How to Do an Electronic Signature on a Website: Create Software Like DocuSign

Electronic signatures are similar to handwritten ones. One main difference is that it captures an image or document digitally. The main reasons for such an innovation are security and convenience.

E-signatures dramatically reduce the risk of fraud.

They are considered legally binding, which is good news. This means it can be used in legal documents, such as contracts and wills. You can even use it to buy and sell goods and services.

All these facts show the huge possibilities that come with creating such software. We at ProCoders have actually worked on one such solution, so let us walk you through the process in this article.

Introduction to Digital Signatures

Digital signatures are a specialized type of electronic signature that offers a high level of security and authentication. Unlike simple electronic signatures, these signatures use a digital certificate issued by a trusted certificate authority to verify the identity of the signer and ensure the integrity of the signed document. When a document is signed digitally, a unique digital fingerprint, or hash, is created and encrypted. This fingerprint is unique to both the document and the signer, making it impossible to alter or tamper with it without detection.

Digital signatures are widely used in business and government sectors to sign electronic documents such as PDF files and contracts. They provide a robust method for verifying the authenticity of the signer and the document, ensuring that the signed document is genuine and has not been altered. This level of security is crucial for maintaining trust and compliance in digital transactions.

How Does an Electronic Signature Work?

An e-signature is an electronic version of one’s handwritten signature. You can attach it to an email, contract, or another type of document.

DocuSign is one of the most popular examples. More businesses are looking into creating their own solutions similar to DocuSign.

With platforms like DocuSign, you can create your signature by uploading an image, drawing it directly, or using pre-formatted styles.

Creating eSignature software is a convenience for businesses and consumers alike. They can simplify document signing and speed up transactions.

Electronic signatures aren’t images of your signature, they allow you to send documents and messages to anyone, anywhere, at any time. They are usually secured with encryption, so the entire signing process is safer.

Difference Between e-Signature and Digital Signature

It’s easy to get confused when comparing an electronic signature with a digital one. However, they are not the same.

• An electronic signature is the actual sign of identification on a document
• A digital signature uses digital certificates issued by a trusted certificate authority to secure e-signatures.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that electronic signatures are legally binding, while digital signatures are not. The distinction is important because digital signatures are much more secure. As mentioned, a digital signature isn’t binding. But it’s evidence that someone, somewhere, has verified that a document came from that person.

Therefore, to build an electronic signature software, the ideal solution always comes with the encryption capabilities of the digital signature.

Simply put:

• an e-signature is the equivalent of a paper sign
• a digital signature is the notarization process that affirms the validity of the sign.

Benefits of e-Signature Solutions

Electronic document verification is becoming more widespread. One reason is business owners realizing the benefits of using digitalization to electronically sign a document quickly.

E-signatures, for example, allow parties to electronically:

• agree to
• sign
• execute
• complete
• certify
• verify a contract, agreement, record, form, etc.

1. Business Process Optimization

Today’s business environment is fast-paced and tedious. The need to be efficient and productive has never been greater. Electronic signatures can speed up business processes. This is particularly important for complex, multi-party processes. A paper process can take several days, but an electronic process can be completed in a single day.

In addition, they let you sign documents without relying on slow postal services. (or at least slower than the Internet)

2. Record Management

They can improve compliance by enabling organizations to track document approvals and sign-offs securely. And, because electronic signatures are stored electronically, they can help companies manage and store records more easily. This is particularly useful in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). And even more so in electronic signature software for healthcare companies.

They also improve document workflow by making it easy for organizations to manage multiple versions of documents. And if that’s not enough, they make us able to collaborate on documents in real-time.

Moreover, they help you automate business processes. Som your employees can work remotely while benefiting from electronic signatures. That’s why it is important to know how to develop an electronic signature app like DocuSign.

3. Cost-Effectiveness

Electronic signatures are quickly becoming the standard in document signing. Businesses can save up to 90% on signing costs by going paperless. Businesses can save up to 90% on signing costs by going paperless and using electronic signatures on a PDF file. Therefore, knowing how to make an electronic signature software like DocuSign is very useful.

In some cases, you have to pay a one-time fee to use the platform. However, that’s surely better than budgeting costs for:

• sheets of paper
• printing
• postal services
• other needs for the traditional process

More so, these solutions are becoming increasingly popular as companies seek to reduce their environmental footprint. As more and more employees work from home, companies must find ways to communicate efficiently. Electronic signatures present a less expensive, more environmentally friendly option than traditional paper.

4. Enhanced Security

When you sign a document electronically, you create a digital signature. It’s a unique string of data (a “hash”) that uniquely identifies you as the document’s creator. That signature is then encrypted and stored with the document itself. One very good use case here is eSignatures for banking.

These systems can mitigate risks such as tampering, duplication, and forgery. In addition, parties using electronic signatures can confirm the other party’s identity before executing contracts and other agreements, as the system verifies the identity of the signer. Because they can be verified as authentic, they allow you to do business securely.

More so, when a document is signed electronically, the document creator and recipient can’t modify it. Thus, electronic signatures protect sensitive information. Because no documents can be edited once signed, this information stays private.

5. Regulatory Compliance

Make no mistake in thinking that paper signs are more legitimate than electronic ones. You couldn’t be more wrong. We have the ever-increasing proliferation of digital technologies in how we do business nowadays. So, governments have introduced various laws to make electronic signatures valid for signing contracts. Governments have introduced various signature laws to make electronic signatures valid for signing contracts. Therefore, an electronic signature is as legally valid as a paper one.

In addition, there are top-grade security and tracking capabilities. You can now determine if a signature has been altered or not, something that you can’t prove definitely with paper ones.

Popular Examples of Best E Signature Software for Small Business

Adobe Sign

Adobe Sign is one of the most popular alternatives to DocuSign. It’s an e-signature solution for PDF files. From its name, it is obviously backed by Adobe, one of the world’s most well-known computer software companies. The company developed the PDF document standard.

To get started with Adobe Sign, you need to install the software and follow the setup instructions.

Adobe Sign has various pricing plans. Each offers different features according to the needs of the numerous companies that use the system.

DocHub

DocHub is an online PDF annotator software. However, it has come to be more well-known for its e-signature capabilities. DocHub offers an upload option that allows users to incorporate their handwritten signatures into electronic documents. Like the previously mentioned platforms on this list, DocHub also features a pricing plan. However, its cost is much lower than that of the others. Not to mention that it allows monthly billing. Nevertheless, users can sign up for five documents a month for free.

PandaDoc

Like DocHub, PandaDoc is a full-featured platform for creating and managing documents. However, its most popular feature is its e-signature attribute. Users can interact with PandaDoc features directly from their browser, making it convenient to manage documents and signatures. PandaDoc also has an API that is useful for third-party integration. It integrates well with other business tools such as:

• Zapier
• Zoho
• HubSpot
• Stripe
• Dropbox
• Salesforce, and more.

It can even be integrated into a company’s CRM software.

signNow

signNow is a powerful tool for signing documents. Besides the standard software, it also features a powerful API. It lets users integrate e-signature capabilities into their websites and apps.

Users can download the signNow app to access its e-signature capabilities on their mobile devices.

signNow boasts of compliance with various security standards such as the GDPR and PCI DSS. It is worth mentioning, too, that signNow’s pricing plans are some of the most affordable.

Why Create My Own Digital Signature

The need to obtain and validate signatures is ubiquitous in corporate operations. However, the process of collecting them can be time-consuming, costly, and inefficient. A photo of your online signature or a link to an example of how to draw your signature is not safe and not convenient. While many add-ons offer the draw option for your touch screen, having a secure app on your device is much better.

As the need continues to grow, businesses are looking to third-party providers to get these solutions.

This custom solution can be a powerful way to achieve two important business goals: better security and efficiency.

In the United States, the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN) provides a federal legal framework that ensures electronic signatures are as valid as traditional signatures.

The available market provides vendors with a variety of choices. However, some organizations prefer to customize their solutions to meet specific needs.

A custom solution is typically designed around a configurable system that centralizes signing.

In addition, you must comply with various laws, regulations, and business policies. Custom electronic signature tools can help make it easier.

How to Create an E Signature App Similar to DocuSign or Better?

Here, we at ProCoders have gathered a general step-by-step guide on building an electronic signature solution.

We draw from our experience in building a job-matching platform for logistics professionals, RLM Jobs. It has a feature that allows drivers to sign contracts and other relevant e-papers. This feature enables users to digitally sign documents securely and efficiently.

Precisely, our process followed all the steps of:

• determining the needs
• assembling the team
• developing the solutions
• testing and deploying it

SDCN contracted ProCoders to build the RLM Jobs platform, and we collaborated to determine the requirements for it. Once that was set, we assembled a team of smart developers to work on the app.

Check our Developers Availability

Tom Gonser, one of the three co-founders of DocuSign, was one of the speakers talking about how they built the software. He said a memorable thing.

“We started DocuSign because we wanted to fundamentally change the way business transactions happen.”

We have continued this mission with our solutions.

Step 1: Determine your needs

The first move of the three men who founded DocuSign was to propose the idea. They pitched an e-signature platform to potential customers and asked them what they would expect from such an application.

When proposing the idea, it is important to consider the legal recognition of electronic signatures in other countries, as regulations may vary.

In the same way, to make an electronic signature software for your business, you must involve the stakeholders. These include your:

• employees
• business partners
• investors
• customers
• clients
• vendors, etc.

Determine the various business needs for such a solution. Then, outline the potential problems it would solve. This gives direction to the rest of the project steps.

Step 2: Assemble your team

The next step in electronic signature app development is to assemble a team. You need skilled professionals who can create electronic signature app for you.

The team should include:

• developers
• designers
• UI/UX experts
• product managers
• project managers
• quality assurance specialists, etc.

Your company doesn’t have an in-house team. In this case, outsourcing to a development company like ProCoders would be the best option. We can create a digital signature app for you.

The ProCoders method is organized around picking out talents from an existing pool that are suitable for your needs. Therefore, if you want your project to get started right away, that’s very possible. We won’t just be sourcing developers from outside. The development process can start automatically, ensuring efficiency and a streamlined workflow.

Otherwise, if you already have an in-house team, using staff augmentation services may help you to fill possible skills gaps in your team. Again, this is another aspect of ProCoders’ e-signature development services.

Step 3: Creating the Digital Signature

This is the actual execution stage.

At this stage, your goals and objectives are clear, and your team is set. All that is left is to develop the software according to the requirements.

During development, it is important to ensure that the software allows users to easily insert their electronic signatures into documents.

If your team is an offshore one (say, you hired developers through ProCoders, for instance), we have a recommendation.

Do maintain constant communication with the team. This makes sure execution goes smoothly. Tools such as Slack may help.

Also, your team needs strong tools, platforms, and frameworks.

For instance, when ProCoders built the e-signature platform for RLM Jobs, since it was a web development process, we used:

• WordPress
• Elementor
• MySQL, etc., to fulfill the project.

It took only 4 months to complete the project and deploy it.

At ProCoders, we ensure that the execution is perfect. We connect clients directly to our developers who are working on their projects.

Step 4: Testing and Deployment

The final stage of the project is as delicate as all the other stages. You want to ensure the perfect app is ready for the market.

During testing, ensure that the software generates a certificate that includes the date and time of signing to enhance the credibility and verification process.

This is the stage where the roles of quality assurance testers are needed. Again, hiring QA testers is often a matter of staff augmentation. They have a very limited role at the beginning and middle stages of the project.

If you hire through ProCoders, we’ll provide QA specialists on time. You won’t need to scramble to hire a QA specialist just when your project is nearing its end.

Finally, it’s time to deploy the software. With a powerful team in place, you can do it gradually. We recommend collecting feedback and fixing bugs immediately.

How ProCoders Team Can Help You in e-Signature Software Development?

The previous section has done more than a bit of explaining about how ProCoders can help you. We have developed several e-signature solutions.

ProCoders is a full-service software development team. We are ready to be involved throughout the life cycle of your product!

We have worked with over 150 teams from different countries. We’re grateful there’s proof — our clients have good reviews concerning our service delivery.

At ProCoders, the companies we work with are not just our clients; they are partners, too. We dedicate our best efforts to delivering excellent results.

You may need to outsource your entire project to an offshore team, taking advantage of lower rates. Or you may require staff augmentation services to plug a specific talent gap in your team.

In any case, ProCoders is available to help as an outstaff team.

Conclusion

Even if you don’t make an online signature app for commercial use, you can always make one that can be deployed for your in-house needs. The benefit of the model is that it would be custom-built. Even if you don’t make one for commercial use, you can always make one that allows users to upload a signature image for their electronic signatures.

At ProCoders, we provide skilled developers with expertise in secure software. This includes electronic signature platforms. Our team ensures:

• clear communication
• fast onboarding
• integration with your existing systems

We’ve helped businesses build efficient, compliant, and scalable solutions. Let us do the same for you. Reach out to start your project.