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A Brief History of Electronic Signatures
What is an electronic signature?
An electronic signature is a mechanism that guarantees the integrity of a digital document and authenticates its author, much as a handwritten signature does on a paper document.
The signature exists because of the need to authenticate documents, and its form has changed a great deal over time. First seen as a simple mark of validation in medieval times, then adopted by everyone who worked with the written word, it became impossible to do without.
Once it moved into the digital world, the electronic signature raised new questions about its legal value and framework. And with businesses well into their digital transformation, the electronic signature is now firmly establishing its place.
Qualifications and certifications, such as compliance with the eIDAS regulation, are essential criteria to weigh up when choosing your electronic signature solution.
Fortunately, e-signature software now exists that puts trust at the heart of its features without losing sight of the simplicity and efficiency that are the very essence of signing.
But it hasn’t always been this easy! Here is a short history of the electronic signature.
The handwritten signature
- In the Middle Ages, the great royal seal was the ultimate mark of validation.
- In the 13th century, notaries invented graphic marks known as a “seing” to authenticate themselves.
- In the 15th century, a signature became compulsory for formal deeds to be valid.
Electronic signatures spark interest
- In the early 1990s, the arrival of the internet “for everyone” brought email into everyday life.
- In 1999, the electronic signature was given the same value as a handwritten one.
- Between 2000 and 2004, the legal framework for electronic signatures and contracts evolved, and new solutions emerged.
The electronic signature becomes a “nice to have”
- In 2016, the eIDAS regulation harmonised the legal status of the electronic signature across Europe, opening up a whole new dimension.
The electronic signature becomes a “must have”
From 2019, with the health crisis and strikes, remote working became widespread. The electronic signature became essential to support this new ecosystem of “remote collaborative work”.
As you can see, the electronic signature is now a must have for businesses that have begun their digital transformation. It is an indispensable building block in the life cycle of a document.
A document goes through many stages from creation to expiry: signing, of course, but also editing, organising, sharing, publishing and archiving. What if all of these key functions were brought together on a single foundation, so you could manage your content from end to end?
Sign.vet, our electronic signature solution, offers a trusted working environment for the veterinary profession, where you can work with peace of mind. By making every signing process easier, it lets you feel free and secure.
You might also be interested in: “Does a signature image file have legal value?”
