What Is an Electronic Signature?

Electronic signatures, or e-signatures, have become a simple and secure way to sign documents digitally, replacing the need for traditional pen-and-paper signatures. With platforms like BoldSign, businesses and individuals can sign, send, and manage agreements effortlessly from their computers or mobile devices.

Whether it’s a contract, an employee onboarding document, or client approval, BoldSign streamlines the entire process. It also includes essential security features like audit trails and authentication, ensuring your documents are protected and legally valid.

No more printing, scanning, or delays—BoldSign helps you complete agreements quickly, securely, and with full legal compliance.

Benefits of Using Electronic Signatures

Electronic signatures have a variety of benefits, which include:

Efficiency: Complete document signing swiftly from any location, minimizing time spent on printing, scanning, and mailing.
Security and Compliance: Documents are secured with encryption and authentication, while compliance is aided by comprehensive audit trails.
Cost Savings: Cut expenses by removing the need for paper and ink. Enhance productivity through quicker processing.
Environmental Impact: Decrease paper waste and your carbon footprint for more sustainable practices.
Accessibility and Convenience: Sign documents from anywhere and on any device, enabling remote work for all users.
Customer Experience: Streamline the signing process for clients, accelerating transactions and increasing satisfaction.

Use Cases of Electronic Signatures

Each industry can use the BoldSign electronic signature solution to improve efficiency, security, and compliance in document signing.

Do Electronic Signatures Need to Look Like My Wet Ink Signature?

With BoldSign, the appearance of your electronic signature is completely flexible. Unlike traditional handwritten signatures, what truly matters is your intent to sign the document. As long as the signature is used with the clear intention to sign, it’s valid—no need to worry about copying your wet ink style.

The strength of BoldSign lies in its security. While physical signatures may require additional steps to verify authenticity, BoldSign captures essential data such as the signer’s IP address, date, and time of signing. This creates a secure digital trail that proves the legitimacy of the signature.

This data is securely stored in a Certificate of Completion, providing legal proof of the signing process. Whether you draw your signature, choose a predrawn one, or use a digital option, BoldSign ensures a secure and verifiable signing experience, giving you the freedom to sign on your terms, with confidence.

How to create documents for signature

To create and send documents for signature request using BoldSign, follow these steps:

1. Log into your BoldSign account or sign up for a New BoldSign Account if you don’t have an account.

2. Click on Create New and select Create New Document.

Create New Document Option

3. You will be directed to the Prepare Document for Signing page. Here, upload your documents that requires signature by clicking Browse on the Add file(s) section and selecting the required files from your computer.

4. Add the recipients who need to review and sign the documents by entering their names and email addresses.

Document Preparation page

5. Fill in any additional required details and click Next to move to the Configure Fields page.

6. On the Configure Fields page, drag and drop the necessary form fields onto the document and customize them as needed.

Configure Form Fields

7. Once all fields are properly configured, click Send to send the document to recipients for their signatures.

Send button

Legal Validity of Electronic Signatures

Electronic signature software platforms, such as BoldSign, ensure that digital signatures are legally binding and comply with key regulations like ESIGN in the U.S. and eIDAS in the EU. These platforms use advanced security features like encryption, audit trails, and tamper-proofing to ensure document integrity and prevent unauthorized modifications.

Many eSignature platforms also support HIPAA compliance to protect sensitive healthcare data, and they adhere to the EU’s GDPR standards for privacy and data security. Additionally, some platforms undergo SOC 2® Type 2 audits to demonstrate their commitment to data protection, giving customers confidence that their documents are handled securely and in compliance with industry standards. To explore all the security measures taken by BoldSign, visit our Security Overview page.

Why Choose BoldSign for Electronic Signatures?

When selecting electronic signature software, it’s essential to look for a platform that offers a smooth, secure, and efficient signing experience. BoldSign stands out by addressing key considerations.

Ease of Use

BoldSign is exceptionally user-friendly. Our interface allows users of all tech backgrounds to get up and running quickly. This ease of use extends to both senders and signers, streamlining the entire eSignature process.

You can check here to see how easy it is to use BoldSign for electronic signatures.

Security and Compliance

BoldSign places a strong emphasis on data protection with robust encryption, detailed audit trails, and compliance with global standards such as SOC 2® and GDPR. This ensures your documents remain secure and legally valid.

Learn more about BoldSign security and how it protects your electronic signatures.

Collaboration and Workflow Efficiency

BoldSign simplifies collaboration by allowing you to invite users to your organization’s account and create teams based on your company structure. It also enables easy reassignment or deactivation of users. Tracking document status is straightforward, and, you can delegate responsibilities using custom permissions. For example, you can assign the management of templates to another team member when the team admin is unavailable.

Customization and Branding

With BoldSign, you can tailor the signing experience to reflect your brand. Add your company’s logo, colors, and email templates to create a professional and consistent appearance for your communications. Learn how to create a brand in BoldSign with these elements to reflect your company’s identity.

Mobile Accessibility

The BoldSign platform is mobile-friendly. It ensures users can conveniently sign documents from their smartphones or tablets, no matter where they are physically.

Localization

BoldSign supports localization, allowing you to provide signers with a customized experience in their native language and time settings.

Affordable and Scalable Solution

The free BoldSign plan allows users to send up to 25 documents per month, offering an ideal entry point for small-scale needs. Designed for businesses of all sizes, the platform’s features adapt as your requirements grow. With transparent pricing and no hidden fees, BoldSign provides a reliable and cost-effective solution for start-ups and enterprises alike.

Dedicated Customer Support

BoldSign ®offers free customer support without additional fees. All business users, regardless of plan, have access to a dedicated customer service team. This team is prompt, receptive to feedback, and accessible via chat, email, and phone.

Start Signing with BoldSign

BoldSign combines ease of use, robust security, and advanced features to meet all of your eSignature requirements. Whether managing contracts or scaling your operations, BoldSign is the trusted solution for businesses of all sizes. Start simplifying your document workflows with BoldSign today!

Conclusion

In conclusion, electronic signature solutions offer a compelling alternative to traditional signature methods, providing a wealth of benefits in terms of speed, cost, security, and convenience. Create a new BoldSign account and enjoy a 30-day free trial. Experience the excellence of BoldSign by scheduling a personalized demo in which you can ask any specific questions you may have.

Do not hesitate to share your thoughts in the comment section. If you have any concerns, feel free to reach out to our dedicated support team via our support portal.

Note: This blog was originally published at boldsign.com