5 reasons to use handwritten signatures in your digital documents
Wait, why would anyone want to use handwritten signatures for electronic documents? Wasn’t it already time to throw away pens and paper and go all-in on simply tapping a button to sign a document?
Zefort Sign lets you add handwritten signatures to your digital signing request. With the feature, you can request the signer to add handwritten signatures, initials, or a company stamp during the signing process.
This feature was based on customer requests, which goes to tell you that handwritten signatures are not dead. Below are the 5 reasons why.
Good to know: Adding handwritten signatures is an option that you can choose individually for each signing request. The normal secure digital signature created by Zefort Sign is unaffected; the handwritten signature serves as a visual enhancement.
#1 Add prestige with handwritten signatures
Not all signing events call for turbo-optimized efficiency. Imagine you’re finalizing a deal where an entrepreneur is selling her life’s work to the next generation – it’s an unforgettable, emotional event.
Signing an important document can still hold ritual significance, signifying a monumental agreement or commitment to a shared goal. Visualize two heads of state finalizing a partnership agreement between two nations. That event and those signatures end up in news headlines around the world.
Even though you’re not inking deals on global relations on an everyday basis, handwritten signatures can add a personal touch to those special moments you may come across.
#2 Control the signing process
With the new Zefort Sign feature, you are not limited to adding a single handwritten signature field to the end of the document. In fact, you can add as many mandatory fields for signatures, initials, or stamps as you want, anywhere in the document.
This means that you can control the signing event in great detail.
You can, for example, require the signer to add her initials on every page of the document. Or, place the mandatory field on a few select sections.
This lets you ensure that the signers have paid attention to the sections of the document you want to emphasize – and not just simply scroll down quickly to the signing button.
#3 Meet local signing customs and traditions
Traditions and customs differ across countries and even between companies. Some areas or organizations are just transitioning from paper-based processes to digital processes.
Case in point: there are still numerous countries, industries, and businesses that require you to add your company’s stamp on a contract.
No matter if it’s a personal preference or a local tradition, Zefort Sign’s new feature lets you easily meet this requirement, no matter if it’s a signature or a visual stamp of your company’s logo.
#4 Comply with national signature regulations
Expanding on the previous point, digital signing solutions may not be widely used, or the legal status of a digital signature may not be clear.
In some countries or cultures, a handwritten signature may be perceived as more legally or culturally binding than a purely digital one. This feature may help you bridge that gap without resorting to mailing printouts or scheduling a physical signing meeting.
However, if you’re working outside the EU (where electronic signatures are legally binding), remember to check the local regulations for legally binding signatures. Handwritten signatures in digital documents just may solve your problem.
#5 Add emotional engagement
The way you sign a document may have psychological implications, too. From a mental point of view, it’s more engaging to enter your name instead of just pushing a button.
The act of physically signing one’s name can create a stronger psychological commitment to the document’s terms, enhancing the signer’s sense of responsibility.
Further, handwritten signatures can evoke a stronger emotional response, making documents feel more meaningful and engaging, particularly in personal contexts such as employment contracts or certificates.
