-- Concord, a leading provider of procurement contract management software, is challenging the conventional wisdom surrounding product development with a bold message to founders and business leaders: launch at 70% complete—because waiting for perfection is a costly myth.
Founded by French entrepreneur Matt Lhoumeau, Concord’s journey from startup to a platform now trusted by over 1,500 companies worldwide has been anything but traditional. Lhoumeau recently shared a candid reflection on Concord’s first product launch and the business philosophy that has driven its success: purpose over perfection.
“In 2014, we launched with what we thought was the perfect feature—Google Docs-style collaborative editing for contracts,” said Lhoumeau. “We were five years too early. Legal teams weren’t ready to give up Microsoft Word. That mistake taught us a valuable lesson: perfection is the enemy of progress.”
Rethinking Perfection in Procurement Contract Management
Concord’s evolution into one of the best contract management software providers stemmed from its commitment to learning quickly from real users. Rather than building in isolation, the company focused on shipping early, iterating based on feedback, and simplifying relentlessly. This agile approach is particularly vital in the complex world of procurement contract management software, where customer needs evolve rapidly.
“Founders often chase the illusion of a perfect launch,” said Lhoumeau. “But the market doesn’t care about perfect. It cares about whether you solve a real problem today—even if it’s not pretty.”
This mindset has not only shaped Concord’s product roadmap but also its implementation strategy for clients. Instead of pushing complete system overhauls from day one, the company encourages starting small, focusing on one contract type, and scaling up gradually. This ensures faster onboarding and measurable results.
Simplification Through Subtraction
One of the most surprising revelations Lhoumeau shared is that 80% of his role as CEO now revolves around removing features, not adding them. While many software companies compete on functionality, Concord focuses on usability and clarity.
“We removed enterprise features that less than 1% of customers used,” said Lhoumeau. “It simplified the platform and increased customer satisfaction. Simplicity isn’t something you invent—it’s something you craft over time.”
Concord’s team applies this philosophy to every update, constantly questioning whether a feature will remain relevant in five years and whether it can be validated through a smaller, testable release. For example, while AI-powered contract reporting is a long-term vision, the company has begun by automating simple reports and gradually adding natural language capabilities. Each step is guided by real-world feedback.
The Real MVP: Learning Over Launching
In the startup world, “MVP” or minimum viable product is often misinterpreted as something barely functional. But Concord takes a different stance.
“A true MVP means delivering just enough to begin learning from users,” explained Lhoumeau. “When we help businesses implement the best contract management software, we don’t overload them with features. We solve one critical issue—maybe it’s approval workflows or contract visibility—and build from there.”
This approach allows businesses to adopt procurement at their own pace, making digital transformation more sustainable and less intimidating.
Courage Over Comfort
According to Lhoumeau, launching at 70% complete takes courage. It means facing criticism, navigating gaps, and trusting the process. Yet, it’s those early users—often the ones who complain—that provide the most valuable insights.
“Silence is more dangerous than complaints,” he said. “Complaints show engagement. They tell you what to fix. Silence means they didn’t care enough to try.”
This iterative strategy has paid off. Concord now serves thousands of businesses ranging from startups to enterprise organizations, helping them streamline procurement, approvals, compliance, and contract renewals—all within a modern, cloud-based platform.
A Model for the Future of Contract Management
As organizations across industries seek more agile, scalable solutions, Concord continues to lead the charge by focusing on customer needs, not product perfection. By embracing a philosophy rooted in real-world learning and strategic simplification, Concord is redefining what it means to build and deploy the best contract management software.
For business leaders and founders, Lhoumeau offers a final piece of advice: “What are you building that could launch next week at 70%? What can you remove to make your product better? Ship it. Learn from it. Improve it. That’s how you build something people actually want.”
About Concord
Concord is a cloud-based procurement contract management software platform trusted by over 1,500 organizations globally. Designed to simplify the contract lifecycle, Concord helps businesses automate approvals, improve visibility, and ensure compliance with ease. The platform’s modular approach allows companies to start small and scale at their own pace—making it one of the best contract management software solutions for growing businesses.
Contact Info:
Name: Matt Lhoumeau
Email: Send Email
Organization: Concord
Address: Austin, TX
Website: https://www.concord.app/
Release ID: 89162278
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