The demand for companies and society to increase digitization is leading to a rapid increase in the number of implementation projects in the context of digital signature procedures. In addition, the business processes in the company, as well as the existing IT systems are a suitable starting point to realize signature procedures without media discontinuity. SAP and ERP processes, in particular, offer the ideal starting point for this.

Digital signatures have redefined how businesses and industries handle bulk approvals. Gone are the days of stacking up paperwork in piles, all waiting for the stroke of a pen.

One reason why digital signatures have been mandated in many cases is because they are an unmatched solution for verifying document authenticity. Not only do you get ensured security, you also gain a paperless, error-free environment.

Digital signature solutions can help establish reliable audit trails to ensure compliance, too, while reducing security concerns. You can digitally sign documents with digital signature certificates (DSC) stored in USB token or local server. Larger, more secure devices such as Hardware Security Modules (HSM) can also be used.

Authenticity, compliance, and traceability: the benefits of digital signatures

Let’s examine some of the ways implementing this process can improve business transactions. First of all, a digital signature completed by a private key can only be verified by a public key on the receiver’s end. Any verification mismatch invalidates the document.

A digital signature marks the presence of the signer at a given instance. Features like Geo-tagging and IP capturing encapsulate precise traceability methods. Furthermore, using the appropriate traceability measures allows you to adhere to legal regulations, ensuring compliance.

What’s more, a digital signature solution helps you prioritize data integrity and document authenticity. As a result, you can ensure both reliability and audit compliance with the same seamless process. In addition, digital signatures are much faster, compatible, and efficient than physical signatures.

Finally, every digitally signed document can be archived, simplifying retrieval for later. With easy access to a large amount of documents, abiding by government guidelines isn’t strenuous or tedious, either, and requires minimal input.

The way forward

Document distribution is becoming synonymous with digital signatures. A verified document stored locally can be processed or forwarded, matching business requirements and individual requests. Signature verification is a lot easier, as well, eliminating the need for manual intervention.

Digital signatures make going paperless easy, removing complications and unnecessary printing. With a digital approach, businesses can significantly cut costs on their document management processes. At the same time, your company can also consume fewer resources.

Furthermore, an email notification feature prompts recipients to sign, while document status updates let you track each document’s current stage. The signing process becomes faster and you get a transparent working environment. In short, adding a digital signature can reduce financial burdens while improving longterm business performance.

Sigitek – DSC in SAP