Sales department and the electronic signature
Sales department have always been important for businesses – they are the ones who bring in new customers and help increase revenue. However, with the ever-growing competition, it has become more and more important for sales department to be as efficient as possible. One way to improve efficiency is by using an electronic signature.
What is an electronic signature? Also known as the e-signature, it is a legal way to sign documents electronically. It is a digital equivalent of a handwritten signature and it is legally binding in most countries. This means that you can use it to sign contracts, agreements, and other documents without having to print them out and sign them manually.
Electronic signatures work by using cryptographic algorithms to create a unique and tamper-proof signature. This signature is then attached to the document. When the document is signed, the signature is verified using the algorithms. This verification process ensures that the signature is valid and that the document has not been tampered with.
Moreover, electronic signatures are useful to track who has signed a document and when. This information can be valuable in the event of a dispute.
Why does the sales department need the electronic signature?
There are many reasons why electronic signatures can be beneficial for the sales department, but we will focus on the most relevant ones.
1) Time and cost saving
It helps reduce the waste of time. With electronic signatures, there is no need to print out documents and then scan or fax them back – you can simply sign them electronically and send them back in a matter of seconds. This can save a lot of time, especially when you need to sign multiple documents.
For example, if you are closing a deal with a customer, you can send them the contract electronically and they can sign it without having to print it out and mail it back to you. This can save a lot of time, especially if you are dealing with customers who are located in different parts of the world.
Of course, electronic signatures can also lead to cost savings. This is because they can save you time and money on printing and mailing costs.
2) Improved customer experience
Customers appreciate being able to sign documents electronically, as it is more convenient for them. This can lead to repeat business and higher customer satisfaction.
Indeed, an electronic signature is a cornerstone of digital onboarding, which is the process of introducing a new customer to your company through digital channels alone. This process makes life easier for customers, who no longer have to come to your office to sign documents, print, or mail them. Thanks to digital onboarding, they can follow all the steps from home, directly from their PC or smartphone, saving time, money, and energy.
Today, the customer experience is crucial to success. In fact, more than 80% of customers say that the experience a company provides is as important as its product or service quality.
3) More conversions
When customers are given the option to sign documents electronically, they are more likely to do so. This is because, as we have seen, it is a more convenient method for them and it saves them time.
In addition, electronic signatures also shorten the sales cycle. Indeed, if your sales department can get customers to sign documents electronically, they can close deals faster and move on to the next customer. It also means that customers can get their products or services sooner, and this improves the overall customer experience.
4) Better compliance
When you use electronic signatures, you can be sure that all the documents you sign are compliant with the law. This is because electronic signatures come with a number of features that ensure compliance, such as time stamps, tamper-proof seals, and encrypted data. In addition, electronic signatures make it easy to track who has signed a document and when. This information can be valuable if there is ever a dispute.
5) Better document management
With electronic signatures, there is no need to keep track of paper documents – everything is stored electronically, making it easier to keep your documents in order and find what you are looking for exactly when you need it, even remotely. Furthermore, this reduces the risks of loss or damage typical of physical archives (which, in addition, take up space and result in an expense).
6) Increased security
With electronic signatures, businesses can use electronic signature software to verify the identity of the signer and ensure that the document has not been tampered with. This gives customers peace of mind knowing that their electronic signature is just as legally binding as a manual signature.
7) Scalability
You can use electronic signatures for deals of any size. Whether you are closing a small deal or a large deal, electronic signatures can help. Moreover, most signature tools allow you to sign multiple documents at once.
Difference between electronic signature and digital signature
An electronic signature is a representation of your identity in electronic form. It can be as simple as your name typed at the end of an email. It can also be a scanned image of your handwritten signature, or a digitally generated signature using a software program.
On the other hand, a digital signature is a more secure form of electronic signature. It uses cryptography to verify the identity of the signer and ensure that the document has not been tampered with. A digital signature is like an electronic signature, but with an extra layer of security.
As we have already said, electronic signatures are legally binding in most countries, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union. In fact, electronic signatures have the same legal weight as manual signatures. This is because they meet all the requirements of a valid signature under law, such as intent, capacity, and voluntariness. In addition, electronic signatures are backed by technology that provides a high level of security and authenticity.
To improve the work of your sales department, you can choose the Namirial Digital Signature, which allow your staff to sign digital documents quickly, easily and with maximum security, with the same legal value as a handwritten signature.
With the Remote Electronic Signature your sales staff can sign any type of document or contract with full legal value. Its security is based on the OTP software that we send via SMS or via the Namirial OTP app.
The Remote Digital Signature is easy to activate, doesn’t require any shipping and allows your staff to do everything with their smartphone. You can choose between 1 or 3 years of validity.
Find out more about Namirial’s Remote Digital Signature.
