Move Towards a Digital Workplace With Electronic Signatures

Businesses are gradually shifting towards remote work and online meetings. Who would have guessed that digital transformation that often takes years to develop can be achieved is a span of a few months?

These are exactly the thoughts of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, to quote: “We’ve seen two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months.”

The adversaries over the past years have become a catalyst for digital transformation, especially in the way businesses operate. It was no longer business as usual. Instead, it triggered the emergence of a new transformative concept: a digital workplace.

But what is a digital workplace?

What’s A Digital Workplace?

A digital workplace is an environment where people, businesses, and technology synergize. Nowadays, we are seeing the mass adoption of digital solutions such as the use of IoT devices (smartphones, security systems).

In this regard and electronic and digital signatures that enable companies to get things done faster through automation. It allows businesses to increase productivity through innovative technology and solutions.

Employees are no longer limited by physical barriers after the adoption of a digital workspace. Its convenience enables them to work from anywhere using any device at any given time.

Perhaps one can even argue that a digital workplace is the future of work. Soon, all businesses will operate in a digital environment. As technology advances, businesses are finding better ways to make work efficient for both the company and those running them.

Cloud-based Document Hub

The digital transformation we have observed over the years allowed employees to work more efficiently. It also increased productivity and helped companies exceed their goals. Before, people had to pass over physical papers for signing and verification of documents and paperwork that takes days to finish.

Now, cloud-based document hubs allow companies to have their documents signed within minutes. Digital signatures for document signing have become more secure and streamlined. After all, businesses require a groundwork of security to ensure legal documents are signed securely online.

Cloud-based document signing hubs like GMO Sign offers a multitude of use cases for all industries. For example, industries within the healthcare can leverage on digital signatures for e-prescriptions, patient onboarding, e-reports, and even staff onboarding.

Likewise, it can also be used for many document signing processes within the travel and tourism, education, insurance, and engineering industries, among many others.

Did Your Country Pass An Electronic Transactions Act?

Are you wondering if your country accepts digital and electronic signatures? You can check through this list of signed laws relating to electronic and digital signatures.

If you are from the APAC Region, here is a summarized list of Electronic Transactions Act. If you are looking for a more comprehensive list, check out this directory.

Digital & Electronic Signature Solutions

What’s The Difference?

The confusion between the terms digital and electronic signatures is quite widespread. While they may be used interchangeably, they are very different.

Although both digital and electronic signature solutions allow the signer to verify their identities, ESIGN Act defines electronic signature as “an electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.” 

This refers to any electronic manifestation of consent. Some examples include a tick in terms and conditions checkbox, image of a handwritten signature or a name at the end of an email.

Meanwhile, a digital signature is a type of electronic signature that utilizes cryptography and associates them with signers through digital certificates. Each signer needs to have a digital certificate to be linked and identified to the documents that require their signature. 

In order to obtain a digital certificate, the signer would need the help of a reliable third-party Certificate Authority (CA). CAs are responsible for providing, identifying, and validating digital signatures.

In summary, electronic signature means showing your intent to do something such as signing a contract and accepting terms and conditions. Meanwhile, digital signature means authenticating and proving that you are who you say you are through digital certificates.

Why Do I Need This?

Traditional document signing process is laborious. Good thing digital and electronic signature solutions, such as GMO Sign, offers both digital and e-signatures for business of all sizes.

Aside from the fact that your company can save up to 80% of time and manual work by switching digital, here’s why it pays to start digitizing your document signing process:

• Saves signing costs – A good document signing platform often offers dual signature options such as e-signatures and AATL approved digital signatures.
• Streamlines your entire document signing process – Document signing platforms give you the efficiency your company needs through an automated workflow-based signing.
• Makes signing documents in minutes possible – Document signing can be monitored in real time that enables users to only take a few minutes to request for signatures on any type of document.
• Provides efficient process and operation – Cloud-based signing solutions get rid of associated hardware costs for physical storage, archiving, and retrieval of documents.
• Strengthens compliance – A good document signing software provides legally binding electronic and digital signatures that meets regulatory compliance to laws governing a legally valid electronic signature.

Conclusion

The transition towards a digital workplace can be eased through advancements in technology and digital solutions. Today, cloud-based documents hubs are transforming the way businesses sign and send their documents. They are gradually being adopted by companies because it is the solution that works in a remote environment/virtual workspace. 

This is why digital and electronic signature solutions like GMO Sign are among the must-haves for those seeking to make digital workplace more efficient.