Discover once and for all what electronic signature is

In a world permeated by digital transformation, we have witnessed a significant change in the way in which business is carried out. The digitization of business processes and the adoption of technologies such as electronic signatures were essential for companies to expand their business globally, not only reaching a larger audience, but also improving their operational efficiency.

Faced with an industry 5.0, geographical expansion will not stop here: according to research Global Tech Trends 2022, 72% of leaders indicated that their organization plans to expand in the next 12 months, whether for a new city (31%), a new country (33%), or even a new region (38%).

In the current scenario, new forms of communication and transactions have emerged, bringing with them the need to guarantee the authenticity and integrity of documents generated by agreements, contracts, and other types of electronic business.

In this context, it is worth noting that this type of technology only has to grow: by 2030, Global e-signature market is expected to reach US$ 48.2 billion, according to Global Industry Analysts.In this article, in order to understand how to make the most of this technology, we are going to discuss what electronic signature is, what are its benefits and learn three Clicksign solutions that will help you incorporate it into your business.

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What is an electronic signature and how does it work?

An electronic signature is a technology that produces all the ordinary effects of a handwritten signature or a digitized signature, and may contain an even higher level of security and reliability. It works as a kind of “electronic seal”, by which we are able to validate an agreement by means of a document and identify whether it was actually signed by the indicated person.

In Brazil, the Clicksign It is the pioneering company in the electronic signature market, with more than 10 million signed documents and the only Brazilian company in the electronic signature market with ISO 27001 certification (globally recognized standard for Information Security management).

In practice, the electronic signature must guarantee the verification of three factors: integrity (guaranteed by Hash Code, a high-security technology used to encrypt the original signed document), liaison (the way in which the link is made between the person signing and the document) and authenticity (demonstrated from the different authentication methods).

What is the difference between electronic and digital signatures?

Legally, there is no difference between electronic and digital signatures, the two terms being synonymous with a method used to validate documents and records electronically.

Does electronic signature have legal validity?

Since 2001, the legal validity of electronic signatures has been guaranteed by Provisional Measure 2,200-2, which regulated the use of electronic means to formalize a document. Thus, electronic signatures were recognized as a secure and reliable way to sign documents, both in commercial transactions and in legal processes.

In practice, electronic signatures must guarantee the verification of three factors: integrity (guaranteed by Hash Code, a high-security technology used to encrypt the original signed document), link (the way in which the link occurs between the person signing and the document) and authenticity (demonstrated from the different authentication methods).

More recently, in 2020, the use of electronic signatures was also regulated for public entities by Law 14,063, known as the Digital Signature Act, classifying this signature into three types. We will see more about them below.

What are the types of electronic signatures?

After the Digital Signature Act, electronic signatures were divided into three types: unsophisticated, using basic resources, such as data and information storage; advanced, which is authenticated by tokens, selfie, pix, and others; and qualified, which is authenticated by digital certificate, e-CPF and e-CNPJ.

A simple electronic signature is one that, as its name says, offers the simplest form of authentication, using less refined forms of identification of the person signing the document, such as through an email or even the IP address of the device used at the time of signing.

The advanced electronic signature, on the other hand, is one that uses other means of proving the authorship and integrity of the signed document, offering a high level of security and guaranteeing the full identification of the signer.

In parallel, a qualified electronic signature is one that uses an ICP-Brazil Digital Certificate as an authentication method.

What are the benefits of using this subscription?

With technology rapidly advancing, signing documents electronically offers a number of advantages compared to traditional paper signature methods. Because of this, electronic signatures have become increasingly popular and widely used in various sectors. Let's see:

Then, check out five significant benefits of electronic signatures that can revolutionize your business:

Agility and efficiency in processes

By opting for electronic signature, you eliminate the long cycle of printing, manually signing, scanning, sending physical documents, and storing them on file. With the entire process being carried out electronically, it is possible Reduce the amount of manual tasks and reduce errors by up to 80%, according to Forrester.

The electronic signature also makes it possible to optimize the workflow and eliminate more repetitive and bureaucratic tasks, freeing employees for more strategic and creative activities.

security

The electronic signature provides several methods of authenticating signers, providing security by ensuring that the signed document has not undergone any changes, in addition to providing a reliable audit trail by recording the signature process in Document Log.

At Clicksign, the entire process carried out on the platform is governed by the highest Information Security standards and the General Data Protection Law (LGPD). Additionally, as mentioned earlier, Clicksign is the The only Brazilian company in the electronic signature market with certification ISO 27001.

Cost reduction

The adoption of electronic signatures also provides a significant reduction in the costs associated with paper signature processes. There is no longer a need for printing, sending physical documents, or storing them in a physical file. Everything can be done in the cloud! In addition, indirect operating costs, such as wasted time handling paper, delivery delays, and even the time required to complete transactions, are also minimized.

More convenience

With electronic signatures, it is possible to sign important documents at any time and from anywhere, as long as you have access to the internet. This simplifies and streamlines business transactions and improves the customer experience, who can enjoy an easy and secure experience.

In addition, all documents can be accessed in one place, keeping a complete history of your business transactions.

Sustainability

Electronic signatures are an excellent alternative to reduce paper consumption and the amount of waste generated. By eliminating the need for printed documents, you directly contribute to the preservation of the environment. In addition, by reducing the need for physical transportation of documents, it also decreases the carbon footprint associated with these activities.

Optimize your processes with Clicksign's electronic signature

It's a fact: electronic signatures streamline signature processes and allows agreements to be finalized more quickly, contributing to business efficiency and productivity.

No wonder the data from the report Innovation Index They show that organizations that implement digital innovation tools, such as electronic signatures, are 1.9 times more likely to increase their revenue, compared to companies that have no interest in investing in innovation.

Now, how about getting to know Clicksign's electronic signature solutions and understanding which one best suits your business?

Using the Clicksign platform, it is possible to:

• Store and organize documents online, accessing them from anywhere.
• Send documents for digital signature, with legal validity.
• Conveniently sign or monitor the subscription process.

It is also possible to use advanced features, such as automation solutions and integration.

Automate the subscription process

With automation, you automate the document creation and management process through intelligent data collection, thus eliminating the need for manual filling.

The solution provides a form or spreadsheet that allows the definition of the fields and information needed for each type of document. Based on the answers provided, the system automatically generates the document to be signed, incorporating the information collected in the appropriate places.

In addition, the automation of the document creation process brings benefits in terms of standardization and consistency. By defining the necessary fields and information for each type of document, it is possible to ensure that all generated documents follow the same structure and contain the relevant information in a consistent manner.

Integrate electronic signatures with your systems

Through system integration, it is possible to establish system integration through an API, thus connecting the various sectors of the company and concentrating, in a single place, the data of electronic documents for signature.

This integration enables the automatic exchange of information, eliminating the need for manual data transfer and simplifying decision-making based on up-to-date information.

In addition, the solution is white label, allowing the platform to assume the visual identity of your company and inspire trust and familiarity among your employees.

With Clicksign, you can send, sign, and return documents in a matter of minutes. Sign documents from anywhere and on any platform, request and track signatures, adjust security settings, and more.

Test now, without the need for a credit card.