How Mobile eSignatures Serve Businesses in Being Sustainable

The Philippines is dependent on the digital economy to sustain itself. It suffered shockwaves due to the sudden effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But a strong government policy and support for medium and small-sized businesses make digital transformation inevitable for success.

The Internet has allowed businesses to engage customers seamlessly and overcome the aftermath of the pandemic. The large number of technologically adept users, public and private sector investments, and supportive government fiats will culminate in massive growth. As per Zhenhub, the Philippines has 85.16 million internet users. Among the users, nearly 98.5% of adult Filipinos own a mobile phone. Businesses that deliver a mobile-first experience will succeed in the region.

A Mobile-first Approach to Websites 

Mobile devices connect us to friends, jobs, and favorite sites. As smartphones become ubiquitous, a mobile-first design is critical for faster response times. The reliance on mobile devices for information and consumer decision-making makes a mobile-first design more critical.

Benefits of Mobile-first Design 

• Prioritize Page Content – Mobile-first design helps companies prioritize giving users the right information. It ensures that relevant information fits the screen without any characters being lost to the edge of the screen.

• Intuitive Navigation – The navigation of pages is tested on mobile devices. Developers can test their websites on the maximum number of mobile phones, ensuring they cover all users. This provides incentives to users to visit the site frequently for any queries. Navigation can be improved with the help of faster navigation, lack of Ads, and fast loading times.

• Better Performance – Mobile devices have space constraints and have no space for Ads. Mobile sites can provide information quickly by creating accelerated mobile pages (AMPs). It will be functional and help users navigate to the pages they require.

What are Electronic Signatures? 

Electronic signatures or eSignatures rely upon cryptographic techniques to electronically sign documents. Their foundation is rooted in public-key infrastructure (PKI), a combination of protocols, hardware, and software designed to manage digital certificates for utilization, oversight, retention, and distribution. This involves using a pair of public and private keys to establish the authenticity of an individual’s signature. Unlike aiming for confidentiality, the sender employs the private key to create the signature, while the recipient, armed with the public key, can verify the sender's identity. This approach thwarts counterfeiting through the reliance on the trust established between parties. For instance, the contents of a digital document remain valid only through validation using both private and public keys. This method ensures message security without the necessity of a shared secret key.

Features of E-Signatures 

Electronic signatures offer several key features that are particularly convenient and functional on mobile phones:

• Convenience on Mobile Devices – E-signatures are customized for mobile use, allowing you to sign documents directly from your smartphone, making the signing process quick and accessible even while on the go.

• Biometric Authentication – Mobile phones often incorporate biometric features like fingerprint scanning or facial recognition, adding an extra layer of security to the e-signing process and ensuring that the signature is yours.

• Cloud Integration – Mobile e-signature apps can integrate with cloud storage services, allowing you to access and sign documents directly from your cloud accounts, streamlining document management.

• Offline Signing – Mobile eSignatures offer the ability to sign documents even when you're offline, which can be helpful in areas with limited or no internet connectivity.

• Robust Security – Mobile e-signatures offer advanced security and employ multi-factor authentication to protect users from data loss. It helps in keeping malicious actors out and secure sensitive information.

• Legally Binding – Just like signatures on paper, eSignatures are legally binding, provided they meet the requirements of applicable laws. Many e-signature solutions ensure compliance with legal standards, particularly when designed for mobile use.

• Collaboration and Workflow – They often offer collaboration features, enabling you to send documents for signatures, track the signing progress, and complete the workflow—all from your mobile device.

• Notifications – They can send notifications to keep you updated about the status of documents, ensuring you stay informed about the progress of your signed agreements.

Are eSignatures Legal? 

Electronic signatures (eSignatures) are legally recognized and accepted in the Philippines in legal proceedings and business contexts. The Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792) establishes the legal framework for electronic utilization. To validate e-signatures, businesses must adhere to specific criteria. An e-signature is considered valid if the signer willingly intends to sign the electronic document, affixes the e-signature correctly, retains a copy, and ensures the document's integrity is preserved. These eSignatures hold legal weight in court proceedings and serve to encourage the adoption of e-signatures and e-commerce in online transactions.

Don’t Miss to Read: DrySign eSignatures: Interoperability within Exela

How do I do an eSignature? 

An eSignature can be made by a user by logging into an electronic signature service or a document signing application website. It requires basic details like a valid e-mail address to provide access to sign online.

The application usually provides ready-made options for a user’s signature or helps them create their e-signature. This can be used to sign any electronic document or contract. The signature can be saved or edited as per the user’s wish.

Finally, the document to be signed has appropriate fields for signing. The user can place their e-signature and send the document. Users should be aware that an eSignature denotes the user’s intent to enter into a contract with a different individual or company of their own volition. Thus, they should read the terms and conditions before giving their consent.

What is DrySign? 

Meet DrySign, a leading eSignature solution provider that offers customized solutions as per business requirements. It has continuously updated itself to provide more exciting features like company seals to authenticate the identity of a company or individual.

DrySign can be accessed on most mobile devices with high functionality. It helps accelerate workflows and help businesses gain customers while on the go. Moreover, it can foster collaboration and teamwork between teams in the same or different organizations.

Conclusion 

The Philippines, backed by robust government policies and support for medium and small-sized businesses, has embraced digital transformation. The post-pandemic landscape has been navigated effectively through the seamless engagement with customers facilitated by the Internet, further propelled by the country's many technologically adept users, substantial public and private sector investments, and encouraging government regulations.

The mobile-first strategy has evolved as a central tenet of digital technologies. With the proliferation of smartphones, it has become imperative to prioritize mobile-first design, ensuring faster response times and optimal user experiences. A prominent aspect of the digital landscape is the use of electronic signatures in ensuring businesses conduct transactions digitally faster. These signatures, rooted in cryptographic techniques and public-key infrastructure (PKI), bolster document authenticity. The acceptance of eSignatures as legally binding under the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 ensures their validity in both business and legal contexts. This aligns with the nation's aspiration for seamless and secure online transactions.

As the Philippines continues its journey toward digital resilience and prosperity, embracing a mobile-first approach and harnessing the power of e-signatures will undoubtedly play a crucial role. These tools align with the nation's digital transformation goals and open avenues for more efficient, secure, and legally binding transactions, fostering a thriving digital economy.

Choose an intuitive and mobile-friendly eSignature solution with DrySign!

Source: zhenhub.com

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.

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