Whatever your industry, there’s a good chance you send and receive online contracts and agreements that need someone’s signature. Compared to wet signatures (i.e., pen-on-paper, handwritten signatures), e-signatures are better at confirming the identities of all involved parties and providing an extra layer of protection against fraud and misuse.
Plus, with different types of electronic signatures, organizations can create an audit trail that proves all signers have seen, reviewed, and agreed to the document.
What is an e-signature?
An e-signature replaces a handwritten signature on online or computer documents — whether that’s a digital scan of a written signature or a signature someone has written on a touchscreen using their finger or a stylus. Like a wet signature, an e-signature legally indicates that the signer has seen, reviewed, and accepted the contract, letter, or agreement. They’re more secure than handwritten signatures, and they’re a trackable and more cost-effective solution.
What types of electronic signatures are there?
The three types of electronic signatures are simple electronic signatures, advanced electronic signatures, and qualified electronic signatures.
Simple electronic signature (SES)
An SES, the most common type of e-signature, is the one you see when you open a document and notice it’s been pre-populated with your name. By clicking on your name in the various fields you need to sign, you can select a generated signature image and use it throughout the document. Once you’ve signed, your document should move on to the next signer in the flow. Usually, this means clicking a confirmation button so the organization’s document management platform can automatically send the contract to the next manager or supervisor.
Many e-signature platforms use an SES along with some type of fine print that signers must agree to before clicking the final confirmation button, such as this: By selecting this Adopt and Sign option, I agree this electronic representation of my signature and/or initials legally binds this contract just as my handwritten, pen-on-paper signature would.
Advanced electronic signature (AES)
To combat security breaches, some users prefer using an AES. This type of signature requires a key or certificate code to access the document, which only the assigned signer has.
Qualified electronic signature (QES)
Similar to an AES, a QES takes signature security one step further by going through a third-party trust service provider (TSP). When someone electronically signs a document, the TSP looks at the signature, verifies the signer’s identity either in person or via online video, and ensures that it matches their traditional pen-on-paper, handwritten signature before validating it. This type of signature is backed by a digital certificate for optimal data protection and signature validation.
When should you use the different types of electronic signatures?
Now that you better understand the types of electronic signatures, you should learn when to use each of them, depending on what you’re sending.
For basic contracts or agreements — like a coaching contract, sponsorship proposal, or construction contract — use an SES. These types of no-frill online documents don’t require much in terms of extra data or signee security.
For confidential documents or documents that contain high-value or high-risk transactions, use an AES or QES. These types of sensitive documents (large bills of sale, medical forms, background checks, etc.) can benefit from added data protection.
How can Jotform help you collect e-signatures?
No matter which of the three types of electronic signatures you prefer for your online documents, you need an e-signature solution you can trust. The ideal solution should be comprehensive, enable document accessibility on various devices and operating systems, and provide users the ability to track and manage all e-documents in a safe, secure platform. Most importantly, it should prioritize data security and protection by encrypting forms and meeting all compliance regulations — local, state, federal, and international.
With Jotform Sign, you can do the following:
- Build (either from scratch or from one of Jotform’s 800-plus, code-free templates), share, and sign secure online forms
- Add signers and documents to an automated workflow for streamlined document sharing
- Get an instant notification when someone has signed a contract or agreement
- Send reminder emails to people who still need to sign
You can use Jotform Sign with other Jotform products, including Jotform Apps, Jotform Tables, and Jotform Store Builder to build and share e-signature documents for all your business needs.
Being able to quickly, securely, and legally capture an e-signature from the comfort of a home or office helps organizations flexibly conduct business from anywhere, at any time, and from any device. Understanding the different types of electronic signatures saves time, money, and resources. Knowing when to use them gives you the ability to leverage powerful software like Jotform Sign to include them in customizable, flexible forms.
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