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Optimizing AI Prompts — Get Better Results from Contract Analysis

Your benefit


ContractHero's AI reads your contracts and fills in data fields automatically -- terms, notice periods, custom fields. How well it works depends directly on how your prompt is written. A clear question tends to deliver better results than a vague instruction. The payoff: less manual correction and more reliable reports.


How it works


The AI understands three types of prompts. A clear, precise question works best:


  1. Ask a question (recommended): Write your prompt as a direct question.
  • Example: "What is the notice period in this contract?"
  • Example: "When does the contract term end?"


  1. Semantic description: Describe what you're looking for without giving an instruction.
  • Example: "The remaining term of the contract"


  1. Instruction: Give the AI a direct command.
  • Example: "Extract the notice period"


All three approaches work. However, the AI is optimized for question-answer pairs -- questions typically deliver the best results.


Tips for optimal prompts:


  1. Go to Settings > Data Fields (or create a field directly in the contract view)
  2. In the prompt field, write a short, precise question about the information you want to extract
  3. Use terms that actually appear in the contract -- the AI works with the document's language
  4. Avoid unnecessary repetition or contradictory information in your prompt


What you DON'T need to include in the prompt:


  • List options: For list fields, the AI automatically recognizes the available values. You don't need to list or mention them.
  • Date format: The format follows your account settings automatically. No need for "Enter the date in DD.MM.YYYY format."
  • Field type: The AI already knows whether it's a text, date, or list field.


Common questions


Should I write prompts short or detailed?
Both can be right. Short, precise prompts are ideal. But if you need a very specific value from a complex contract, some additional context can help. Key rule: don't repeat yourself and avoid contradictory information.


Will my existing prompts still work?
Yes. The AI processes all three prompt types (questions, descriptions, and instructions). Existing prompts don't need to be rewritten, but questions tend to deliver better results.


Do I need different prompts for different contract categories?
Not necessarily. But if you notice a prompt isn't working well for a specific contract type, it can help to create a tailored prompt for that category -- using terms that are common in those contracts.


What is prompt improvement?
ContractHero offers a built-in prompt optimization tool directly in the data field. Here's how it works:


  1. Open a data field and click the pencil icon next to the prompt field
  2. The AI analyzes your current prompt and suggests an improved version
  3. The improved prompt is just a suggestion -- your original prompt stays unchanged
  4. If you're happy with the suggestion, click "Update" to apply it


The prompt improvement tool also catches common mistakes -- for example, if you've listed dropdown options in your prompt or included unnecessary format instructions. In just a few clicks, you get an optimized prompt without needing to understand the technical details.


Good to know


  • The AI is continuously being improved. New OCR technology and enhanced analysis features deliver even more accurate results -- including for tables and scanned documents.
  • The "Jump to Source" feature will soon show you exactly where in the document an extracted piece of information comes from.
  • If synonyms are used differently across contract types (e.g., "term" vs. "contract duration"), it can help to include multiple terms in your prompt.

Updated on: 08/26/2026

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