Electronic Signature: Security Is Just A Click Away

Whether manually written or electronic, the mark verifies the trust between at least two gatherings. (People, legitimate people, organizations, and so on.). In organizations, the effect is a cycle that seals associations with outsiders (clients, providers, accomplices, organizations) or inside, with representatives. In any case, shouldn’t something be said about the electronic mark, particularly regarding security?

Electronic Signature Vs Handwritten Signature

Today, there is no longer a difference between handwritten and electronic signatures. Indeed, the latter has had legal value since a European directive of December 1999. This characterizes it as “information in electronic structure, which is joined or legitimately connected to other electronic information and which fills in as a strategy for validation.”

This directive was imposed in France in March 2000 and led to the adaptation of the Civil Code. This specifies (article 1316) that: “the writing in electronic structure is conceded in proof similarly as the getting written down, given that the individual from whom it exudes can be appropriately recognized and that it is laid out and kept in conditions, for example, to ensure its trustworthiness. Writing on electronic media, therefore, has the same probative force as writing on paper.

Fortunately, the handwritten Signature suffers from several disabilities. First, the signing process is very time-consuming. In particular with postal delays or the need for the availability of signatures. Then, the process needs more security, with the risk of loss of documents or signature theft. Finally, it is costly in terms of paper costs, scans, printing, travel, shipping, etc.

Let’s take the example of the signing of contracts, a commonplace activity in companies, according to a study by the firm Technology Group[1], by favoring a dematerialized process of e-contract. The costs are reduced by half compared to a standard paper-based process while reducing risk.

Technology Group consultants point out, “When a solution is mature enough to reduce costs by at least 50% and simultaneously brings many qualitative benefits, it is no longer the question of its implementation. an implementation that should arise, but the question of when to implement it.”

Electronic Signature: The Advantages

The electronic Signature has many advantages: it is authentic, tamper-proof, unique and timeless. Moreover, when a document is signed, the signatory cannot contest his commitment a posteriori. In addition, it guarantees the legal compliance of digitally signed documents. And applies to multiple areas: purchasing, HR processes, legal, marketing, etc. The handwritten Signature does not facilitate transactions, collaborations and partnerships.

Especially when remote work is becoming a standard mode of operation. Companies have understood this well: the study on 2022 investments by French companies, carried out by Techtarget , reveals that e-signature comes in fourth place in terms of priorities (27% of companies will equip themselves or upgrade their existing solutions), behind ERP, content management and Business Process Management.

Context And Current Issues

Similarly, according to the TVH Consulting Opinion Way barometer , a third of medium-sized French companies will invest, in 2022, the dematerialization and archiving of paper documents, particularly in EDM and electronic signature solutions. Users also favor this method: according to the HR dematerialization observatory , 94% of employees prefer electronic signatures for employment contracts.

The health crisis has also accelerated the use of electronic signatures. According to a YouGov study published in 2021, 26% of French companies have adopted an electronic signature solution since the start of the health crisis. Among them, 49% used it to initial documents in the context of sales and 41% for papers related to HR. Several reasons justify using an electronic signature—ease of use, legal guarantees and customization of security levels.

The electronic signature solutions available on the market meet these needs, including for mobile use. Above all, they have fully integrated with Electronic Document Management (EDM) solutions. These facilitate and improve access to information. Indeed, the centralization of documents facilitates collaboration, increases productivity and enriches customer/supplier relations.