6 methods to auto-manage your digital signatures

Keep in mind training your signature as a child? Perhaps you thought you would be well-known. For many of us, our unlucky, grownup actuality is that our signatures are in excessive demand on contracts, authorized notices, and different agreements—not collectibles. 

However getting these agreements signed for work could be simply as elusive as getting a celeb’s autograph, even with the assistance of eSignature apps. A brand new buyer dawdles on returning a signed doc, otherwise you lose observe of which agreements should be despatched out. With the Zaps beneath—that is what we name automated workflows—you by no means have to fret about these issues slowing you down.

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What’s eSignature automation?

eSignature automation streamlines all of the duties concerned in securing somebody’s digital signature on a doc. Since getting a contract signed usually precedes working with a consumer, most companies wish to transfer by way of this step quick—and automation makes that attainable. 

Consider all of the repeatable duties tied to digital signatures. You have to create the doc on the proper second, remind the signing get together by electronic mail if you have not heard from them, and perhaps even get an alert as soon as the signed doc arrives. Apart from the precise act of signing, just about every thing associated to this course of could be dealt with by Zaps.

Digital signature vs. digital signature

Sure, there is a distinction between digital and digital signatures.

There is a U.S. federal legislation referred to as the E-Signal Act that defines digital signatures as any “digital sound, image, or course of” connected to a contract that somebody intends to signal. If you happen to’ve ever used instruments like DocuSign or Dropbox Signal so as to add your signature to, say, a hiring doc or some on-line type for the financial institution, you in all probability affixed an digital signature.

Underneath ESIGN, digital signatures are legally binding within the U.S. However as a result of that does not prolong to all worldwide contexts, some organizations that want extra safety for compliance functions go for digital signatures, which require a pair of cryptographic keys for authentication. (Whereas many standard instruments help digital signatures, not all do—so if this issues to you, simply remember to verify.)

For simplicity’s sake, I will seek advice from “digital signatures” or “eSignatures” all through this text. However all the Zaps described could be arrange for digital or digital signatures, so long as your device helps each.

Put together paperwork for brand new shoppers and clients

Relying on your online business, you would possibly want an eSignature earlier than you’ll be able to proceed with clients. For instance, in the event you’re a private coach, you wish to be sure you have these waivers signed. These workflows will robotically create the suitable doc at any time when you could have a brand new sale or consumer.

Do you utilize an app that does not have a Zapier integration but? No downside—you’ll be able to arrange a webhook to seize information from any app and spin up a doc from there.

Ship follow-up emails

If you want one thing signed, you hope that the opposite get together will not take their candy time. Since eSignature requests are normally achieved by electronic mail, it is easy for shoppers or clients to overlook that they should signal a contract or quote. 

For a further nudge, attempt a workflow that can ship a personalized electronic mail at any time when a buyer receives a doc. You possibly can add extra signing directions or a mild reminder to ship their eSignature shortly.

Create paperwork throughout the gross sales course of

Maybe your gross sales course of seems to be one thing like this: Potential clients fill out a contact type in your web site to get in contact along with your gross sales group and after a dialog, you ship over a quote requiring an eSignature.

You possibly can automate the eSignature prep aspect with Zapier. Strive these Zaps, which is able to robotically create a doc when somebody fills out a type. Your quote can be prepped and able to ship for signature. 

If you happen to favor a bit extra specificity, it’s also possible to use a workflow that can ship signature requests based on particular deal phases in your buyer relationship administration (CRM) device.

Get notifications for accomplished signatures

Nothing is last till you get that needed signature. However ready after which manually checking for them slows down your total course of and might even delay crucial subsequent steps. Hold your group within the loop with a Zap that’ll robotically warn you at any time when somebody indicators a doc, so you’ll be able to act on accomplished agreements instantly.

Again up signed paperwork

Signed contracts are your insurance coverage from legal responsibility and set up the providers you are anticipated to ship. That being stated, it is all the time good to have a backup of your signatures ought to you want to reference them sooner or later. Strive these workflows, which is able to robotically again up your signed paperwork to a cloud storage app. 

Observe and replace your data

It is tedious however essential to hold observe of signatures you are ready on. If you happen to observe your buyer interactions in a CRM, attempt these Zaps, which is able to robotically replace your offers at any time when paperwork are signed. 

In case your record-keeping shouldn’t be as strong, a easy spreadsheet is all you want to observe excellent and accomplished paperwork. These workflows will robotically create or replace present rows upon getting a signature. 

Automate your eSignatures to maintain your work transferring

Whether or not you are new to eSignatures or it is a tried-and-true technique of getting work achieved, by including automation to your course of, you’ll be able to release time for different duties—like getting all of the work achieved that usually follows a signature. If you happen to’re prepared to begin, choose certainly one of these Zap templates or construct your personal workflow within the Zap editor.

This text was initially revealed in 2021. It was most lately up to date in November 2025 by Steph Spector.