Electronic signature: the advantages of implementing in your company
The electronic signature is no longer a new thing. It is present in the daily lives of many companies. Perhaps its main differential is the convenience it brings to conclude a contract or endorse any other document. In addition, it is very easy to use it, it is enough to have an e-mail, internet access and a secure electronic signature platform, which guarantees the protection and legal safeguarding of the contract.
Some people may still be suspicious of this type of registration, since anything that escapes the traditional ways of honoring an appointment creates a bit of discomfort in those with a conservative profile. But that's only until the person starts using the electronic signature. When she realizes that everything can be done more easily than before, traditional methods are left in the past.
This also occurs during one of the most complicated stages of closing the deal, which is the collection of signatures. Generally, when a physical signature is used, it is necessary to print a large number of sheets and then these papers are sent to each of the parties to sign - and then a lot of patience is needed, since one of the parties may give up, another may take a long time to sign, that is, the risks of not closing a contract because of this are great - and at the end of all this it is still necessary to find an organized and safe place to store this document.
Has your company tried electronic signatures?
Not yet? Do you want to know how to do that? Read carefully this content that we prepared to help you implement it in your activities.
But first, let's differentiate electronic signature from digital signature.
It is important that you know that although different, these two forms of subscription are legally valid. The digital signature is made through a digital certificate issued by a Certification Authority. That authority has the public faith to approve the procedure. The electronic signature, on the other hand, may or may not be signed with the Digital Certificate, which does not mean that it is less secure or that it has less legal validity. There are a series of security procedures that guarantee the integrity of the signature and the signed document.
The digital signature is used in some very specific situations, mainly because the amounts charged for it are usually higher than those for the electronic signature. As both forms of signing are legally valid and the electronic signature is the one with the lowest price, this model tends to be more used in the market today.
Thus, companies of the most diverse sizes and segments are already using electronic signatures.
Electronic signature via platform
There are some platforms on the market for electronic signatures. They work with special tools and algorithms that guarantee the safety of the process. Anyone can sign a document quickly and effectively.
After electronic signatures became widely available, deals such as rental contracts, health plans, buying and selling, legal notifications, and purchases of products and services in general, became much easier and faster to complete.
Try Clicksign's electronic signature platform for free
How to use?
The first point to highlight is that it is not necessary to use any sheet of paper. The document issuer accesses the signature platform with their login and password and uploads the file, which can be a PDF or .docx (Word) file. It then lists the signers' emails to collect their signatures completely electronically.
Each of the signers receives a unique link to sign the document. The signature can be made with the Digital Certificate, or by any computer, cell phone or tablet with internet access. In a very simple and practical way.
After collecting everyone's signature, the document is securely stored in encrypted form in the issuer's account, who at their discretion can leave it on the platform or export it to any other place they wish to store.
Why use?
One of the enormous advantages of electronic signatures is the possibility of signing contracts anytime and from anywhere, requiring only the Digital Certificate, or a device with internet access. Another advantage is that it is possible to check and verify the content of each document to be signed.
The documents are saved automatically and securely. And both the sender and the parties have access to the content they have signed via web or e-mail and can print it if they so wish.
The Subscription Log
On the electronic signature platform of Clicksign, every electronically signed document has an attached page with the history of the signatures. This section is called the Subscription Log. It records in detail the entire identification and authentication process of the parties that signed the document. The Subscription Log contains the names, IP addresses, emails, authentication method, and time at which it was signed.
After the parties have signed, the file receives two important tags: one of them is the document number in Clicksign, which is present on every page; and the other is the unique hash of the original file.
The signature log is what unites the document and the signers. It is intended to serve as legally valid evidence. This document finalized with the Log is stamped with the Clicksign digital certificate, which indicates in an auditable way the origin of the Clicksign platform.
The union between contract management and electronic signature
Recently, Clicksign launched a new type of service. It's about the Clicksign Automation, an online contract automation and management platform. Through it, it is possible to create a contract using a form that the issuer of the document will develop according to your needs and send it for the parties to complete and sign. The form is sent by email, SMS or Whatsapp. And then, in one click, the subscription is carried out. A copy of the signed contract is sent to the e-mail of each of the parties and if by chance they think it is necessary they can print it out and store it physically.
This contract is stored in the cloud and requires a login and password to access it. All of this is done to provide maximum security when dealing with electronic documents. Clicksign Automation uses all of Clicksign's electronic signature technology. Thus, tools such as cryptography and hashing to control the integrity of contracts are used to protect documents.
Do you still have doubts that electronic signatures are one of the most efficient tools when you want speed and security to close a deal? I bet not!
