Skip to content 
TL;DR
- E-signatures are digital tools replacing manual signatures, enabling faster, secure, and efficient document processing.
- Why upgrade? Legacy e-signature solutions may limit ROI and efficiency in today’s digital-first, fast-paced business environment.
- Key benefits: Speed up contract closures, reduce costs, ensure compliance, and improve customer experience.
- 3-step evaluation framework: Identify organizational needs, prioritize high-impact use cases, and quantify the business value of e-signatures.
- Future-proof your processes: Cloud-based e-signatures with AI integrations deliver superior security, flexibility, and scalability.
Why Waiting Weeks for Contract Signatures No Longer Works
In procurement and business operations, delays can have a ripple effect—causing missed opportunities, lost revenue, or supply chain disruptions. In an era where businesses source urgent supplies within days, waiting weeks for a signed paper contract is no longer viable.
Though e-signature solutions have existed for decades, their legal validity and business adoption surged in the past few years due to regulations like the U.S. ESIGN Act and EU eIDAS. Today, organizations are leveraging them not just for speed but for transforming workflows, enhancing compliance, and strengthening security.
How E-Signatures Improve Business Performance
Organizations adopting e-signatures report significant process improvements:
- Reduce turnaround times from weeks to hours
- Cut document costs (printing, courier, storage)
- Increase operational efficiency with automated workflows
- Improve security with tamper-proof, auditable digital trails
- Support sustainability by eliminating paper processes
Case in Point: A leading procurement team saved over 1 hour per contract using Zycus CLM integrated with Certinal e-signatures, translating to thousands of hours annually.
Why E-Signature Adoption Is Accelerating
- Government Initiatives: Global regulations and compliance standards encourage e-signature use.
- Digital Transformation: Businesses need borderless, paperless, fast solutions.
- Pandemic Impact: Remote work and virtual operations made e-signatures indispensable.
- Security Concerns: Advanced encryption and audit logs make digital signatures more secure than traditional methods.
Are You Using an Outdated E-Signature Solution?
Many organizations continue with legacy solutions that don’t meet evolving needs. Signs of an obsolete solution include:
- Incompatibility with other enterprise systems (ERP, CLM, CRM)
- Slow or clunky user interfaces causing poor adoption
- Weak security measures and compliance gaps
Each department—Procurement, HR, Finance—has distinct needs. A rigid e-signature platform often fails to serve all.
A 3-Step Framework to Evaluate and Upgrade
Step 1: Identify Unique Business Needs
Different sectors demand different features:
- BFSI: High-level security and compliance
- Pharma: Strict regulatory adherence
- Retail: High-volume contract management
Step 2: Evaluate Use Cases
- Focus on high-volume processes (100+ signatures annually)
- Flag workflows with poor user satisfaction for optimization
Step 3: Quantify ROI
- Direct Savings: $5–$10 per physical contract eliminated
- Employee Time Saved: 1–1.5 hours per contract at ~$40/hour
- Revenue Gains: Faster contract closure accelerates sales cycles
- Efficiency Boost: Automated reminders and centralized management
The Strategic Advantages Beyond Cost Savings
E-signatures don’t just save money; they:
- Accelerate revenue cycles by enabling instant signatures
- Enhance compliance with detailed audit trails and global security standards
- Mitigate risks through fraud-resistant technologies
- Improve customer experience with seamless, mobile-friendly workflows
- Promote sustainability by reducing paper usage and carbon footprint
Why Cloud-Based E-Signatures Are the Future
Cloud solutions eliminate the need for hardware or on-premises infrastructure. They offer:
- Rapid deployment across geographies
- Centralized management and access control
- Integration with core systems like Zycus CLM, ERP, and CRM
Take Action: Upgrade Your E-Signature Strategy
As business processes evolve, so should your e-signature solution. Modern, AI-powered platforms like Certinal integrated with Zycus Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) drive:
- Faster procurement cycles
- Reduced operational costs
- Improved stakeholder collaboration
Ready to transform your contract management? Request a Demo or Contact Us today.
Related Read:
- Blog – Unlock the Value of Digital Transformation by Adopting E-Invoicing
- Blog – 5 Key Benefits of Enhancing Your Business with an e-Invoice Generation Tool
- Blog – Why E-invoicing is in Focus Today & How will it Benefit your Business?
- How E-Invoicing Technology Is More Than Saving Paper
- White Paper – A CFO’s Guide to Procurement and Invoice Management Benchmarking
- Research Report – Invoice Workflow Automation (IWA) Report
