If you have planned to understand the terminologies of online signature, you may face confusion due to different terms and their definitions. Generally, we find two key terms regularly, which are electronic signature and digital signature online. More interestingly, people are confused in using both terms differently. This confusion can be acceptable to some extent among the general public. However, for a businessman, it is necessary to have some awareness about electronic and digital signatures. It helps them buy the right solution for their organization to make documentation fast and convenient.
We can observe that many organizations have now started using proper document management. For that, they are ready to pay for the relevant software, like E-Signature online app. Some business owners also know the importance of electronic signature online for compliance, control, and, most importantly, security. Incorporating digital or electronic signature provides you the maximum to avail the above-described features. However, the issue is that there are some pros and cons of both technologies. So, before choosing a specific one for your organization, you need to get some awareness about both terms.
First of all, we need to have some definition of both the signatures in our minds. So, we are defining both the terms here:
Electronic Signature Online
While talking about the electronic signature, we can easily claim that these are the simpler ones. When we use these signatures, we use a unique symbol, sound, image, or process that the solution providers assign to the signer who wants to show the intent to sign the document. This specific individual can associate and execute these images when they want to sign the document.
Here, it is necessary to mention that all electronically signed contracts are completely legal and law-abiding. The user can use these signatures to verify the documents by including electronic ticks or using scanned signatures. However, there are some concerns related to using electronic signatures online. The most crucial problem of the experts is that electronic signature solution providers do not follow the standard that has been established in the whole world. All vendors have their mindset, and they launch their versions, which may be completely different from others. Therefore, the experts think that electronic signatures cannot be secure and protected to keep unauthentic individuals away from electronic contracts.
Electronic Signature Online
Using digital signature online means you are using the more advanced electronic signature solution. The most significant aspect of digital signature is improving the security and protection of the documentation process. Generally, using a digital signature means that you link your signature with your fingerprint. In this way, breach of your identity becomes more difficult. The signers also have authentic digital certificates to prove that they have been authorized to use a specific document. Another important aspect of the digital signature solution is that the information is in the embedded form. It means only authorized individuals can access the document who can be vendors or online merchants. These particular reasons make digital signature online the best online signature apps in the world.
Comparing electronic and digital signatures in detail
We know that there is still some confusion in your minds. Intricate details cannot resolve the issue if the information is technical. As most business owners do not know much about these terms, they have started thinking about sophisticated tools to manage their documentation electronically. However, it is not the solution. Therefore, in the following lines, we will try to help you understand the major difference between both types of E-signature online apps:
Purpose
Document protection is the ultimate aim of any organization. With a digital signature online, you can ensure that only authorized individuals can access the documents. In this way, you can stop all the attempts related to tempering.
Another major reason we recommend electronic signature is that the verification of the documents becomes convenient. With the best online signature app, you can find the source and authors of the documents. When such authentication is available, who can say that electronic signatures are not legally binding? Generally, the digital signature online solution providers use a keystroke, legal acknowledgment, or selected checkboxes to ensure document legality.
Regulation
Using a digital signature is the best way to use a fully automated, authorized, and regulated documentation procedure. Generally, a specific compliance authority issues a certificate and regulates the whole process. These third parties allow you to use authentic and credible signatures for authorization.
Having a regulator creates a major difference between electronic and digital signatures. Mostly, electronic signatures do not use regulators. Therefore, the authorities can raise questions about their use. They think that tempering is possible when using an electronic signature. On the other hand, no digital signature can be used without a regulator.
Security
When we create a customized contract, we need to focus more on security. With electronic signatures, it does not work according to our requirements. Here, digital signature online solutions are perfect because we can implement the most authentic security procedure, embedded security. This high level of security can protect the documents, which you deserve. Therefore, E-Commerce companies, merchants, and vendors prefer a digital signature online solution for documentation. With that, these solutions also offer a time-stamped feature that tells you the exact time when the document was signed and approved.
On the other hand, electronic signature solutions do not offer top-notch security and protection. Most of the electronic signatures do not have a validation process. When it is so, it becomes easier for unauthorized individuals to access your documents and breach security. In some electronic signature solutions, you can determine the date and time. However, this feature is not as advanced as in digital signature online solutions.
Type of Electronic Signature
Generally, the most important document processing tools that allow you to use digital signatures are Microsoft and Adobe PDF. You can use both these tools on any computer system. More importantly, both these tools can be used by all due to their user-friendliness.
You can use an electronic signature online in all forms. For example, you can use vocal recording, symbols, ticked boxes, or scanned signatures as an electronic signature. The purpose here is to identify the person who is signing the document for any specific purpose. On the other hand, you can use digital signatures only if you have a certificate issued by a third party to validate.
Authentication Electronic Signature Mechanism
When you use an electronic signature, you sign your digital agreement with the E-Signature app. The difference with digital signature here is that you use a streamlined and structured procedure while using a digital signature. It means that you need valid authentication while using the E-Signature app to create a customized contract.
You do not have this opportunity when you use an electronic signature. The reason is that electronic signature solutions do not follow a regulated authentication mechanism. Mainly, these solutions work on phone, Email ID, and other simple procedures to authenticate the signature.
Intention
There is a major difference in the intention approach while using any electronic signature. When we use an electronic signature, we only need to identify the signer. With that, it also helps observe the intent of the signer. On the other hand, we recommend digital signature to keep the document secure, protected, and confidential during and after the project. Keeping unauthorized individuals is legal, and you can implement all the procedures through which illegal and unauthorized access can be rolled back.
While using a digital signature online, a signer shows his intent to sign the document, become a part of the contract, and allow documentation to be considered legally binding. Therefore, when an organization plans to incorporate digital signatures online in its operations, it needs to develop confidence among employees, vendors, and other stakeholders.
Final Words
We are living in a digital era where everyone wants to use digital techniques to complete the procedures. The same is in the case of preparing digital documents and getting signatures from all concerned parties digitally. The companies also use electronic methods to send and receive documents. Therefore, it has become essential to start using digital signatures online. However, we also need to develop awareness about digital signatures and electronic signatures and the difference between the two.
We have tried to differentiate both types of signatures here. We think that the companies can have a clear picture now. They can now choose the most suitable solution according to their requirements.
Overall, both digital and electronic signatures are legally binding and help organizations complete transactions smoothly. More importantly, we do not find any conflict between both terms. The only thing that you need to consider is the difference between the two and your requirements.
Businesses have been choosing technology to make their operations and documentation smooth. We assure you that using digital signatures online can improve their documentation process. These solutions speed the documentation up and keep it away from all unauthorized persons and malware. With that, you can save time that you used to spend using manual documentation procedures in the past.