Printing, signing, scanning, and emailing is slow. E-signatures let people sign documents securely from anywhere.

Popular tools

– DocuSign: a long-established leader with extensive features and integrations

– Adobe Acrobat Sign: well integrated with PDF workflows and Microsoft 365

– Microsoft options: newer e-signature features in Microsoft 365 apps and Adobe integrations within Microsoft products

– Others: various lower-cost and specialized services

What to compare

– Ease of use for signers, who often won’t have accounts

– Templates and bulk sending

– Workflow and routing for multiple signers

– Audit trail and tamper-evident certificates

– Integrations with CRM, SharePoint, and storage

– Authentication options such as SMS or ID verification

– Pricing structure, per user or per envelope

– Data hosting and security

Legal considerations

Electronic signatures are generally recognized for many business documents in Canada, but exceptions exist for certain document types. Some contracts or regulated transactions may require specific forms or higher levels of assurance. Consult a lawyer for important or unusual documents.

Good practices

– Keep signed copies and audit certificates

– Use templates for consistency

– Limit who can send documents on behalf of the company

– Enable MFA on the account

Pay for what you need

Occasional use may not justify an expensive plan.

DBR Soft can integrate e-signature into your document workflows. Contact us for more information.