The chocolates, the roses, the swooning. Romance may be in the air, but it’s also an ideal moment to check the health of your relationship. After all, a gift doesn’t mean much if your partner stands you up for dinner.
The same applies to your relationship with your e-signature vendor. They might provide the basic services you need, but are they truly meeting your expectations and supporting your business effectively? Are they evolving in ways that truly benefit you or only changing for themselves? It's time to have a candid conversation with your e-signature vendor and reassess your partnership if you notice any of these five deal breakers:
1. Your E-Signature Vendor is Too Clingy
Boundaries signify respect in any relationship, and this is particularly crucial with e-signature vendors. However, some vendors, especially those with proprietary technology, can be too clingy. Their systems aren't built on international, published standards, meaning you must rely on their services to verify your e-signatures’ validity in the future. This creates a dependency because the necessary evidence isn't embedded within the signed document itself, leading to a relationship lock-down.
Moreover, dependent vendors often cling to your data and documents. Only digital signature vendors can digitally shred e-signed documents from their servers upon request. For businesses in regulated industries like healthcare, financial services, real estate, and mortgage origination, maintaining full ownership and control of documents enhances security and peace of mind. If your current vendor can't provide this, it might be time to explore new options.
2. You Have Trust Issues with Your E-Signature Vendor
Trust is the cornerstone of any healthy relationship, including those with e-signature vendors. A trustworthy e-signature ensures your documents are legally solid, with proof that they haven't been tampered with during signing or delivery. It also verifies that the intended signer was the one who received and signed the documents, ensuring the document’s legal validity for the foreseeable future.
Your vendor should offer:
- Comprehensive audit trails that track every step of the signing process.
- Tamper-evident technology that alerts signers to any changes made during and after signing.
- High-assurance identity authentication to confirm that signers are who they claim to be.
If you can’t trust your vendor, the relationship might be beyond repair.
3. Your E-Signature Vendor Makes You Feel Insecure
In a good relationship, partners are stronger together. Your e-signature vendor's technology should meet and exceed the highest public standards for digital processes, including digital certificate issuance, encryption, and data storage. E-signed documents should be significantly more secure than those signed with paper and ink.
If you doubt the strength of your e-signature vendor’s security and legal proof, it’s time to end the relationship. You deserve a service that ensures your documents and data are protected and valid long-term.
4. Your E-Signature Vendor Doesn’t Act Like a True Partner
A relationship is doomed if only one side is investing time and effort. If your e-signature vendor isn’t treating you like a valued partner, you’re missing out on opportunities to make your company’s e-signature program grow and thrive
5. Your E-Signature Vendor Doesn't Respond to Your Priorities
An e-signature vendor that prioritizes superficial changes to their software's appearance rather than making real technical advancements is not truly invested in your success. Cosmetic updates might make the interface look modern, but they do little to enhance the underlying functionality or security of the platform.
True innovation lies in improving the core technology and providing robust security measures. If your vendor seems more concerned with how their platform looks rather than how it performs, it's a red flag. You need a vendor committed to substantial technical improvements that drive efficiency, reliability, and security for your business.
Assess your vendor’s commitment to service and support, collaboration, and above all, respect for your specific needs. Is your e-signature vendor falling short? It’s time to find a new partner dedicated to a long-term commitment to your success.