How Yates Construction Standardized Workflows With Smart Contracts

Managing contracts in construction isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about keeping projects on track, staying compliant, and avoiding costly delays. For Yates Construction, one of the largest construction firms in the U.S., contract management had become a bottleneck. With 5,000 employees across 15 regional divisions, each operating with its own contract processes, inefficiencies piled up.

Agreements were scattered, approvals were slow, and manual tasks drained productivity. Every project involved dozens of subcontractors, each requiring contracts before work could begin. But without a standardized system, delays were inevitable.

By adopting Concord’s Agreement Intelligence platform, Yates transformed its contract management process. The result? Faster project starts, reduced administrative costs, and greater efficiency across the board.

Contracts should accelerate projects—not slow them down

Before Concord, contract management at Yates Construction was a time-consuming process that often delayed projects. Every agreement required multiple steps: drafting, sending, negotiating, editing, reviewing, and finally, signing. But the tools in place weren’t built for efficiency.

• Email slowed approvals – Admins spent hours manually emailing contracts, tracking versions, and following up with subcontractors.
• Lack of standardization created inconsistencies – Each regional office handled agreements differently, leading to confusion and delays.
• Version control was a constant challenge – Contractors could edit files without notifying Yates, forcing administrators to scrutinize every version for unauthorized changes.
• Tracking and visibility were limited – Contracts were scattered across inboxes and shared drives, making it difficult to pull insights or enforce company-wide policies.

“Each time we executed an agreement, I had to manually email it back to the other party,” said Jenny McMullen, corporate contract administrator at Yates Construction. “That single repetitive task took a lot of hours out of my work week—hours that could have been spent on more strategic activities.”

These inefficiencies weren’t just inconvenient—they had a direct impact on project timelines and profitability. Subcontractors often refused to begin work without a signed agreement, meaning that any contract delay slowed the entire project.

A single platform for contract management

Concord provided a centralized, automated contract management system, eliminating bottlenecks and replacing manual processes with streamlined workflows.

• All contracts and templates in one place – No more scattered files or lost agreements. Every contract was now searchable and accessible to the right people, in one contract storage place.
• Automated workflows eliminated email follow-ups – Instead of tracking approvals manually, Concord sent contracts where they needed to go, with built-in notifications to keep things moving.
• Version control protected against unauthorized edits – A full audit trail ensured transparency, reducing compliance risks and saving administrators from endless document comparisons, and breach of contract damages.
• Collaborative tools replaced email chains – Comments, edits, and approvals happened inside the platform, cutting down on miscommunication and delays.

“All messages and comments live right inside the agreement,” McMullen said. “Instead of five separate email chains, we’ve got everything in one place now.”

Faster approvals, lower costs, and improved efficiency

The impact of Concord was immediate. Contract turnaround time dropped from weeks to hours, allowing projects to start on schedule. Yates Construction also saw a 25% reduction in contract administration costs, saving $15,000 per month in labor expenses.

Beyond cost savings, Concord delivered operational benefits:

• Seamless team transitions – When a key team member left, contracts and workflows remained intact, preventing disruptions.
• Stronger subcontractor relationships – A standardized process provided a smoother, more professional experience for vendors.
• Fewer project delays – Faster approvals meant subcontractors could begin work sooner, reducing overall project completion times.

“We had one team member leave, but since she’d set up access to her contracts in Concord, my team jumped right into her workflow,” McMullen said. “Prior to Concord, this would’ve been totally impossible.”

A smarter way to manage contracts in construction

For a company like Yates Construction, contract inefficiencies don’t just cost time—they cost real money. Delayed approvals mean delayed project starts, which can snowball into missed deadlines and revenue losses. The shift to Concord wasn’t just about making contract management easier—it was about driving real business impact.

With a smarter approach to contracts, Yates Construction isn’t just saving money—it’s taking on more projects, completing them faster, and strengthening relationships with subcontractors. For construction companies looking to stay competitive, investing in construction contract management software isn’t optional—it’s essential.