Contract
Overview
Contract – Business Overview
The Contract document is used to formally record and manage agreements between your organization and customers, partners, or vendors. It serves as a single, reliable reference for the terms, duration, obligations, and commercial conditions agreed upon by both parties. In Dafater, the Contract helps ensure clarity, compliance, and consistency across customer and partner relationships.
What the Contract Is Used For
From a business perspective, the Contract document is used to:
- Capture agreed terms such as service scope, pricing conditions, and responsibilities
- Track the start and end dates of business agreements
- Support ongoing customer or partner relationships with documented commitments
- Provide a reference for sales, service delivery, billing, and renewals
- Reduce risks by ensuring agreements are properly documented and accessible
The Contract acts as the foundation for trust and accountability in commercial relationships.
Prerequisites and Setup Requirements
Before using the Contract, businesses typically ensure:
- Customers, partners, or vendors are already defined in Dafater
- Standard contract templates or commercial terms are agreed internally
- Responsible teams (sales, legal, or account management) are aligned on approval authority
- Basic CRM processes are in place for managing customer interactions
This preparation ensures contracts are created accurately and consistently.
Typical Workflow and Business Process Fit
A common business workflow for the Contract includes:
1. Agreement Finalization – Commercial terms are negotiated and approved with the customer or partner
2. Contract Creation – The Contract is created to record the agreed terms and validity period
3. Internal Review and Approval – The document is reviewed to ensure compliance with business policies
4. Active Contract Management – The Contract is referenced during service delivery, support, or billing
5. Renewal or Closure – As the end date approaches, the Contract is renewed, amended, or closed
This workflow helps maintain control and visibility over active business commitments.
Key Business Scenarios Where the Contract Is Essential
The Contract document is especially important in scenarios such as:
- Long-term service or maintenance agreements
- Customer subscriptions or recurring service arrangements
- Strategic partnerships and reseller agreements
- Corporate clients with negotiated pricing or service levels
- Vendor or supplier agreements tied to ongoing operations
In all these cases, the Contract ensures everyone operates under clearly defined terms.
Important Considerations for Users
When working with the Contract, users should:
- Ensure all terms are accurate and reflect the final agreement
- Clearly define contract duration to avoid missed renewals or expirations
- Regularly review active contracts to manage risks and obligations
- Coordinate with sales, finance, and operations to ensure alignment
- Treat the Contract as a live business document, not just a formality
Used correctly, the Contract becomes a powerful tool for managing relationships, protecting the business, and supporting sustainable growth within Dafater.
Basic Information
- Module: CRM
- Document Type: Other
Fields
| Field Name | Label | Type | Required | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| party_type | Party Type | Select | ✓ | Customer, Supplier, Employee | Type of external or internal party involved in contract |
| is_signed | Signed | Check | - | Indicates whether contract has been digitally or physically signed | |
| party_name | Party Name | Dynamic Link | ✓ | party_type | Selected party record linked based on chosen party type |
| party_user | Party User | Link | User | Associated Dafater user representing the contracting party | |
| status | Status | Select | Unsigned, Active, Inactive | Current lifecycle status of the contract in Dafater | |
| fulfilment_status | Fulfilment Status | Select | N/A, Unfulfilled, Partially Fulfilled, Fulfille... | Tracks fulfilment progress against agreed contract obligations | |
| partyfullname | Party Full Name | Data | - | Full legal name of the contracting party | |
| start_date | Start Date | Date | - | Contract validity start date | |
| end_date | End Date | Date | - | Contract validity end date | |
| signee | Signee | Data | - | Name of individual who signed the contract | |
| signed_on | Signed On | Datetime | - | Date and time when contract was signed | |
| ip_address | IP Address | Data | - | IP address captured during digital contract signing | |
| contract_template | Contract Template | Link | Contract Template | Predefined Dafater contract template used to generate terms | |
| contract_terms | Contract Terms | Text Editor | ✓ | - | Detailed contractual terms and conditions |
| requires_fulfilment | Requires Fulfilment | Check | - | Indicates whether contract requires fulfilment tracking | |
| fulfilment_deadline | Fulfilment Deadline | Date | - | Final date by which contract fulfilment must complete | |
| fulfilment_terms | Fulfilment Terms | Table | Contract Fulfilment Checklist | Checklist of fulfilment activities linked to this contract | |
| signee_company | Signee (Company) | Signature | - | Captured signature of company representative | |
| signedbycompany | Signed By (Company) | Link | User | Dafater user who signed on behalf of company | |
| document_type | Document Type | Select | , Quotation, Project, Sales Order, Purchase Ord... | Linked Dafater transaction type associated with this contract | |
| document_name | Document Name | Dynamic Link | document_type | Specific document record linked to the contract | |
| amended_from | Amended From | Link | Contract | Reference to previous contract version amended |
Child Tables
Fulfilment Terms (Contract Fulfilment Checklist)
| Field Name | Label | Type | Required | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fulfilled | Fulfilled | Check | - | Indicates whether the contract requirement has been completed. | |
| requirement | Requirement | Data | - | Defines the specific contract requirement to be fulfilled. | |
| notes | Notes | Text | - | Additional remarks or evidence supporting requirement fulfilment. | |
| amended_from | Amended From | Link | Contract Fulfilment Checklist | Reference to the previous Dafater checklist record amended. |
Permissions
| Role | Read | Write | Create | Delete | Submit | Cancel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Manager | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| HR Manager | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sales Manager | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| System Manager | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Related DocTypes
| DocType | Relationship | Module |
|---|---|---|
| Contract | Links to | CRM |
| Contract Template | Links to | CRM |
| User | Links to | Core |