If you use Adobe Professional to sign your documents, you may ask yourself, “Why use a web-based electronic signature service?”
First and foremost, a web-based e-signature service is not just for those with Adobe installed on their computer. Anyone with access to an internet connection can sign documents, regardless of which version of Adobe they have. The free Adobe Reader cannot sign a PDF unless the PDF has added extended usage rights (reader extensions). Without such rights, every signer must have Adobe Acrobat, or the equivalent.
You can’t sign just any PDF. A signable PDF file must include a digital signature field. To create digital signature fields you must have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Standard or Professional and a firm understanding of form fields. Creating a digital ID is a long process (11 steps) and far from intuitive. No one wants to use a difficult technology just to sign their name.
Web-based e-signature services enable you and anyone else who needs to sign your document to sign online without upgrading or buying additional software or learning how to use new software. For instance, if you sign your documents using Adobe Professional, but need your client to sign as well, are you going to request that they install new software or upgrade before they sign? Most web-based e-signature services convert documents to a PDF file. So, you’re still working with the same file format, yet eliminate the need for your clients to have the same software you have.
A web-based esignature service automatically inserts digital signature fields for you. Services such as ConXPoint lets you drag and drop fields to any location on the document in 1 step rather than 11, and even routes the document via email to all signers. You can also manage the signature workflow to see who has and who has not signed the document from an easy to use interface.
Best yet, ConXPoint offers unlimited free esignatures as part of its Business Center suite. You don’t have to pay every time you want to sign your name to a document or be limited by a certain number of signatures allocated to you in a package. If you sign a contract, and your client doesn’t approve of the terms, you can revise the contract and sign again without paying again.
Technology should be inexpensive and easy to use. Just open the “getting started with digital signatures” option in Adobe Standard to be overwhelmed with steps to electronically sign your name. Or, you can try ConXPoint’s service for 30 days for free to see how easy signing your name can be.
