Recurring services rarely remain unchanged for years. Organizations add locations, modify schedules, change equipment, respond to new conditions and approve one-off work. Each decision may be reasonable. Over time, the operating relationship can become materially different from the document that originally governed it.

Common forms of drift

  • Recurring frequencies change without a written amendment
  • Add-on work becomes effectively recurring
  • Invoice descriptions no longer match contract terminology
  • New locations or equipment are added informally
  • Old pricing remains in the contract while new rates live only in invoices
  • Renewals preserve outdated scope assumptions

Worked example

A location contracts for monthly station servicing. Over time, additional stations are installed, special call-outs become common and the vendor begins billing recurring supplemental treatments. No single invoice appears unreasonable, but the relationship is no longer represented by the original proposal.

Why drift is hard to see

Operations sees current service. Accounting sees current invoices. Procurement may hold the original agreement. Drift becomes visible only when those records are assembled chronologically.

A practical drift review

Build a timeline of scope, pricing, service descriptions and recurring add-ons. Mark each point where the operating pattern changes and identify the document, approval or business reason supporting it.

Governance response

The remedy is not necessarily to reverse the change. Often the right action is to update the governing record so that the contract and reality are aligned again.

Frequently asked questions

Is all contract drift improper?

No. Many changes are operationally justified. The governance issue is whether the written record keeps pace with the actual relationship.

How often should drift be reviewed?

At renewal, after material scope changes, and periodically for high-spend recurring categories.

See the relationship, not just the invoice.

SGG reviews contracts, invoices, amendments and recurring service patterns across the organization.

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