The five principles for an effective Electronic Signature Online Service

The electronic signature market has grown significantly in both user numbers and the range of solutions offered. The latter could be seen as part of the global IT expansion and an investment in technological innovation that performs astonishingly better in a slowing economy(Robert Gottliebsen refers to Forrester Research, February 7, 2012).

Among the more useful technological advances are software and services that offer electronic signature functionality; yet, one must avoid the pitfalls and carefully choose a totally reliable provider. The following criteria (in any order, depending on industry and specific business requirements) will assist with that assessment:

 

1.      Security:

 

Electronic signatures have a proprietary format that can include electronic data, a digitized image, symbol, voice print, etc. They are easy to implement yet very problematic in maintaining security as they can be easily tampered with or forged. However, digital signatures, also referred to as advanced electronic signatures, are based on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and provide higher degree of security. Secured Signing’s User-Based PKI digital signature solution, offers a superior PKI security level as it supplies each user with a unique signing key (Digital ID) that is accessible only to that user. This user-based digital signature system seals the document after the first signature so that any changes made to it later will invalidate the signatures. This cryptographic operation guarantees signer authenticity, data integrity, accountability, non repudiation of signed documents, and can be validated.

 

2.      Legal compliance:

 

• An electronic signature is adequately reliable if:
• It sufficiently identifies the signatory
• Sufficiently indicates signatory’s approval of information to which the signature is related
• Is as reliable as is appropriate in given circumstances
• The means of creating the signature is connected to the person signing and no other, and
• The means of creating the signature is under the control of the person signing and no one else
• Any changes to the document are detectable (data integrity)  

 

A legally binding electronic signature service must comply with all the requirements above. Secured Signing’s Cloud-based solution does just that, and furthermore complies with ESIGN and UETA (USA), Electronic Transactions Acts in New Zealand, Australia (wide), United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada (UECA), Europe EU VAT Directive, China, and many more.

3.      Product variety and customized solution availability:

Selecting the right service provider is significantly important. It is essential to ask many questions and review references from other clients. Always look for provider’s range of quality reliable products that deliver excellent performance and business benefits, not only for the lowest prices. The Secured Signing digital signature service offers an exceptional range of quality products and customized solutions that are second to none – and suitable for users from different types of businesses and industries worldwide. The ‘I Sign’, ‘We Sign’, ‘Form Filler’, and versatile ‘Form Direct’ can be used via the browsers of desktop PC, Mac, and many mobile devices. Secured Signing’s customized solutions provide API integration for systems from e-mail branding up to a full private labelling option.

4.      User experience:

A successful service requires an accurate understanding and regular measuring of a service’s performance in various target markets on multiple levels and dimensions. The customer’s experience is the result of combined functionality and visual design, and can be determined by navigation effectiveness, page layout, content selection, and interaction simplicity to name a few. Secured Signing service strives to meet users’ expectations and excels in optimizing aesthetics and function. Its user-centred approach involves the regular analysis of customers’ needs, and its own on-going product development that results in a comprehensive, simple-to-use solution that accommodates the online signing needs of multiple groups of users.

5.      Service provided:

Customers’ satisfaction plays a significant role in decision making when examining electronic signature service providers. Two main categories (Bill Dugan, 2011) measure customer service performance:

• Experience-based customer service – impression created of service provided
• Incident-based customer service – response to specific customer concerns

Excellent providers maintain an utmost professional service and response in both areas. The Secured Signing online service provides an outstanding, prompt, customer service that addresses any customer’s issues regardless of their location or time zone. Furthermore, its support team understands that it’s not one-size-fits-all; therefore, they continually deliver case-focused resolutions.

“To give real service, you must add something which cannot be bought or measured with money, and that is sincerity and integrity.” Douglas Adams