Document Templates: Streamlining Document Creation & Management

Managing templates for documents and agreements efficiently is critical for any business. The Envelope Templates functionality in Docusign eSignature enables users to create a template that includes files, defines signature routing rules, sets roles for recipients, and customizes email messages.

But what if you need to create or update individual documents within those envelopes? Without the proper tools, teams run into several challenges:

• Lack of centralization: You have no idea where your documents are located and which version is the most up-to-date one.

• Cumbersome updates: There's no way to update documents across multiple envelopes without duplicating changes, causing compliance risk if updates are missed. For example, an HR department managing state-specific offer letters must maintain separate versions, increasing the chance of errors and compliance risks.

• Version control challenges: Tracking changes in document templates is challenging without built-in version control, making compliance and reverting to previous versions more difficult.

Introducing document templates

With these challenges in mind, we’re introducing document templates that deliver a new centralized way to create and manage your document templates, saving your team time and ensuring compliance. Document templates are designed to make agreement management easier, more streamlined, and more reliable, so you can be confident that only the most up-to-date versions of your agreement are shared with your customers.

Document templates offer enhanced functionality and flexibility when managing agreements.

• Centralized management: A single, centralized repository for storing, updating, and archiving templates for specific documents. This makes it easy to search for document templates, make updates, and maintain an organized library to keep a single source-of-truth.

• Streamlined updates: Changes to a document template automatically propagate to any associated envelope templates that leverage that document. For example, if legal language in a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) needs updating, you can make the change once and ensure it’s reflected everywhere it’s used.

• Dynamic fields for data insertion: Placeholders for data that can be dynamically inserted at the time of generation for sending or signing. This eliminates the need for redundant manual edits and ensures that each document is tailored to its recipient in real-time.

• Support for multiple formats: Document templates support a range of formats, including DOCX, with support for both MS Word Template Assistant and Docusign’s Agreement Template Builder as well as PDF. This flexibility allows businesses to work with their preferred tools and ensures compatibility across use cases.

Join our document templates beta program!

Let’s consider some business scenarios where document templates can make a significant difference:

• Human resources: HR teams can maintain a single offer letter template with dynamic fields for state-specific requirements, job titles, and compensation details. This eliminates the need for separate templates and ensures consistency across all communications.

• Legal and legal operations: Legal teams managing contracts can benefit from centralized version control, ensuring that only the latest, approved language is used. This reduces the risk of outdated terms or errors slipping through.

• Sales teams: Sales representatives can quickly generate customized agreements with accurate customer information, streamlining the sales process and improving client satisfaction.

Ready to simplify your document management?

Document templates represent a new era of efficiency and reliability in document and agreement management. Say goodbye to the frustrations of scattered templates and outdated documents—and hello to a smarter way of working.

Does this look like something that could help your organization? We will be running a beta program from February 2025 - May 2025 and would love your feedback! Learn more about the program or submit your request to join!

Stay tuned for the official launch of document templates, and get ready to transform how you manage your documents.