool or API, and validate mappings before import; verify post-import integrity.
• C. Only import contracts one by one manually.
• D. Ignore data dictionary and use free text.

Answer: (B)

Aligning source data to the Data Dictionary is essential when importing existing contracts into CLM. The Data Dictionary defines the fields CLM expects, including data types, which fields are required, and how records relate to one another. When you map your source data to these fields, you ensure data lands in the correct place, preserving metadata consistency and enabling reliable search, reporting, and automated workflows after import.

Using the import tool or API to perform the bulk load is important because these methods apply the mappings, enforce the expected data structure, and provide error handling and traceability. Before running the import, validating the mappings helps catch type mismatches, missing required values, or misaligned fields, reducing the risk of corrupt records.

After import, verifying post-import integrity ensures records exist as expected, fields are populated correctly, relationships and dependencies (like workflows and approvals) are intact, and automated processes trigger properly. This end-to-end check protects data quality and the functioning of CLM automations.

Importing as-is with no validation can lead to broken metadata, incomplete records, and faulty workflows. Manually importing contracts one by one is not scalable and defeats the purpose of bulk import. Ignoring the data dictionary and using free text eliminates structured metadata, breaking search, reporting, and automation capabilities.