If you’re a business owner or run a company, sooner or later, the time will come when someone from your staff is going to need to have a document or contract signed by a customer.
The advent of eSignature tools to manage the contract signing process has allowed big businesses to reduce the associated costs and, probably more important, significantly reduced the amount of time it takes to get a contract signed.
But what kind of eSignature tool should you use? What features should it have that other tools don’t have, and how can you ensure they’re easy enough to use? Here is how to answer those questions.
Is the document legally binding?
For the US market, as long as the tool complies with the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN) and the Uniform Electronic transactions Act (UETA) and in the EU eIDAS Regulations No. 910/2014, electronically signed documents are legally enforceable. Generally speaking, this is now a given for eSignature solutions.
One of the first products to market was created by DocuSign; however, there are DocuSign alternatives that you can choose from for your electronic signature needs that have several advantages over this service. With that in mind, here is what you should be looking for when choosing electronic signature software.
Transparent pricing policy
Price is a major factor of any IT solution, and you must know what you’re paying for. Clear pricing policies are an easy way to eliminate any confusion and make sure that you’re not being stung by hidden fees.
No monthly account limits
Any plan that you choose must meet your business priorities and be flexible enough to accommodate any growth. That’s why many of the most popular eSignature platforms offer no limits on account limits so you can scale your business as you grow.
Have an option for an extended trial period
If you’re considering signing up for a paid, cloud-based eSignature tool, it’s important to find out if they offer any special offers or discounts if you sign up for a longer period.
Good level of customer support
The flexibility offered by eSignature tools now enables your team to send contracts and documents from anywhere where they have online access. No longer are they limited to being in the office. However, there is a learning curve in the adoption of a new tool. Therefore, it is vital that your provider can offer comprehensive 24/7 client support.
Version control
All parties involved in signing the contract must have access to the latest version of the document. This is critical in case of any disputes or claims later on.
Software integration
A solution should allow you to integrate with any other software tools you use, including project management and collaboration software.
You will probably be using several other solutions for managing your business but if they do not integrate with your eSignature platform, negotiating contracts, signing documents, and sharing them becomes a real hassle. Therefore, it’s best to make sure that the tool you choose offers seamless integration with other programs.
Access Control
Your chosen administrator should be able to limit who has access to the system and be able to manage each user’s permission level.
Ensuring that your chosen solution meets the above will greatly increase the successful implementation of an eSignature tool.
