10 Most Common E-Signature Questions

Work environments have done plenty of shapeshifting in recent years, with hybrid and remote employment arrangements now considered the norm after a pandemic-induced shift in thinking. Many organisations turned to e-signature to route and sign documents remotely. Yet, some may still be hesitant to make the switch to e-signature or have questions about how electronic signatures work.

We’re sharing the most frequently asked questions about e-signatures, and our responses to them, to help users better understand a technology that’s driving a more convenient, sustainable, and efficient contract process.

1. How easy is it to sign documents at my organisation?

This query depends on a number of internal factors, including the current technologies in place, and the amount of work that’s still completed by hand. Those using traditional processes, such as printing, mailing, signing, and scanning paper copies, might find the process unnecessarily tedious. If manual signature gathering is your organisation’s standard approach, it is likely making the process more challenging than it needs to be.

Using an e-signature solution can help expedite and simplify the process, while offering employees visibility into the progress of a document as it is signed.

2. Why should my organisation start using electronic signatures?

Common benefits of implementing e-signature include increased security, productivity, and speed. Most of the people we surveyed reported experiencing more than one significant benefit, including improvements in user experience, increased revenue, and environmental impact. In fact, 80% of documents sent using Docusign eSignature are completed in less than 24 hours.

3. What if my customers don’t want to sign electronically?

Fortunately, most customers have already had positive experiences with e-signatures. Leaders in retail, banking, real estate and other industries have paved the way for trusted digital experiences, helping customers embrace such simple and efficient processes.

4. Are electronic signatures more secure than paper signatures?

Yes. The technology is so robust that it has been widely accepted in industries with the most rigorous security standards, including healthcare, finance and government. Electronic signatures are also significantly harder to forge than ink-and-paper signatures because they automatically create an electronic record of activity that can be accessed if an audit is needed.

5. What if my company has strict security and privacy regulations?

If that’s the case, e-signature would be a great fit. Their platforms offer the tools necessary to customise workflows and manage compliance. E-signature tools are easy to integrate with compliance management software as well.

6. Are electronic signatures legal for the agreements I send and sign?

E-signature has been legally recognised in more countries for decades. Electronic signatures are legally recognized in Australia and are provided for by the Electronic Transactions Act of 1999 (Cth) (“ETA”) and its implementing regulations, the Electronic Transactions Regulations 2000 (Cth) (“ETR”), at the federal level as well as by various State and Territory laws and regulations at the local level. Similar laws have been enacted in the United Kingdom and European Union. Docusign maintains a database of global legality guidelines regarding e-signature laws.

7. Can we afford e-signature?

Perhaps the better question is, can you afford to pass it up? Investing in e-signature technology quickly reduces costs and accelerates time to revenue, with many users reporting positive impacts on the bottom line in less than two years. Read about how customers have saved time and money using Docusign eSignature.

8. Can I set it up myself?

When selecting an e-signature provider, it’s important to choose one that offers training and support to ensure a successful implementation. With the right system, most e-signature users feel well equipped to make the digital transition.

9. Can electronic signature tools integrate with other important tools?

Docusign recognises that one of the most important strategies to successfully deploy an e-signature solution is to integrate it with the tools people are already using. That’s why we offer more than 350 integrations, including with Microsoft, Salesforce, Zoom and Apple.

10. How can I get my bosses to support an e-signature adoption?

For starters, share the information you’ve already learned about the security and legality of e-signature. Next, focus on the ways that e-signature can replace wasteful steps in your existing signature workflow.

Another useful strategy is to share information about the experience that e-signature users are having. They estimate that electronic signatures are 45% faster than ink-and-paper signatures. 

We surveyed almost 2000 decision makers around the world to understand how they are using e-signature. Learn more about the benefits they are experiencing in our eBook 10 Reasons to Adopt E-Signature.

Contact us to learn more about how your team can use eSignature to make agreements faster and easier.