{"id":7435,"date":"2021-09-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-03T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/practical-guide-to-electronic-signatures.html"},"modified":"2026-08-19T15:41:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T13:41:40","slug":"practical-guide-to-electronic-signatures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/practical-guide-to-electronic-signatures.html","title":{"rendered":"Practical guide to electronic signatures"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Reading time: 9 minutes.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If when you think of &#8220;electronic signature&#8221;, you think of a scanned signature, this guide is for you.<\/p>\n<p>Discover all the subtleties behind an electronic signature.<\/p>\n<h2>What is an electronic signature?<\/h2>\n<p>It is a device used to seal a mutual agreement between several stakeholders, and is used on the documents in question as a guarantee of conformity.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Civil Code, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.francenum.gouv.fr\/guides-et-conseils\/pilotage-de-lentreprise\/dematerialisation-des-documents\/la-signature\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">electronic signature<\/a> has the same legal validity as a handwritten signature in France and in the European Union. Therefore, it must allow for the identification of the signer and must meet the following criteria: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Authenticity: the author of the signature must be identifiable.<\/li>\n<li>Forgery-proof: no possibility of impersonating the signatory.<\/li>\n<li>Non-reusable: no possibility of reusing the signature, by moving it for example.<\/li>\n<li>Unalterable: the document cannot be modified after signing.<\/li>\n<li>Irrevocable: once signed, the author cannot contest it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Use Cases for Electronic Signatures<\/h2>\n<p>Electronic signatures can be used to sign all types of documents:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Employment contracts.<\/li>\n<li>Invoices.<\/li>\n<li>Quotation.<\/li>\n<li>Legal documents.<\/li>\n<li>Order forms.<\/li>\n<li>Mandates and sales agreements.<\/li>\n<li>Accounting documents.<\/li>\n<li>Notarial deeds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Signing documents online is thus becoming an increasingly common practice in businesses, helping to speed up processes and eliminate repetitive tasks associated with paper-based workflows.<\/p>\n<h2>The different levels of electronic signatures<\/h2>\n<p>Earlier, we mentioned the fact that electronic signatures and handwritten signatures have the same legal value. There are, however, a few subtleties to be noted, depending on the level of electronic signature used. <\/p>\n<h3>The simple level 1 signature<\/h3>\n<p>A simple signature, also known as a digital signature, corresponds to a scanned signature that is integrated into a document, or to a secret code that is typed in.<\/p>\n<p>Its level 1 status gives it limited legal value, as it does not guarantee the identity of the signatory or the integrity of the data.<\/p>\n<p>In particular, it is widely used in internal company processes, such as for signing acknowledgements of receipt, authorizations and so on.<\/p>\n<h3>Level 2 advanced electronic signature<\/h3>\n<p>The advanced electronic signature, which must meet the requirements set out in Article 26 of eIDAS.<\/p>\n<p>The service provider offering the electronic signature must guarantee the conformity of the signature:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>be uniquely linked to its signatory;<\/li>\n<li>formally identify the signatory;<\/li>\n<li>be created by means under the exclusive control of the signatory, such as his telephone or personal computer;<\/li>\n<li>guarantee that the act (document, contract, etc.) to which it relates cannot be modified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">This level is ideal for creating a secure digital signature on a PDF document.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, level 2 electronic signatures can be used to sign dematerialized invoices, employment contracts, sales agreements, insurance policies and more.<\/p>\n<h3>Level 3 qualified signature<\/h3>\n<p>According to the French Civil Code, a level 3 qualified signature is equivalent to a handwritten signature. It is used for documents requiring authentication, such as notarial deeds, public tenders, etc. <\/p>\n<p>This is the most effective signature from a legal point of view, as the identity of the signatory has been authenticated beforehand by the certification provider or electronic certification service.<\/p>\n<p>The three signature levels enable different uses to be made of the electronic signature. Advanced and qualified electronic signatures are the most robust from a legal point of view, since they use a service provider who guarantees compliance with standards or who is himself certified. Consequently, these are the ones used for signing documents where legal value is required.  <\/p>\n<h2>A few figures on electronic signatures in the workplace<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opinion-way.com\/fr\/\">OpinionWay<\/a> has carried out a study on electronic signatures in the workplace, and here are the key findings.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>9\/10 executives sign almost every day;<\/li>\n<li>Yet only 8% no longer use paper.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Barriers to electronic signatures<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>64% are interested, but their company has not reached a sufficiently advanced stage of digitalization.<\/li>\n<li>39% it is not an investment priority for the company.<\/li>\n<li>31% lack of compliance in their sector of activity.<\/li>\n<li>19% investment of too much time (solution installation, employee training, etc.).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>For companies that have opted for electronic signatures, the following benefits have been identified<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Time-saving.<\/li>\n<li>Productivity.<\/li>\n<li>Data security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are the same criteria expected by companies that don&#8217;t use a signature solution.<\/p>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">Creating an electronic signature tailored to your needs therefore helps address operational and regulatory challenges.<\/p>\n<h3 data-pm-slice=\"1 3 []\">For 63% of users:<\/h3>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li>\n<p>An electronic signature solution simplifies everyday life.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>53% of companies expect the service provider to ensure regulatory compliance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In fact, simplicity is one of the criteria for selecting a signature solution, followed by:<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li>\n<p>The ability to archive signed documents;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Integration of the solution with the business software already in use at the company.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The departments within the company that use electronic signatures<\/h3>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li>\n<p>73% of administrative and financial departments<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>43% of legal departments<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>43% of purchases<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You&#8217;ll have noticed that the sales department is not one of the biggest users of electronic signatures. In fact, only 25% of sales departments use electronic signatures to conclude contracts. <\/p>\n<p>This also explains the low rate of 12% of B2B contracts signed electronically.<\/p>\n<h3>The electronic signature is used for :<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>55% to sign documents for the public administration.<\/li>\n<li>39% to validate documents internally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">How do you add an electronic signature to a PDF document? Many service providers offer specialized tools\u2014often online\u2014that let you insert a certified signature directly into a PDF file with just a few clicks. <\/p>\n<p>It should be noted that 63% use electronic signatures to sign rather than to have signed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Electronic signatures are a real asset for companies, saving time and making day-to-day business easier, but very few companies have yet integrated them.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Companies want a simple, archiving solution that integrates seamlessly with other business software.<\/p>\n<p>They also want a guarantee of conformity.<\/p>\n<h2>How do I sign a document electronically?<\/h2>\n<p>The electronic signature must be created using a device that generates a qualified electronic signature or a qualified electronic seal.<\/p>\n<p>An electronic signature is considered qualified if it meets the <a href=\"https:\/\/cyber.gouv.fr\/le-reglement-eidas-n9102014#:~:text=Corps-,Le%20r%C3%A8glement%20%C2%AB%20eIDAS%20%C2%BB%20n%C2%B0910%2F2014%20du%2023,entreprises%20et%20les%20autorit%C3%A9s%20publiques.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eIDAS standards<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Qualified electronic signature standards under eIDAS<\/h3>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">To be legally robust, the electronic signature or electronic seal must meet the following requirements:<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li>\n<p>Issuance of a qualified certificate for electronic signatures and electronic seals for website authentication;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Qualified validation of electronic signatures and qualified digital seals;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Proper preservation of signatures;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Electronic timestamp;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Qualified electronic registered mail.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This allows you to:<\/p>\n<ul data-spread=\"false\">\n<li>\n<p>To authenticate the individuals and entities that created the signatures and thereby give the signature the same legal validity as a handwritten signature;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>To also provide a link to the website, if applicable;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>To provide evidence of third-party validation;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>To extend the technological shelf life of the preservation;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>To protect data from the risks of loss, theft, or tampering.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>What is the difference between a digital signature and an electronic signature? A digital signature often refers to a scanned image, whereas an electronic signature is based on a process of cryptographic validation and identity verification. <\/p>\n<h3>The electronic signature process<\/h3>\n<p>Once you have identified your trusted service provider, it only takes a few steps to sign your document:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>You need to log in to the provider&#8217;s website.<\/li>\n<li>Next, you need to integrate the document(s) you wish to have signed.<\/li>\n<li>Send the invitation to the other signatories to sign the document.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Electronic signatures with VERYSWING&#8217;s Constellation portal<\/h2>\n<p>The Constellation portal is an electronic exchange and signature portal. It enables advanced signatures that comply with European standards. <\/p>\n<p>With the Constellation tool, you can sign several types of document, such as :<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sales proposals<\/li>\n<li>Quotes<\/li>\n<li>Activity reports<\/li>\n<li>Employment contracts<\/li>\n<li>etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">This portal is therefore ideal for companies that want to sign documents online securely.<\/p>\n<p>The tool is available free of charge to users of VERYSWING&#8217;s SaaS solutions, as well as to their customers, suppliers and partners.<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion on electronic signatures<\/h2>\n<p>Electronic signatures have the same legal value as handwritten signatures.<\/p>\n<p>Electronic signatures are an integral part of the business, making everyday life easier. This improves document exchanges, speeds up the document signature process, secures data and saves money (printing, postage, etc.). <\/p>\n<p>To be legally valid, electronic signatures must comply with the standards governed by eIDAS. It is also possible to use a trusted service provider, who must also meet the requirements. <\/p>\n<p>From a user&#8217;s point of view, it&#8217;s very easy to sign electronically, as all you have to do is log on to the service provider&#8217;s website, download the document and send an invitation to the other signatories.<\/p>\n<p>All that&#8217;s left is to choose your trusted provider.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"\" data-start=\"121\" data-end=\"176\">Go Digital with Veryswing&#8217;s Electronic Signature Solution<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"178\" data-end=\"334\">Improve productivity, compliance, and ease of use with our management software integrated with the Constellation e-signature platform.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"336\" data-end=\"400\">Integrate electronic signatures into your business processes<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"402\" data-end=\"624\">Our <a href=\"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/our-solutions\/vsactivity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VSActivity<\/a> (ERP), <a href=\"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/our-solutions\/vsexperience\">VSExperience<\/a> (HRIS), and <a href=\"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/our-solutions\/vsportage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VSPortage<\/a> (ERP) software solutions natively integrate Constellation, our secure electronic signature platform that complies with European standards. They allow you to: <\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"626\" data-end=\"958\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"626\" data-end=\"742\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"628\" data-end=\"742\">Legally sign any type of document (contracts, quotes, meeting minutes, purchase orders, etc.) electronically;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"743\" data-end=\"799\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"745\" data-end=\"799\">Automate validation and submission workflows;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"800\" data-end=\"871\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"802\" data-end=\"871\">Centralize and securely archive signed documents;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"872\" data-end=\"958\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"874\" data-end=\"958\">Provide a simple and seamless experience for your employees, customers, or partners.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"960\" data-end=\"1026\">Manage all your activities from a single platform<\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1028\" data-end=\"1190\">Whether you\u2019re a consulting firm, a service provider, a software developer, or an umbrella company, our solutions cover all your operational needs:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1192\" data-end=\"1476\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1192\" data-end=\"1260\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1260\"><a href=\"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/all-features\/crm-sales-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1217\">Sales Management<\/strong><\/a> : quotes, invoicing, sales tracking;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1261\" data-end=\"1335\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1263\" data-end=\"1335\"><a href=\"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/all-features\/erp-finance-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-start=\"1263\" data-end=\"1285\">Financial Management<\/strong><\/a> : accounting, budgeting, collections, cash management;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1336\" data-end=\"1393\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1338\" data-end=\"1393\"><a href=\"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/all-features\/hr-management-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-start=\"1338\" data-end=\"1352\">HR Management<\/strong><\/a> : leave, contracts, payroll, onboarding;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1394\" data-end=\"1476\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1396\" data-end=\"1476\"><a href=\"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/all-features\/erp-software-for-activities-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong data-start=\"1396\" data-end=\"1434\">Time and Activity Management<\/strong><\/a> : tracking assignments, planning, CRA.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1478\" data-end=\"1624\">Our software is designed to adapt to your organization and facilitate your transition to a paperless, seamless, and compliant management system.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1626\" data-end=\"1776\"><strong data-start=\"1626\" data-end=\"1776\"><a href=\"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/request-a-demonstration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Request your free demo<\/a> today and discover how Veryswing can digitize your business management and document signing processes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading time: 9 minutes. If when you think of &#8220;electronic signature&#8221;, you think of a scanned signature, this guide is for you. Discover all the subtleties behind an electronic signature. What is an electronic signature? It is a device used to seal a mutual agreement between several stakeholders, and is used on the documents in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"Practical guide to electronic signatures","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn how to create an electronic signature, its security levels, and Veryswing\u2019s solutions for signing your documents online in a legally valid manner.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"article--metier":[83,82,84],"solution":[74,73,75],"class_list":["post-7435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-non-classifiee","article--metier-cabinet-conseil","article--metier-editeur-logiciel","article--metier-societe-ingenierie","solution-vsa-en","solution-vse-en","solution-vsp-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7435","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7435"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7435\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":131127,"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7435\/revisions\/131127"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7435"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7435"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7435"},{"taxonomy":"article--metier","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article--metier?post=7435"},{"taxonomy":"solution","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/veryswing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/solution?post=7435"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}