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Electronic signature: What is it, what is it for and what types of digital signatures are there currently?

Electronic signature: What is it

Today the electronic signature has become one of the most useful tools for most users. And it is that with it people and companies are able to carry out administrative procedures without the need to be physically present.

The safest thing is that at some point in your life you have heard about all this and you have been raised many doubts about it, like what is actually an electronic signature? what are they for? What kind of documents can be signed with it? , among many others.

It is important to clarify that this is completely legal and that it offers a series of benefits to citizens , where of course they can obtain greater comfort, security and close documents faster . With all this in mind, here we explain a little more about this whole topic.

What is an electronic signature and what is it currently used for?

¿Qué es una firma electrónica y para qué se utiliza actualmente?

You may have certain doubts about what the electronic signature itself is, and that is that it refers to a digital data set that is used today as one of the main means to expedite the identification of the signer . It is fully legally authorized in much of the world.

All this has been developed with the aim of streamlining and giving greater security to business management and the different administrative procedures of citizens . In the same way, this will help to increase digital documents so that users can become more familiar with technological advances . Where all these procedures have become something indispensable for most .

How does this document work and in what situations can I use it?

One of the great advantages of this digital process is that it has different uses, and it works as a digital document that allows to validate any type of procedure that is done online. In addition, it is very useful when you need to do a specific procedure in some city and the user resides far from it .

All this allows different functions to be performed with this document , and the same will depend on the condition of use. According to this, here we present the main uses of this digital stamp.

To perform authorizations, customer forms and contracts

All this service is used mainly with the purpose of offering customers a safer and simpler experience, especially when doing some type of online business or when the signature is required for some type of paperwork, either a lease or an employment contract .

In other words, the purpose of this is to avoid having to print a document, sign it manually and scan it again to be sent via web . That is to say that all this will allow to speed up this process.

Where it is mainly used for the following:

  • Service authorizations.
  • Forms to be filled in to request a service loan.
  • Contracts for purchase and sale of services and products .

For employment contracts

This service has a higher percentage of use within work areas where they are constantly preparing reports that need to be sent or returned very quickly.

This is how most companies have begun to use what is the electronic signature, this will allow their employees in the future to be able to close businesses or agreements at a distance. In addition, all this will prevent the physical contracts from being handled, preventing employees from having to mobilize with a large amount of material, such as folders and sheets.

Handle confidential documents

Other of its main uses are to handle those confidential documents where only two or more parties can know . These are completely private reports by companies where most of their employees cannot meet them. Taking into account that within a organization a large number of completely delicate papers are handled .

Public organizations

Public organizations have become another of the main factors that make use of this digital tool . And it is that it allows them to expedite any type of document that they have to distribute before the community to make known some kind of request.

It is also important to mention that there are many organizations that seek to collect signatures and then be presented to an institution or company and thus make a formal request of a requirement that is necessary within a community.

Is an electronic signature the same as a digital signature? Differences

Most users ask themselves if an electronic signature is the same as a digital one, taking into account this doubt that covers a large number of citizens, we must point out that when we refer to a digital signature we refer to what is a series of cryptographic methods . But, if we talk about an electronic signature , then talking about something that already has a legal basis , since it has a legal validity.

It is important to clarify that the digital signature is also legally and completely valid . But, this does not always have to be legal , that is, it can be applied without it having a real value , that is, it is simply done to try to give it greater presence of the document and get a little more credibility before customers.

On the contrary, when we talk about an electronic, we refer to a great support that exists behind it, and that it can be managed by a private or public company . They must meet a set of requirements so that they can be approved within the legal jurisdiction framework .

What are the main types of digital or electronic signatures?

Surely you still have the doubt that type of digital or electronic signatures exist and which of them would be more convenient for your company or business . For this, it is important to mention that this will basically depend on the use and security and legal conditions that you want to give them.

Having this clear, here are the main types of electronic signatures that you can start using:

Simple

This simple electronic signature does not present any type of probative value , that is, the client will never know who the signer was. It is used for those cases where you want to protect a little more the privacy of the company or institution .

It is simply a PIN or Check that is used to accept terms and conditions on different websites.

Advanced

Unlike the simple one, it shows a probative value , since the client has the opportunity to see the identity of the signer .

It is a line that is mainly used to sign those loan reports, labor contracts of companies or public institutions and insurance policies.

Qualified

It also has a probative value as well as the advanced , , that is, the client can see the signer’s identity without problems . However, unlike the previous two, this is not easy to use, since the signer needs to have a digital certificate to make use of it. It is normally used for the procedures of public administrations .

List of the best providers of electronic signatures in Spain

If you are interested in implementing electronic signatures in your company or business in Spain , then you need to know which are the best suppliers of these tools. To do this, Here we are going to teach the 5 best companies currently.

Signaturit.com

Signaturit

Signaturit is currently one of the most recognized digital and electronic signature companies today , has a signature system that is auditable >. Thus offering greater security and reliability to each of its clients. In addition, once you register you will have a supporting document that will help you collect the electronic evidence generated for what will be the signature selection process.

This is how Signaturit has legal validity in both the European Union and the United States. In addition, it is characterized by not saving any type of electronic signature since each one of them is completely unique for each type of document.

DocuSign.com

DocuSign

DocuSign has become another of the websites that offer these services to the different Spanish companies . It will allow you to create your own digital signature so you can start inserting it in each of your documents , this will allow you to create greater security before your customers in each of your online businesses.

In addition, it allows you to send reminders and check the status of signatures at any time, a way to always be attentive to each of your documents sent, has a free trial service one month and has a platform for PC and Smartphone .

www.Softysign.com

Softysign

One way to start closing each of your businesses from a distance , this is how you can start close your agreements and contracts from any mobile device or computer anywhere in the world .

This is how Softysign has the legal guarantees necessary to guarantee you a good service , thus offering legal digital certificates so you can certify the security of each of your documents.

Autografus.com

Autografus

Considered as the biometric digital signature for your business , used by a large majority of companies around the world. It gives you the possibility of creating great support in each of your business , as well as providing greater security to each of the clients in each process of purchase and sale, leases, contracts , among others.

Autografus has the legal validity necessary for your business to offer one of the most reliable security systems in the world , thus providing protection for documents and data stored in them. All this based on the European Union law agreements .

Viafirma.com

Viafirma

Finally we introduce you to viafirma , another of the digital companies that offers this type of tools for private and public companies , the which will facilitate any type of financial process that you want to carry out. This is how it is currently available for 14 countries.

It has a trusted service that is attached to the eIDAS regulation and with a data protection that complies with the new GDPR. This is how you can here create simple, advanced or qualified signatures depending on your needs.