eSignature vs. Traditional Signature: Which Option Saves More Time?

Ever needed to get a contract signed and thought, This should only take a few minutes—only to end up waiting days? First, you print it. Then you sign it. Then you scan it. Then you email it (or worse, mail it). And if someone forgets a signature? Back to square one.

It’s a small task that somehow turns into a massive time-waster.

Now imagine this instead: You send a document, they click to sign, and it’s done. No printing, no scanning, no delays. That’s the power of eSignatures. But do they really save that much time? Let’s compare.

Understanding Traditional Signing

What Is Traditional Signing?

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Traditional signing is the classic way of concluding contracts by putting pen to paper. While this is familiar, it also involves many small, time-consuming steps:

1. Print the document
2. Sign manually.
3. Scan or fax it back.
4. Send it to the recipient via email or post.
5. Keep the signed document in a physical file.

At first glance, this may not seem like a big deal. But when multiple people need to sign, or when documents need to be revised, these steps multiply, resulting in frustrating delays.

A survey by MSB Docs revealed that 65% of companies that rely on pen and paper report that it takes an entire working day to obtain physical signatures.

The time-consuming challenges of traditional signing

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Although the traditional signature has been the norm for decades, it leads to unnecessary bottlenecks:

• Printing, sending, and scanning cause delays. Waiting for documents to be physically delivered, signed, and returned can take days or even weeks.
  
• Paperwork is lost or contains errors. A missing signature or misplaced document can set a deal back significantly.
  
• Tracking signatures is a hassle. There is no easy way to see who has signed and who hasn't without constantly asking questions.
  
• Security is weak. Paper documents can be forged, lost, or damaged, and there is no built-in audit trail to verify authenticity.

What are eSignatures?

eSignatures (electronic signatures) are a digital alternative to handwritten signatures that can be used to sign documents quickly and securely — without printing, scanning or sending. They streamline the entire signing process and make business transactions faster and more efficient.

How do eSignatures work?

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To sign a document electronically, you first receive an email from the sender. The individual steps may vary, but the process usually works as follows:

1. Download the document on an eSignature platform tall.
2. Send it electronically to the signatory (s).
3. Sign with a few clicks with a digital signature, a typed name, or a pen.
4. Save and track automatically the signed document for easy access.

This eliminates the back and forth of traditional signing and ensures that documents are signed within minutes rather than days.

Are eSignatures legal?

Yes! eSignatures are legally recognized in most countries and represent a valid alternative to handwritten signatures. Governments around the world have adopted regulations to ensure their legality and enforceability, including:

• United States (ESIGN Act & UETA): These laws establish that electronic signatures have the same legal status as handwritten signatures. They ensure that digital contracts are valid as long as both parties agree to the electronic transactions.
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• European Union (eIDAS regulation): eIDAS defines three levels of eSignatures:
  
  • Simple electronic signature (SES): Simple digital signatures, such as a typed name or a scanned signature.
  • Advanced electronic signature (AES): More secure as it requires a unique identification of the signer.
  • Qualified electronic signature (QES): The highest level, which is supported by a state-certified provider and legally corresponds to a handwritten signature.
    
• Other regions: Many countries have introduced similar laws, such as the Electronic Transactions Act in Australia and the IT Act 2000 in India, which ensures global acceptance of eSignatures for business and legal purposes.

Apart from legality, eSignatures often offer more security than traditional signatures on paper:

✅ audit trails, which keep track of who signed, when and from where
✅ timestampthat ensure authenticity and prevent disputes
✅ encryption, which protects documents from manipulation or unauthorised access

eSignatures vs. traditional signing: time comparison

Now that we've learned the differences between traditional signatures and eSignatures, let's take a closer look at how they compare in terms of efficiency.

It's obvious that the traditional signature can turn a simple task into an arduous process. With eSignatures, there's no need to print and send, and signing documents is quick and easy.

Key Benefits of eSignatures for Time Savings

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1. Sign anytime, anywhere
   When relying on physical papers, expect logistical obstacles that can delay the signing process, particularly when multiple parties are involved. eSignatures allow users to sign documents from any device, whether they're in the office, working remotely, or traveling. This flexibility ensures that approvals and agreements move forward without delay.
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2. Automated revisions and reminders
   One of the main reasons contracts get stuck is waiting for signatures. eSignatures automatically sends reminders to signers, reducing the risk of documents being forgotten in their inbox or spilling into email chains. This automation ensures an efficient workflow, particularly for teams that process a large number of contracts.
   
   
3. Pre-filled templates for repetitive documents
   Instead of writing the same agreements over and over again, eSignatures allows companies to create reusable templates with pre-filled fields. This feature is particularly useful for frequently used documents such as sales contracts, NDAs, and onboarding forms, and saves time and minimizes errors.
   
   
4. Seamless integration with business tools
   eSignatures integrate directly with CRM systems such as Salesforce and HubSpot, contract lifecycle management (CLM) tools, and project management software such as Asana, Trello, and Monday.com. This makes manual data entry unnecessary, ensures order in contract documents and ensures a smooth end-to-end workflow.

5. Safe, compliant, and legally enforceable
   With eSignatures, companies eliminate the risk of lost, altered, or falsified documents. Each signed agreement is securely encrypted, traced with a detailed audit trail, and verified for authenticity, offering greater protection than traditional paper-based signatures.

Real-world scenarios: When time really matters

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• Sales contracts: Speed up deals and revenue growth
  Sales teams depend on speed and efficiency. The longer a deal isn't signed, the greater the risk of losing momentum — or worse, losing the customer to a competitor. Waiting for customers to print, sign, scan, and return contracts slows everything down.
  
  With eSignatures, sales teams can send contracts instantly so customers can review and sign them from any device with just a few clicks. You no longer have to seek signatures or deal with delays with paperwork. Deals are processed faster, potential customers remain involved, and revenue is achieved faster.

• HR Onboarding: Reduce hiring delays and improve candidates' experience
  A slow onboarding process can frustrate new employees and create unnecessary bottlenecks for HR. Waiting for signed documents to be returned may extend the start date and disrupt personnel planning.
  
  With eSignatures, offer letters, employment contracts, and contract agreements can be completed quickly and securely from any device. Newly hired employees can sign documents in just a few minutes, making a seamless and professional first impression. Faster onboarding means employees can start contributing earlier and HR teams can focus on people instead of administrative tasks.

• Law & Compliance: Guaranteed accuracy and immediate approval
  Legal teams work with critical documents where accuracy, security, and compliance are not negotiable.  
  
  eSignatures eliminate bottlenecks by allowing instant approvals while ensuring that every document remains forgery-proof and verifiable. With built-in encryption, identity authentication, and a full audit trail, legal teams get full visibility and control over the signing process. This not only speeds up contract processing, but also reduces administrative costs so that lawyers can focus on strategic priorities instead of seeking signatures.

Addressing common concerns about eSignatures

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1. Are eSignatures suitable for all types of documents?
   Yes, eSignatures can be used for a wide range of documents, from sales contracts and NDAs to employment contracts and financial approvals. While most business documents can be signed electronically, certain legal or heavily regulated documents, such as wills, court orders, and some real estate transactions, still require a signature on the paper, depending on the jurisdiction. However, eSignature laws are constantly evolving, and digital signatures are rapidly becoming the standard in many industries.

2. What if my team prefers signing on paper?
   Introducing eSignatures is easier than many teams think. While change is sometimes met with hesitation, modern eSignature solutions are designed to be user-friendly and require only minimal training. Most platforms offer step-by-step instructions, automated workflows, and seamless integrations with existing tools such as email, CRM systems, and Contract management platforms. This makes the transition smooth and intuitive. Once teams have the experience that documents can be signed with just a few clicks without having to print them out, scan them, or send them by post, most find it difficult to return to traditional methods.
   

3. Are eSignatures cost-effective?
   Switching to eSignature is not only convenient, but also a wise financial decision. investigations have shown that companies can reduce document processing costs by up to 85% by avoiding inefficiencies such as manual data entry and approval delays. In addition, companies can save an average of $36 per contract by saving the costs of shipping and storing physical documents.