As the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic deepens there are clear impediments to a traditional signing process that digital signatures are fast becoming the norm. Working remotely has become the new normal and this adds an additional set of challenges for businesses, which are subject to regulatory requirements to maintain records and ensure business continuity. Thankfully the use of electronic signatures can offer parties flexibility and efficiency in executing documents. Electronic signatures are valid in the UAE, subject to certain conditions, and have been recognized since 2006. The use and admissibility of electronic records, documents and signatures in the UAE are governed by Federal Law No. 1 of 2006 concerning Electronic Transactions and Commerce (the E-Commerce Law).
What are Digital Signatures?
Digital signatures are like electronic “fingerprints.” In the form of a coded message, the digital signature securely associates a signer with a document in a recorded transaction. Digital signatures use a standard, accepted format, called Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), to provide the highest levels of security and universal acceptance. They are a specific signature technology implementation of electronic signature (eSignature).
Digital signature solution providers follow a specific protocol, called PKI. PKI requires the provider to use a mathematical algorithm to generate two long numbers, called keys. One key is public, and one key is private.
When a signer electronically signs a document, the signature is created using the signer’s private key, which is always securely kept by the signer. The mathematical algorithm acts like a cipher, creating data matching the signed document, called a hash, and encrypting that data. The resulting encrypted data is the digital signature. The signature is also marked with the time that the document was signed. If the document changes after signing, the digital signature is invalidated.
To protect the integrity of the signature, PKI requires that the keys be created, conducted, and saved in a secure manner, and often requires the services of a reliable Certificate Authority (CA). Digital signature providers, like emSigner, meet PKI requirements for safe digital signing.
How do I create a digital signature?
Digital Signature providers, such as emSigner, that offer solutions based on digital signature technology, makes it easy to digitally sign documents. They provide an interface for sending and signing documents online and work with the appropriate Certificate Authorities to provide trusted digital certificates. With capabilities including OCR, Machine Learning, Document Intelligence, Electronic Signature, emSigner helps you build an end to end document automation pipeline.
About Digital Signature from emSigner for your Business
emSigner is a secure cloud (SaaS) based automated workflow-cum-signing solution which can be accessed from anywhere and anytime and it allows you to define your own workflow and as part of that workflow sign legally binding documents online, without pen, paper or fax. In a way that is faster and more secure than executing paper documents.
It’s an electronic signature solution for online document signing, document management and workflow based online portal. Solution is devised to suit the needs of Individual’s, SME’s and Large enterprises for their day to day various kinds of document signing and workflow needs. This a paperless office solution which aims at replacing the herculean manual efforts, time and cost involved in paper based signing and workflow approval process to an automated, efficient, time and cost saving workflow based online document signing solution.
emSigner can be used either as a standalone system which can be accessed through web browser over any network or only through intranet network or integrate with your companies ERP, CRM, Business Applications or Business Process to electronically sign and dispatch the documents without any manual intervention.
emSigner can also help you in:
- Collaborative preparation and approval of contracts from anywhere with complete track changes and version control
- Getting the contracts counter-signed by people from outside the organization instantaneously
- Creating a system of record for all audit and compliance purposes
- Streamlining storage and retrieval of contracts
8 Benefits of using Digital Signatures at Work
- Save Time and Money: Expedited document signing that’s economical.
- Reporting and Real-time Visibility: Complete visibility into each document.
- Seal the Deal Faster: Whether closing a sales deal or hiring an employee.
- Increased Productivity: Embedded signing, APIs and Templates to automate the signing process.
- Searchable Contracts Repository: Quick search access to signed contracts during audit or legal dispute.
- Easy to Use: User friendly process requires no training for emSigner, means more contracts executed quickly.
- Legally Binding: Legally binding with robust security platform and compliances and tamper-proof digital signatures.
- Seamless Integration: emSigner provides both API’s (Application Programming Interface) and Gateways to connect with leading ERP and CRM applications such as Salesforce, thereby facilitating seamless creation, signing and approval of sales quotations, proposals, contracts, invoices, etc.
Use Cases of EmSigner Digital Signature
Finance
Human Resources
Digital Signature Legality in UAE
Electronic Signature has been recognized by law in the United Arab Emirates since 2006, with the passage of the Electronic Commerce Law. Under UAE law, a written signature is not necessarily required for a valid contract – contracts are generally valid if legally competent parties reach an agreement, whether they agree verbally, electronically or in a physical paper document. To prove a valid contract, parties sometimes have to present evidence in court. Leading digital transaction management solutions can provide electronic records that are admissible in evidence, under UAE laws, to support the existence, authenticity and valid acceptance of a contract.
Use cases where a standard electronic signature is typically appropriate for businesses include:
- HR documents, such as supplemental employment contracts (i.e., not employment contracts filed with UAE authorities), non-disclosure agreements, employee invention agreements, privacy notices, benefits paperwork and other new employee onboarding processes
- Commercial agreements between corporate entities, including non-disclosure agreements, purchase orders, order acknowledgements, invoices, other procurement documents, sales agreements, distribution agreements, service agreements
- Consumer agreements, including new retail account opening documents, sales terms, services terms, software licenses, purchase orders, order confirmations, invoices, shipment documentation, user manuals, policies
- Service agreements
- Termination notices
- Software license agreements
- Certain intellectual property licenses and transfers such as trademark licenses and assignments
Go Digital with Electronic Signatures at your Organization
With emSigner, you can easily digitally sign and share documents. In the process you can reduce carbon footprints and create an eco-friendly and secure digitalized work environment.
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