5 Ways to Use E-Signatures for Local Government

Now in its 15th year, the ESIGN Act has done more than spur the use of electronic signatures across the private enterprise sector. It is also catching on in the public sector, as public agencies and municipalities use e-signatures to keep budgets at bay and make paperwork easier on government employees and citizens.

And we’re not just talking e-signing online petitions.

E-signatures present local governments with a bounty of ways to streamline paper-heavy workflows that save real money and make constituents much happier, as they come more and more to expect the conveniences afforded by technology.

Here are five specific ways local government workers are changing antiquated, traditional paper processes for the better:

In-house operations. A streamlined process is key for governmental in-house operations. The more time is saved, the more time can be spent on productive duties that make the best use of taxpayer-funded salaries. Plus, reducing the amount of paper used can significantly lower in-house costs (well into the hundreds of thousands of dollars annually).

E-signatures are changing the local government landscape with easy-to-implement electronic forms and processes, including the following:

• HR forms
• Recruiting documents
• Onboarding papers
• Project management

Housing. Just like the real estate industry, housing transactions in the local government space need to move swiftly and efficiently.

Even with simple forms, such as a change of address form, unnecessary time can be spent waiting for forms to be mailed and then entered manually into a computer system. Consider San Diego County in California. In the first three months of piloting our e-signatures, 60 percent of those changing their address used the online system—rather than the estimated 10 percent participation expected.

Homeowner exemption forms and public housing program forms can also benefit from e-signatures.

Government business. Pushing papers to and from agencies and vendors can add up significantly in paper and ink costs. Several types of contract work, including international work, can be quickly transferred to an electronic service. Local governments can use e-signatures to authorize documents for procurement, action orders and vendor agreements, among others.

Citizen business. Many local governments suggest citizen business applications be picked up during office hours, but it can be a hassle for applicants to make the time to drive to an office during the 9-to-5 workday. These processes can be conveniently expedited with the use of electronic documents and e-signatures in permit applications and licensing documents.

Health and social services. A lot of local municipalities have their own health departments and issue healthcare services. But doing so can require reams and reams of paper to complete all necessary forms. Using e-signatures for public health program forms and other social services forms can curtail those costs and make processes run smoother.

Want to learn more about electronic signatures in local government?

Download our full case study of how our Independent E-Signatures™ saved San Diego County, California $225,000 annually…and counting!