Survey of 600+ leaders shows organizations embracing document automation are strengthening workflows, while legacy systems leave regulated industries vulnerable to $94K annually

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- S-Docs, the leading 100% native document generation and e-Signature solution for Salesforce, today announced findings from its 2025 State of Document Workflows and Compliance Risk Report. A single error in a contract, proposal, or quote can cost organizations six figures — and damage customer trust. That's the reality for companies still relying on manual document processes, according to the report, which surveyed over 600 professionals in highly regulated industries. Outdated processes are fueling compliance failures, with organizations paying an average of $94,260 in penalties over the past year.

Business-critical documents like quotes, proposals, and contracts keep operations moving and protect organizations from risk. This is especially critical in regulated industries like healthcare and finance, where errors can expose sensitive data and trigger regulatory penalties under policies like GDPR and HIPAA. Automation is helping organizations stay ahead: 100% of those with fully automated document procedures report secure systems, while 73% agree automation reduces compliance risk, and 77% admit errors are inevitable without it. The benefits extend beyond compliance: 69% note easier collaboration, 62% report better visibility into document status and ownership, and 60% report higher confidence in data privacy.

Yet many organizations remain hesitant, citing concerns over data security (49%), fear of losing manual oversight (31%), and uncertainty around regulatory acceptance of AI-generated documents (29%). Ironically, the real risk comes from waiting too long to automate. Sixty-one percent of respondents reported a serious disruption due to a documentation error. And those disruptions carry real consequences. In the past year, affected companies faced audits (49%), regulatory scrutiny (38%), legal exposure (33%), data leaks (33%), and financial penalties (16%).

"With workflows spread across hybrid teams and data volumes exploding, even minor documentation errors can snowball into six and even seven-figure penalties," said Brian Stimpfl, CEO of S-Docs. "The research sends a clear message: automation is the safer and more strategic choice. With a trusted partner, organizations can leverage automation to better manage their data, strengthen compliance, and accelerate operations in a secure, efficient manner."

Additional key findings include: 

Documentation Gaps Threaten Compliance:

54% of respondents agree that document processes are one of the least mature parts of their company's digital transformation efforts73% say legacy documentation systems are among the top five sources of compliance risk today, and over half (56%) say they are the #1 risk49% say their current documentation platforms weren't designed for regulated industriesLeadership Support Protects Data:

While many respondents (88%) believe their companies provide clear guidance on the types of documents that should be considered confidential, the reality is that without automated oversight, the risk of security incidents remain highIn fact, of the respondents that stated their companies do not provide clear guidance, 65% experienced a privacy or data exposure-related incident as a resultLeaders are determined to mitigate this risk with a whopping 78% saying they are personally determined to be a driver of automation adoption in their workplaceDownload the full 2025 State of Document Workflows and Compliance Risk Report here. Learn more about S-Docs at www.sdocs.com.

Methodology

S-Docs conducted The 2025 State of Document Workflows and Compliance Risk Report online between July 9 and 18, 2025. It reflects the opinions of 616 full-time employees in an IT, compliance, or operations role at a management level or higher in a regulated industry in the United States. It was conducted at 95% confidence with a +/- 4% margin of error.

About S-Docs

S-Docs is a document operations platform that helps thousands of organizations — from small shops to global enterprises — scale smarter. It enables any business to effortlessly create and sign critical documents through intuitive, secure document automation and e-Signature solutions. S-Docs goes beyond simplifying workflows — it drives process transformation.

Thousands of organizations in every industry rely on S-Docs to win faster, amplify productivity, and delight customers at every opportunity. Built with your unique needs in mind, S-Docs seamlessly connects to the processes that power your business so you can start streamlining the way your team creates, manages, and shares information instantly — and realize operational efficiency faster.

Media Contact

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SOURCE S-Docs