You might not realize it, but electronic documents (“e-documents”) and electronic contracts (“e-contracts”) are already all around you. In fact, your existing business may already have elements of e-documents in its operations. Official e-documents and e-contracts are, simply put, contracts signed electronically.
Contrary to popular belief, electronic signatures are not limited to your physical signature or handwriting on a screen. According to the Electronic Transactions Act (Cap. 88), which is the law governing electronic signatures in Singapore, a signature can take the following forms:
Clicking the “I Agree” checkbox on the Terms & Conditions on websites. The terms and conditions which pop up on sites you visit are actually contracts which you sign by clicking “I Agree”.
Your typed name at the end of an email. While it may be hard to believe, a simple email signed with your name at the bottom might constitute you forming an e-contract with your correspondent under certain circumstances. Leaving your name at the end of an email alongside your corporate position, sent from your company account can sometimes be equivalent to signing off on a contract. So, when an employee reports sick, approval of his or her leave of absence via email constitutes official documentation.
Your typed initials. Typing out your initials to sign off on an e-document like an email may also result in the formation of a legally significant document.
Mouse scribbles on a screen. The scribbles you sign off using a mouse can also constitute a signature approving an electronic document.
Hand-signatures created on tablet using your finger or stylus. Signing off on a delivery man’s iPad when you receive a parcel constitutes an electronic signature.
You might be wondering what incentive a small operation has for shifting over to electronically signing and executing contracts. Well, the reason businesses, regardless of size, stand to benefit from electronically executed contracts are three-folds: Speed, Savings, Security.
Speed – Signing contracts using wet ink signatures involves a cumbersome process for the signer. Traditionally, a person would have to print, sign and scan a document, before he can email it back to the company. Shifting over to e-documents shortens this process to a single step – signing the contract on your smartphone or laptop.
Savings – As a small company that executes a limited number of contracts, the cost savings might not seem immediate. However, immediate savings are had from eliminating courier and shipping costs for documents, particularly urgent ones. This is especially crucial amidst Covid-19, where everyone in the organization may be operating from remote locations. Moreover, time is saved on performing administrative tasks like filing, rekeying data and archiving confidential documents.
Security – Signing a document using a signature solution platform often has the added benefit of security. Some platforms offer additional assurance through security safeguards such as the ability to verify and capture the consent of the signatory. Unlike physical documents which can be destroyed, electronically executed documents have the are not being susceptible to loss or damage.
The ETA states that electronic signatures have an equivalent legal effect to pen-and-ink signatures, excluding 5 categories of contracts.
Contracts, authorizations and client forms. This category refers to documents which must be signed by clients, such as:
Employment contracts and HR operations. Hiring new employees and updating staff on company policy can all be carried out using electronic signatures now. Documents under this category include:
Supplier contracts. These include supply agreements, procurement contracts, cost reimbursement contracts.
Confidentiality agreements and investment documents. Confidentiality agreements and investment documents associated with carrying out startup fundraising can all be signed electronically too. Common confidentiality agreements signed with electronic signatures include:
Intellectual property transfer, licensing and assignment. Most documents regarding protection and commercialisation of intellectual property can be signed electronically. These include:
Presently. The ETA sets out a finite list of documents which cannot be signed using e-signatures. This means that all documents can be signed using e-signatures except for the following.
2020 Onwards. However, this list of precluded documents is expected to shrink as the ETA is due for an update this year. In 2019, IMDA issued a Consultation Paper stating key changes it intends to make to the ETA. These amendments include permitting the following documents, previously excluded, for electronic signing.
Amidst Covid-19, many businesses have begun exploring how to leverage new technologies to operate their business in a remote working environment. The use of electronic signatures is an easy way to get contracts signed, and keep your business in operation.
Try sending out your first electronic document for signing for free here.
The new and improved template features allow for more workflow automation within the organisation. Set up the fields on commonly-used document as a template one time, and everyone in your organisation can easily send documents out from there.
Sign.net invites everyone to sign up for its free tools to be protected by the benefits of digital signing. Digital signing tools increase the legal significance of
Digital signatures are transforming the way we work. Join us on this mission to reinvent the age-old concept of document signatures, and embrace new business opportunities!
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