Everything You Want to Know about Electronic Signatures

Here are answers to specific questions about electronic signatures. Take some time to also review the white papers, data sheets, and other resources you'll find here. The savings calculator can help you figure out how much money you can save with e-signatures, and the ROI you can expect from this solution.

• What's an electronic signature?
  An electronic signature is a fast, secure, and easy way to sign a contract. It can be defined as a process that attaches an encoded signature to an electronic document, verifying the identity of the signer and signifying an approval to terms. An electronic signature needn't resemble what would commonly be recognized as a signature. It can be any sound, symbol, or process adopted with the intent to sign a document.
• How does it work?
  It's easy. First, each system user is identified and provided with a unique and secure electronic signature. Then, when you're a requestor, you use a simple drag-and-drop tool to identify the signers needed on a given contract, and where they need to sign. With one more click, you send the contract and signer list to Ariba's partner, DocuSign. DocuSign sends emails to ask signers for their signatures. Automated triggers, set to the update interval of your choice, keep you informed about process status. Once everyone has signed, a final PDF version of the contract is secured, returned, and uploaded.
  
  When you're a signer, you open the DocuSign email, review the contract, and follow the guides to see where you need to sign. Just click on each location to e-sign your name. When finished, click "done" to send the contract back to the requestor. Fully executed copies are automatically stored in the Ariba system, and a tamper-proof master copy is stored in DocuSign's SAS70-compliant datacenter. Each signer receives a notification and a link to the signed document, as well as a Certificate of Signing as evidence of the process.
• Are electronic signatures legal?
  Yes. They carry the same legal effect as physical signatures while raising the standard for authentication and security. The enforceability of e-signatures in the U.S. was ensured in 2000. That's when the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN) was signed into law, establishing that the use of electronic means to create and sign documents would not jeopardize their validity or enforceability.
• Are electronic signatures secure?
  Yes, far more secure than any paper-based process. Leveraging the latest application security, infrastructure protection, and DocuSign's unique contract execution process, you have the peace of mind that documents and customer data are secure and safe during and after the signing process. Documents are digitally sealed and all communication is transmitted over SSL 128 bit encryption. Plus, the service includes a 100% audit trail of the entire process, ensuring compliance and reducing the risk of fraud or lost records.

Electronic Signatures is just one solution for maximizing the value of contractual agreements. Look around. You'll find additional solutions in the Ariba Commerce Cloud, a web-based platform that contains everything you need for more collaborative commerce. There you can find fully automated solutions for managing both procurement and sales contracts, and a whole lot more.

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