4 min
Posted by Léa Jacquier on August 19, 2021 at 5:05 PM
Nowadays, we can find examples of electronic signature use in all types of sectors and industries. These types of solutions are not exclusive to public administration. Instead, electronic signatures are currently being implemented progressively in the private sector.
In this article, you will discover different use cases of this technology in practice, as well as a summary of its main advantages over the more traditional handwritten signature.
What will you find in this post?
Before launching into examples of electronic signatures, it is helpful to start with a basic definition. In simple terms, we can say that an electronic signature is a system of identification and consent, replacing handwritten signatures in the digital realm.
In the legal environment, we find a specific definition in the European Union Regulation No. 910/2014, eIDAS, that establishes a common regulatory framework for electronic signatures in the European Union.
According to this Regulation, we refer to an electronic signature when “Electronic data is attached to other electronic data or logically associated with them, used by the signatory to create a signature.”
Therefore, an electronic signature (at least in some of its forms):
Electronic signatures do not have to adapt to a single format. Instead, they can be implemented in different ways, each with its own characteristics. Hence, we can cite the following examples of common uses of electronic signatures today:
As previously mentioned, each example of an electronic signature has its own characteristics that depend on operation, reliability, and legal validity.
In this respect, we usually distinguish between the following:
Today, numerous instances of the practical application of electronic signatures exist. We can mention the following examples, to name but a few:
FACILITY SERVICES ✅ Temporary and permanent employment contracts. ✅ Occupational risk prevention. ✅ Receipts for equipment delivery. |
REAL ESTATE ✅ Rental contracts. ✅ Reservation and security deposit contracts. ✅ Private sales contracts. |
INSURERS ✅ Insurance policies. ✅ SEPA mandates. ✅ Account or address change forms. |
HUMAN RESOURCES ✅ Employment offers. ✅ Temporary and permanent employment contracts. ✅ Personal data protection contracts. |
SALES TEAMS ✅ Sales contracts. ✅ Purchase orders. ✅ Service provision contracts. |
LEGAL DEPARTMENTS ✅ Minutes of boards of directors. ✅ Shareholders' meetings. ✅ Partner agreements and investment contracts. |
As seen from the examples above, the advantages of electronic signatures over handwritten signatures are vast. Among many other benefits, we can add the following to the list:
Thanks to electronic signatures, completing all kinds of procedures can be accelerated. Not only are travel by the signatory or shipments by postal mail avoided, but the automation of any process of signing and sending documents is also made possible.
What stands out, in particular, are savings made on travel and postal mail services. There is also a reduction in spending on office supplies. Further savings (in personnel costs, for example) occur due to the increased speed and automation of the process.
Undoubtedly, the legal certainty provided by an advanced or qualified electronic signature can excel that of the traditional handwritten signature. It makes it much more difficult to forge signatures and prevents the integrity of the signed document from being compromised.
The convenience, speed and efficiency of the electronic signature process is often highly appreciated by users of all types of services. For anyone who has experienced face-to-face procedures that required a handwritten signature, avoiding travel and saving time are very tangible benefits.
What stands out at this point are the advantages related to the elimination of paper and, of course, the reduction of pollution derived from transport (either by avoiding postal shipments or the movement of signers).
In brief, the examples of electronic signatures detailed in this article highlight the advantages of using this type of solution. Additionally, technological advances in recent years have made it possible to rectify the inconveniences that some of the earliest types of this tool presented.
As a result, the widespread implementation of electronic signatures is now a reality in an increasing number of areas and sectors, and it has not stopped growing in recent times.
If you want to experiment with electronic signatures after reading this article, we invite you to try out Signaturit's electronic signature for 7 days for free, simply register on this page: FREE TRIAL.
Sign and send documents with all the legal guarantees – not just a simple digitized handwritten signature!
Sign up for our Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter
Digitizing your company with Signaturit is very easy. Sign up for our newsletter and receive 1 email a month with tips, events and product updates.
Join the thousands of companies that have already digitized their human resources departments!
© Copyright Signaturit 2022
Made in Europe