Introduce electronic signatures in your SME in just a couple of steps

One of the fastest growing digital implementations in business is the electronic signature, as it has the same legal validity as the handwritten signature, but unlike this, signing is much easier, faster and safer, and you only need your digital devices.

So says MarketsandMarkets in its recent study where the size of the global digital signature market is expected to grow from $2.8 billion in 2020 to $14.8 billion by 2026, at a compound annual growth rate of 31.0%.

This expected high growth of e-signatures is due in part to the fact that they allow documentation to be sent in a totally secure way, guaranteeing the authenticity of the signature. According to the e-Government Portal, "an electronic signature is a set of electronic data that accompanies or is associated with an electronic document".

This set of electronic data carries a cryptographic system that guarantees the confidentiality and security of electronic documents sent with a digital signature.

Below, we are going to see the benefits that you can obtain if you incorporate the electronic signature into the management of your SME.

- Integrity.

The electronic signature guarantees that the signatory will receive the same document as the original, without alterations or modifications.

- Authenticity.

To avoid deception and fraud, the electronic signature guarantees that the signatory is really that person or entity.

- Non-repudiation.

The person signing cannot deny having signed the document, as the signature data are unique and exclusive.

- Confidentiality.

Once the signed document is sent, only the people or entity that receives the document will have its digital fingerprint encrypted with the signatory's private key.

- Time and cost savings.

By sending documents with electronic signatures over the Internet, we avoid having to travel, thus speeding up management processes. In addition, we eliminate the use of paper, thus saving costs.

Now that you know the benefits of having your electronic signature, we will tell you how you can introduce your signature in your business by following these simple steps.

The first thing you need to sign electronic documents is a digital certificate or an electronic ID card. The electronic certificate has cryptographic keys that allow the person signing to be identified without error.

Once we have the certificate, we have two options on how to sign electronic documents:

1. Download an application to your computer.

Install the AutoFirma application, which will allow you to sign documents from your computer without the need to be connected to the internet.

2. Sign directly on the internet.

Normally this signature is mainly used to make applications or forms, but if you want to sign your documents on the internet you can also do it using the service offered by VALIDe (online validation of certificates and electronic signatures).

For companies it is becoming commonplace to have electronic signatures. Its simplicity, security, speed, and above all the advantage of being able to sign from anywhere, is facilitating the adoption of this new technology. If you have not yet started with the digital transformation of your company, the electronic signature can be a first step towards the digitalisation of your business.