How Easy is it to Use an Electronic Signature Platform?

It is quite easy for both company representatives and the end-user to send and receive eSignatures. Regardless of the solution being used, it generally involved preparing a document, adding a line where the signature should be placed, adding the email address of the intended recipient, and sending it off. However, many second-generation eSignature solutions such as Lightico are even easier and more intuitive to use than their predecessors. That’s because they are optimized for mobile, which is ideally suited for today’s smartphone-dependent customers. In this article, we will explore how exactly the eSignature process works for Lightico’s solution.

How does a mobile-first eSignature work?

Mobile-first eSignatures such as ours start by the agent sending the customer a text message containing a link. This link opens up to a secure environment that includes the document, agreement, or form that requires signing. Customers then review the document, optionally with an agent on the line who can help answer any questions and ensure the document is being understood and filled out correctly. Customers simply swipe their finger or provide a typed signature, which is collected and stored all in real-time. The document is then locked and saved on the company’s CRM together with a time-stamped, tamper-proof audit trail. Here are the instructions for agents to facilitate an eSignature collection process:

1. Save the PDF document to your file manager.
2. Upload the document to Lightico by clicking on the “attach” icon; it will open in a Lightico page along with a toolbar.
3. Click and add a signature line to the desired place in the document. Multiple lines for more than one signatory can also be added.
4. Send the document to the customer via text message (or email, if preferred) for real-time signing.
5. The customer reviews and signs the document with the swipe of a finger (or by typing).

Remember that throughout the process, the agent can guide the customer in real-time via phone conversation. Furthermore, Lightico’s eSignature solution allows customers to provide consent and approve privacy notices with just a click. Agents do not need to read time-consuming scripts on the call.   To collect consent, agents should:

1. Click “Assets” and then “Communication Consent Form.
2. Click “Send Request.”

This saves valuable time for both the agent and customer, improving the ease and speed of the eSignature collection process.

How can multiple parties sign a mobile-first eSignature?

An agent using Lightico’s eSignature solution can also attach an ad-hoc document and assign it to multiple signers. Once sent, parallel sessions will be initiated with all co-signers. Each co-signer can sign the document with no chronological order or dependency. These parallel sessions are limited and exist solely for the purpose of the multi-signer document (the original signer’s session will continue to stay active). Once the document is fully signed by all parties it is locked and available to be downloaded and viewed by the agent and the co-signers.

Instructions:

1. Click on the ‘paper clip’ icon to upload an ad-hoc document. Browse and select the document you want to upload.
2. Expand the signers’ panel on the left side of the screen to view and edit cosigners’ information
3. In order to make this document a Multi-signer document, click on the ‘Add signer’ button. Fill in the name and email or phone information (adjustable).
4. You can now add ‘Signature’, ‘Signature Date’ & ‘Corporate Stamp’ assigned to a specific signer; simply select the signer you want to assign to, and click on the element you want to add and drag it into place.
5. Once the co-signers information has been filled and the signature elements are in place, press ‘send’ to open parallel sessions with all the co-signers.

Once all co-signers have signed the document, an audit page is added at the bottom of the document and the document is locked. Once locked it will be available for all participants to be viewed and downloaded (unless defined otherwise in ‘End session behavior’).

How to easily create an eSignature with non-mobile solutions

Not all businesses choose to adopt a mobile-first eSignature solution. This could be the case if the business doesn’t have a large volume of sales that need to be processed quickly. It could also be that the business has a slower sales cycle (such as with B2B companies) and instant consent isn’t as important. Here are the common questions businesses have when using a first-generation eSignature platform:

How do I automatically digitally sign a PDF?

Open the PDF that you want to sign in Acrobat. Click on the “Sign” option and from the new options that appear, click “I Need to Sign.” From the new options, click “Place Signature.” In the dialogue box that appears, click “Draw New Signature Rectangle.” Scroll down to where you want to sign the document, and draw a rectangle. If a digital signature has already been set up on the computer, it will appear in a dialogue box. Otherwise, click the “A new digital ID I want to create now” option. Enter the additional requested details in the dialogue box, and hit “Finish.” Save the image, and the digital signature will appear at the bottom of the document.

How do I turn a checkbox click into a digital signature?

A checkbox alone does not count as a legal digital signature. However, if it appears next to an actual digital signature that is cryptographically secure, then it is acceptable.

The bottom line

All eSignatures are significantly easier for both the agent and customer to use. Second-generation eSignature platforms that are optimized for smartphones tend to provide the simplest and most intuitive experience of them all. However, which solution a company chooses will ultimately depend on their needs, such as business type and volume of anticipated signatures. The good news is that an easy experience can be expected in nearly all cases.