ActiveMerge’s new web forms feature is built for a specific problem: too many businesses still move documents around as files instead of structured data.
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You send out a PDF, someone fills it in by hand or in Adobe Acrobat, and then a reviewer has to check and store the document and possibly turn it into something else. That old workflow wastes time and creates friction at every step.
Web forms are meant to reduce that by turning documents into links, fields, and automated outputs.
Turn a document into a form
The fastest way to start is to upload an existing document. ActiveMerge accepts PDFs, Word files, and Excel files, which makes it easy to work with whatever format a business already uses.
That matters because most companies do not begin with a blank form, they begin with a document they already trust, such as an order form, intake form, or contract.
Once the user uploads the file, AI reads the document and converts the fields into a web form. Instead of sending someone a PDF and waiting for it to come back filled out, you send a link. The person completes the form online, and the data comes back in a structured way that is much easier to use.
Start from a template when you already have the structure
If the document already exists as a template inside ActiveMerge, you can build the form from there too. That gives you another route for teams that already use template-based document generation.
A simple NDA is a good example. The core fields might include:
- date
- disclosing party
- receiving party
- term period
From there, you can adjust the form field by field. A date can stay a date picker. A term period can become a checkbox. The user can add a signature where needed. The point is not just to collect information, but to make the form easier to complete and cleaner to use.
That flexibility also makes these forms useful internally. They do not have to be customer-facing. A team can use them to generate documents more quickly and with fewer manual steps.
Build in the right level of formality
Not every document needs the same signing process. ActiveMerge keeps that distinction clear.
For lighter use cases, a web form can include a simple digital signature. The response includes a unique record and a digital footprint, which is enough for straightforward signature workflows.
For more formal documents, you can connect the form to the e-signatures tool instead. That option supports more advanced and more compliant signing flows, including multiple signers. In other words, the system lets you choose the right level of rigor for the document instead of forcing every workflow into the same mold.
Customize the experience and keep the result
You can brand the form itself with a logo and colors, and you can show custom text before or after submission. If you do not want to send people to a generic thank-you page, you can redirect them to another page on your own website instead.
You can also let users download the PDF response. That gives them a copy of what they submitted, while the system keeps its own version with the collected data. On the back end, the system stores responses with the document data, and the user can export the generated PDF when needed.
Once the user connects the template and form, the system generates the filled document automatically after submission. It takes a few seconds, but the flow is simple: complete the form, generate the document, and deliver copies to both sides. The files can also be sent to Dropbox, OneDrive, or SharePoint, which fits neatly into a Microsoft-friendly document environment.
Why this matters
The value here is not just convenience. It is the shift from static files to a cleaner document workflow. Instead of chasing completed PDFs, businesses can collect data, generate documents, and store results in one place. That makes the process faster, easier to track, and much less manual.
FAQ
What file types can users turn into a web form?
Users can upload PDF, Word, and Excel files and convert them into forms.
Can users use existing templates?
Yes. ActiveMerge can turn templates already stored in ActiveMerge into web forms.
Is this only for customer-facing forms?
No. Teams can also use these forms internally to generate documents more efficiently.
Can the form include signatures?
Yes. You can use a simple digital signature or send the document to the more advanced e-signatures tool.
Where can users store the generated files?
The system can save files automatically and send them to Dropbox, OneDrive, or SharePoint.
The bigger lesson is simple: if a document is collecting the same information over and over, it should probably be a form. ActiveMerge makes that shift much easier.
