Posted on Sat, Aug 07, 2010
Given the advantages of a paperless office, why is society not yet there?
The answer is deceptively simple: There is no substitute on the market today that is as portable, durable, simple, and accessible as paper for every aspect of a businesses functions. In fact, contrary to the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions’ study, the consumption of paper per capita in the United States has grown 43% since 1980, according to the American Forest and Paper Association. This works out to about 2 pounds of paper per person per day (Hilgen, 2000).
The transformation to paperless is not a painless undertaking. It requires carefully thought out implementation schedules from management and unbridled commitment from the entire organization. Paper is a medium which everyone can use and to which everyone has access. Why transform a business into using a medium of information exchange that is not comfortable to everyone? Another contributor to the slow transformation to the paperless office is the lack of standardization, particularly in relation to electronic-based office forms as well as digital signature solutions.
Business communications, documents and forms work well with digital signatures and flow simply eliminating the need for paper documents.
A 3-STEP PROCESS For Digital Signature Solutions
Step # 1 : Document creation, collaboration and revision.
Step # 2 : Document circulation, approval and execution.
Step # 3 : Document archive and retrieval.
Standard e-signature solutions have, until now, focused on low risk transactions and low volume applications. SIGNiX SIGNOLOGY is the next-generation solution that delivers significant value to companies by allowing business critical applications involving important legal and financial transactions to be digitally signed as part of a fully automated electronic process.
Posted on Fri, Aug 06, 2010
Signatures are a very common reason people print out documents. Many digital documents get printed out, to truly be a paperless office we have to be more innovative. Typically when we send a PDF to a client for a s and they will print it off, sign it and fax it back. There are several ways to handle this. You can’t expect everyone to have their signature scanned in so they can just add it to a PDF and send it back to you. The ideal solution is for people to use digital certificates and digital signatures, but that requires a bit of technical knowledge to set up. Other options include online digital signature and approval products.
Using a digital signature is the easiest and most secure way to get any real estate contract signed. Every day, real estate agents and property managers use SIGNiX to get all types of contracts signed quickly and easily. Broker forms, property management agreements, vacation rental contracts, commercial leasing agreements, residential management services, realty inspection documents and many more types of contracts are all signed in minutes.
Digital signature software reduces contract cancellation rates, saves thousands of dollars in printing, faxing, storage and postage costs.
Whether you are a large office, MLS and Association or an individual and small group – You both want to save time and money and provide the digital signature tools to your real estate professionals and members that will position you ahead of the competition.
* Time Saver – In a business that can take time - get any of your documents signed digitally, fast!
* Trusted & Secured – Know who, what, when, why and how your documents are signed with an audit trail that is legally binding and accepted in 50 states!
* Total Control - Your digital documents are 100% yours, portable to your archive where they can be retrieved immediately with full access from anywhere!
SIGNiX is proud to be serving the members of the National Association of REALTORS® .
Your real estate documents – “Digitally Signed, Sealed and Delivered”
Posted on Fri, Jul 30, 2010
With budget reductions affecting most businesses, there is an urgent need to improve efficiency and reduce costs. One of the easiest areas to reduce costs is those associated with printing countless documents that usually have to be scanned at a later date.
The slow rollout of digital signatures—despite laws clearly establishing their parity with wet signatures—exemplifies the inefficiencies still plaguing the digital world. E-signatures are a key step in executing a document management strategy. "With an e-signature, a document can be turned around in minutes not days." No matter how good the rest of the online experience is, “anytime you need an ink signature you trip yourself up by falling into the paper mode.” Nicole Kealey, Adobe
When people think of a paperless office, they usually focus on how to store documents in a digital form. This is important, but it misses the real point of going paperless. The real benefit comes from creating documents in way that they are digital for the entire lifetime. Once a document gets printed out, you’ve broken the paperless life cycle.
THE GREEN BOTTOM LINE
Going green is almost synonymous with going paperless. By shedding paper a business can reduce the enormous environmental and business costs associated with paper’s creation, transport and disposal. However, kicking the paper habit will not be easy. Consumers’ hearts are in the right place, but if the paperless process is inconvenient or confusing most are not going to switch. It’s up to businesses to create a digital environment that consumers want to join because it is superior to their current paper-based environment. Some institutions are already working toward this goal by more fully automating back-end processes and making better use of digital signatures.
Despite the myriad challenges faced by large institutions in today’s economic climate, it might just prove to be a perfect time for small- and medium-sized institutions to focus on green initiatives and grab market share from their competitors who have put these inniatives on the back burner. It’s an opportunity to innovate and help the environment.
Posted on Tue, Jul 27, 2010
Electronic signatures not only accelerate turnaround, but they can greatly reduce the cost of paper, postage, shipping and other resources. With the new proposed postage rate increases that go into effect in early 2011, its more than just saving paper its about saving money as well.
‘Electronic invoices save time, money and trees’, says Jan Willem Breen, Director Marketing and Sales of TNT’s Express division. ‘But with internet fraud on the rise, customers also ask for legally recognised techniques like digital signatures that authenticate the source of invoices and protect the documents’ integrity.’
Organizations typically see an immediate impact to utilizing and electronic or digital signature process. Where contracts would once been sent to signer and visibility completely lost, using a digital signature process sales teams are able to extend visibility into a sale from lead all the way through the signing process. With this type of visibility it allows organizations to manage contracts through the signing process significantly increasing close rates. Many organizations also find that they are able to greatly reduce administrative tasks related to managing paper contracts as well as reduce the costs associated with mailing & postage.
These firms have repeatedly proven that using legally binding e-signatures can reduce costs, accelerate processes and eliminate paper processes. Cycle time for customers to electronically sign and return documents is significantly reduced, which increases client satisfaction. Business processes are streamlined, increasing efficiencies.
Digital Signature Solutions Can:
* Enhance customer satisfaction
* Accelerate sales close rates
* Expedite the document signing process
* Reduce operating costs
* Improve efficiency