5 reasons to choose DrySign this National ESign Day
We have come a long way on the boulevard of technological advancements. Several new technologies are replacing manual processes to improve efficiency and productivity. Likewise, electronic signature technology has swapped positions with wet signatures, a permanent, fundamental fixture of every business deal. Before 2000, the idea of signing documents digitally was hard to imagine; today, years later, e-signatures have proven to be an incredible innovation, streamlining business processes, integrating security and compliance, reducing redundant costs, and facilitating sustainable workflows.
On June 30, 2000, President Bill Clinton signed the historic Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act). This law was implemented to facilitate the use of electronic signatures in interstate and cross-border commerce, ensuring legal validity. Ten years later, Congress passed a resolution to observe June 30 as National ESIGN Day. The day is celebrated to raise awareness about electronic signatures and their advantages in electronic commerce.
Signatures have been around since 3000 BC, and from mere symbols and pictographs to electronic signing, their evolution has been astonishing. Around 3000 BC, Sumerians and Egyptians made it a practice to use pictures and symbols to convey the meaning. Since then, we humans have been making widespread use of signatures that reflect their unique personality and legal importance. Let’s dive into the mesmerizing, age-old journey of signatures.
● 3500 BC: The first signature
The Sumerians invented the first-ever signature: The seal. One of the most important documents in England, the Magna Carta, was signed with the King’s seal. The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘to sign’ or ‘to put a seal on’ as a way of identification or authentication.
● 1069: Earliest known signature
The earliest known signature from a well-known historical figure is that of nobleman and military leader El Cid of medieval Spain.
● The 1600s: Widespread use of signatures
In 1677, the Parliament of England made it mandatory for particular contracts to include signatures to make them legally valid.
● 1867: Statute of Frauds
An Act concerning the “Prevention of Frauds and Perjuries” was passed by England that required “some note or memorandum in writing” to be “signed by the parties” for certain types of transactions. In 1844, the first used telegraph by Samuel Morse introduced the issue of authenticating electrically transmitted messages. Following this, the telegraphed signatures met the legal requirements for written signatures in 1867, under the “Statute of Frauds.” It can be monumentalized as the first legal victory of electronic commerce. And the legacy continued for telephonic signatures in 1918, audio recordings in 1972, and the fax machine in 1988.
● 1869: Acceptance of digital signatures via telegraph
In 1869, the New Hampshire Supreme Court accepted electronic signatures via telegraph, declaring that it makes no difference whether the signature is drawn by regular ink pen or electronically (via telegram or Morse code).
● 20th century: The Elevation of the Fax Machine
Coming from the word facsimile, the fax machine has evolved over several decades. The fax is a predecessor of the TelAutograph invented in 1888 by Elisha Gray. The TelAutograph was a way of sending signatures across distances that existed until recent times until Xerox acquired it in 1999.
● 2000: ESIGN Act
In 2000, the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act was signed into law by President Clinton. The Act gave electronic contracts the same legal status as those executed on paper.
Also Read: https://drysign.exelatech.com/blog/ways-electronic-signatures-are-driving-roi
Five reasons to choose DrySign this National ESIGN Day
This National ESIGN Day, let us take a peek into how e-signatures can infinitely improve your business and why you must go digital. Here are five reasons to choose DrySign as your companion on your e-signing journey.
● Simple and easy to use
Sign up, create templates, and get documents signed within minutes; DrySign makes it super easy to send and receive sensitive contracts and sign confidential documents. All you need is DrySign and an internet-enabled device to get the job done. It takes mere minutes to set up your account. You can invite multiple signatories to sign the document even if they don’t have an account. All business verticals, such as marketing, sales, human resource, finance, and operations, can streamline their processes, eliminate costs, and complete paperwork faster by employing digital signatures. DrySign allows you to sign from any device, any browser, from anywhere. Moreover, serving specific business demands, you can create templates for frequently used agreements, contracts, or forms for future use, instead of creating them from scratch, saving your business even more time.
● Security and compliance
With an edgy market crammed with emerging technologies and platforms, the need for more robust security has skyrocketed. Organizations and individuals now prioritize security more than ever. With the emergence of electronic signatures, security and compliance queries have elevated. But contrary to popular opinion, these are safe and legal to use. DrySign acts in accordance with ESIGN Act and UETA to add an extra layer of compliance. Any contract or agreement signed electronically is now legally valid and holds the same standing as a handwritten signature, and the record of the same can be used as proof in a court of law. Moreover, digital signatures are end-to-end encrypted to avoid any loss of data or theft. Unauthorized access to electronic documents is not permissible as they verify the identity of the signer prior to signing. DrySign offers multi-factor authentication, detailed audit trails with time-stamps along with many more security features.
● Affordable and Economical
One of the biggest fears of businesses when it comes to new technologies is the cost of implementation. What if I move to a new way of doing business, and it ends up being more expensive? Yes, we have all asked ourselves this question when we think of a transition. However, with DrySign you need not worry about the cost. Firstly, and most obviously, the adoption of e-signatures can completely eliminate the cost of paper, printing, storage, and transport needed for physical documents. Second and not so obvious are the costs you save on employee time, and productivity wasted doing these redundant activities. With DrySign, your business can organically cut costs on several inessential processes and give your teams time to focus on critical tasks instead of old, dreary operations.
● Easy integration with applications
Getting a digital signature solution to sign important contracts and agreements in mere minutes is all within our reach, but to make the work more easy and more accessible, integration with other applications is imperative. DrySign e-signatures effortlessly integrate with the platforms such as Google Drive, Salesforce, OneDrive, and Dropbox, simplifying the upload and allowing users to seamlessly process their digital document workflows.
● Smart dashboard and audit trails
Businesses deal with vast volumes of data. Managing and maintaining records of all the organizational data can be the most tiresome and bungling task. Employees often find it challenging to physically maintain and store all the important records in place for future reference. Moreover, wet signatures lack the security that must come with important records; you can’t easily monitor the signing status or invite and remind signees. DrySign has you covered. DrySign’s smart dashboard gives you a bird’s eye view of your entire electronic document history. In addition, audit trails and time stamps make the signing process entirely transparent; you can track the document signing process and get real-time status updates. DrySign ensures you get your work done in time, efficiently, and with full transparency.
ESIGN Act
The ESIGN Act has laid the groundwork for today’s digital world, ensuring the legitimacy and validity of electronic documents, resulting in people using electronic signatures to legally sign documents in almost every industry. The ESIGN Act, in aggregation with the UETA (Uniform Electronic Transaction Act), establishes the requirements for e-signature vendors. The Act has made it possible for people from diverse fields, such as legal, real estate, insurance, educational, and small businesses, to sign confidential and important documents without the need for an in-person meeting.
While the ESIGN Act has been applauded for its extensiveness, it does not apply to every type of documentation. Here are certain types of records and documents that the ESIGN Act does not cover:
● Adoption paperwork
● Particular areas of the Uniform Commercial Code
● Wills, trusts, and codicils
● Termination notices of utility services
● Cancellation of insurance benefits
● Court documents such as briefs and pleadings
● Documentation associated with the transport of hazardous materials
● Court orders and notices
● Divorce Decrees
● Notice of default, repossession, foreclosure, or eviction
● Product recalls or material failure notices
Facts about the National ESIGN Day
● President Clinton signed the bill into law electronically after signing it with a regular pen and smart card encrypted with his digital signature.
● When the bill was passed, over 40 states had previously passed legislation governing electronic signatures, but the regulations were not uniform.
● The declaration of June 30 as National ESIGN Day was supported by Jim McDermott (D-WA).
● According to the ESIGN Act, any contract or signature may not be denied legal effect, validity, or enforceability just because it is in electronic form.
Start DrySigning!
Every business representative and individual has a particular signature of their own. With the evolution of technology, some traditional methods are on their way out, making way for newer, savvier, and safer methods to conduct business. People are now more focused on getting smart technologies incorporated rather than spending hours on traditional methods. Irrespective of age, profession, or industry, everyone has indeterminate signing needs. Right from school applications, insurance papers, banking documents, human resource documents, and business agreements to important petitions, e-signatures can get everything done in minutes. On this National ESIGN Day, let’s ditch the age-old methods and embrace digital signatures to integrate efficiency and productivity. With smart features and compliance certifications for adherence to global e-signature legislation, DrySign has all your signing needs covered.
DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for general information purposes only and is not intended to serve as legal advice. Laws governing the subject matter may change quickly, and Exela cannot guarantee that all the information on this site is current or correct. Should you have specific legal questions about any of the information on this site, you should consult with a licensed attorney in your area.
