Traditional e-Signature is Dead — Here's What's Next

In an era where digital transformation is accelerating across all sectors, the traditional e-signature, a revolutionary tool for digital contracts, is now evolving into something more powerful. What does this mean for your own business? Technological advancements are changing user expectations by cutting down on barriers to sign and making processes more secure than ever before. 

These five emerging trends are reshaping the landscape of e-signatures.

1. Artificial intelligence and machine learning

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are transforming how we handle digital signatures. These technologies can analyze patterns and detect anomalies in signing behaviors, adding an extra layer of security. AI-powered systems can also enhance user experience by predicting and suggesting signature fields, automating document preparation and verifying the authenticity of signatures in real time.

2. Two-factor authentication (2FA)

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an essential tool for protecting digital signature processes, with the most commonly used being two-factor authentication (2FA). You’ve likely used 2FA to login to a program before and may not have realized it. In most cases, 2FA means that you will be asked to enter a code that has been sent to your phone or email to access an account. This provides an extra layer of security to further protect confidential documents. In some cases, this also includes answering questions only you would know the answer to, hardware tokens or even biometric finger scanning.

3. Cloud-based solutions

Cloud-based e-signature solutions are becoming increasingly popular due to their flexibility and scalability. These platforms allow users to sign documents from anywhere, on any device, and at any time. Cloud solutions reduce barriers to entry, significantly improving turnaround times and overall customer experience. On top of that, most cloud-based solutions offer robust storage and management capabilities to ensure documents are accessible and secure. Other advanced features some cloud-based e-signature partners can provide include real-time collaboration, automated workflows and integration with other business applications. 

4. Regulatory compliance and standardization

With the rising popularity of digital signatures, regulatory bodies worldwide are establishing standards and guidelines to ensure their legality and enforceability. Compliance with regulations such as the eIDAS Regulation in the European Union and the ESIGN Act in the United States is an essential that can’t be overlooked. There also are e-signature partners out there today who adhere to compliance measures for your specific area of practice, such as HIPAA, SOC 2 Type II or CCPA. For this reason, researching compliance standards from prospective e-sign providers is a must.

5. Enhanced user experience

The demand for a seamless and intuitive user experience is driving innovations in e-signature technology. Modern solutions focus on simplicity and ease of use, with user-friendly interfaces and guided signing processes. Features such as drag-and-drop signature fields, Word-like interfaces for editing, mobile-friendly designs and instant notifications are becoming highly sought after, ensuring people of all technology levels can complete essential tasks.

The Importance of Trends for Your Business

Traditional e-signatures aren’t going away, but they are evolving. When it comes to serving your customers, keeping these new features top of mind to deliver the best possible user experience and enhance efficiency is key. And, you shouldn’t have to do it alone. The right e-signature partner should keep new features and changing standards top of mind so that you can focus on growing your business.

This guest blog is part of a Channel Futures sponsorship.