4 Signs It’s Time to Break Up with Your E-Signature Vendor

The chocolates, the roses, the swooning. Valentine’s Day may be the holiday of love and romance, but there’s also no better time to do a pulse check on a relationship. (Because, let’s be honest—a gift doesn’t mean a lot if your date stands you up for dinner.)

The same is true for e-signature vendors. Sure, they might deliver the basic e-signing services you want, but are they giving you the tech solution and support you truly need?

This Valentine’s Day, have a heart-to-heart with your e-signature vendor to make sure you’re meeting each other’s needs, and re-evaluate your relationship if you see signs of these four deal breakers: 

Your e-signature vendor is too clingy. Boundaries indicate respect in relationships, and they’re especially important with e-signatures. But many vendors – primarily those that are “dependent” – cling way too tightly.

Because dependent vendors’ technology is proprietary, and not necessarily built on international, published standards, you have to use their services in the future to verify your e-signatures’ validity. You can’t ensure that validity on your own because the evidence is not built into the signed document. Basically, it’s relationship lock-down, and it’s a sign you may want to explore your options 

Dependent e-signature vendors can be especially clingy when it comes to your data and documents. Only Independent E-Signature™ vendors can digitally shred e-signed data and documents from their servers (if you desire). For companies in highly regulated industries, like healthcare, financial services, real estate and mortgage origination among others, keeping full ownership and control of documents is a way to improve security and peace-of-mind. If your vendor can’t offer this, think about looking for a new relationship.

You have trust issues with your e-signature vendor. Healthy relationships are built on a foundation of trust. So are good e-signatures.

For a fully trustworthy e-signature, you need assurance that it is legally solid. That is, your vendor should show you proof that your documents weren’t tampered with during the signing or delivery process, that the intended signer was the person who received and signed the documents and that the document will remain legally valid in the foreseeable future.

This means, you need your vendor to provide:

• Comprehensive audit trails that track every part of the signing process.
• Tamper-evident technology that alerts signers if any change is made once a document has been signed.
• Reliable identity authentication that verifies that signers are who they say they are.

If you can’t trust your vendor, your relationship may be irreparable. 

Your e-signature vendor makes you feel insecure. In a good relationship, you’re stronger together than you are alone. With e-signatures, this is the case, too. The technology your e-signature vendor uses should meet and exceed the highest of public standards set for digital processes, like digital certificate issuance, encryption, data storage and more. Your e-signed documents should be far more secure than those using paper and ink.

If you doubt the strength of your e-signature vendor’s security, it’s time to break up. You deserve a service that gives you confidence your documents and data will be protected for all time. 

Your e-signature vendor doesn’t act like a true partner. A relationship is doomed for failure if you’re the only one putting in the time and effort. If your e-signature vendor isn’t treating you like a valued partner, you’re missing out on an opportunity to make your company’s e-signature program grow and thrive.

Evaluate where your vendor stands on service and support, collaboration, and above all, dignity and respect.

Is your e-signature vendor not meeting your needs? It’s time to look for another vendor whose services are dedicated to a long-term commitment to success.

As a Valentine’s Day treat, we’re offering a free guide on what an e-signature integration should look like.