E-Sign vs Manual Signing: Why Wet Signatures are Drying Up

In 2000, Bill Clinton signed the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act both by hand (wet signature) and electronically (dry signature) to demonstrate the equal legal weight held by both. Since then, the use of electronic signatures has grown exponentially. And though electronically signing the act 21 years ago was a cumbersome process for the former president, electronically signing documents today is more convenient and efficient than ever. 

Electronic signatures allow organizations and individuals to execute legally binding documents in minutes - regardless of location - provide clients with a better signing experience, and track documents throughout the signing process. Despite these advantages and the legal recognition of e-signatures, many are still reluctant to trust this newer method over the centuries-old tradition of wet signatures. 

The infographic below takes a closer look at the manual signing process versus the electronic signature process:  

The trust in electronic signatures as a secure and legal-binding form of signature is growing as expectations for a convenient, streamlined signing experience in this digital age also grow. And for good reason - electronic signatures have layers of security and authentication built into them, while wet signatures can easily be forged and tampered with. Moreover, electronic signatures reduce document turnaround time by an average of 80%, cut mailing and printing expenses, and provide a greener alternative to paper-based processes. 

Although we still value the personal element of putting a pen to paper (birthday cards are a great case for traditional signatures) the comparison above outlines why electronically signing invoices, employment contracts, consent forms, and other documents is the superior method. If you’re looking to make the switch from manually signing documents, request your demo of ReadySign to see how electronic signature software saves time and simplifies the signing process.