{"id":73752,"date":"2021-03-02T11:21:20","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T10:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.viafirma.com\/faqs\/benefits-electronic-signature\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T10:44:49","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T08:44:49","slug":"benefits-electronic-signature","status":"publish","type":"faq","link":"https:\/\/www.viafirma.com\/en\/faqs\/benefits-electronic-signature\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Benefits of electronic signatures"},"content":{"rendered":"

Advantages of the Electronic Signature<\/h1>\n

In the corporate world, adapting to the digital age is no longer optional. Every company progresses at its own pace, but if they are to survive, they must adopt technological solutions that optimise processes<\/strong>. Despite this, many organisations remain mired in the bureaucracy of handwritten signatures,<\/strong> putting up with delays<\/strong>, printing costs<\/strong> and storage issues t<\/strong>hat slow down their growth. The electronic signature has completely transformed this reality, becoming the driving force behind business efficiency.<\/p>\n

In this guide, we outline the benefits and advantages of the digital signature over the handwritten signature, its most common practical applications, and how the legal framework safeguards your documentation so that you can manage your business with complete peace of mind.<\/p>\n

The legal validity of the electronic signature<\/h2>\n

Many companies wonder whether this type of solution has the same legal standing as a traditional handwritten signature: the answer is yes, but with some nuances<\/strong>. The eIDAS Regulation establishes three levels of security, with the advanced qualified signature being equivalent to a handwritten signature for practical and legal purposes<\/strong>. At present, it is the most rigorous standard in existence, and many countries are using this regulation as a basis for drawing up their own national rules.<\/p>\n

Viafirma\u2019s solutions comply with the legal requirements of the European Union, the US, Canada and Latin America<\/strong>. We are registered with the European body elDAS, which also regulates all trust services<\/strong>, including electronic signatures and time stamps. As a result, our digital signature solution ensures that documents signed manually remain legally valid worldwide<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Advantages of electronic signatures over handwritten signatures<\/h2>\n

Find out below about the main benefits of electronic signatures:<\/p>\n

Greater security and integrity of documents<\/h3>\n

The content of a signed electronic document cannot be altered, thereby guaranteeing the authenticity of the document and the identity of the signatory. In this way, the system prevents the possibility of fraud and ensures that any document always remains between the signatories. No one else will see your sensitive information.<\/p>\n

Guaranteed confidentiality<\/h3>\n

The content of the message will only be known to those authorised to view it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Elimination of paper<\/h3>\n

This directly leads to a reduction in data storage<\/strong> (physical space) and lower costs<\/strong> associated with file management procedures.<\/p>\n

Travelling and transport are avoided<\/h3>\n

Signing can be carried out from anywhere, at any time<\/strong>. This avoids certain costs and has a positive environmental impact.<\/p>\n

The team gains in productivity<\/h3>\n

Electronic signatures introduce key concepts such as innovation and corporate social responsibility (CSR), creating signature workflows, new internal communication channels and process automation.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, having tools accessible from any location and on any device allows employees to work in sync, without interruptions<\/strong>, and eliminates unnecessary waiting times.<\/p>\n

Increased efficiency<\/h3>\n

By streamlining administrative procedures, avoiding queues and reducing manual processes, the time required to carry out processes is reduced<\/strong>. Consequently, the productivity and competitive edge of the company and\/or organisation are enhanced.<\/p>\n

Sign from any device<\/h3>\n

You can sign using any browser<\/strong> (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.), device<\/strong> (mobile, computer, tablet, etc.) and operating system<\/strong> (Android, Windows, iOS, etc.).<\/p>\n

Cost savings<\/h3>\n

Using physical paper requires printers, toner, technical maintenance and, above all, physical storage space. Centralising documents digitally frees up office space<\/strong>, reduces the cost of facilities<\/strong> and eliminates the time your team spends searching for specific documents. Furthermore, as you can sign any document from a tablet or computer, courier and transport costs are eliminated<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Areas where electronic signatures can be used<\/h2>\n

To start using electronic signatures, you must have a valid digital certificate issued by a Certification Authority accredited by the relevant country\u2019s public certification body. These may be issued as hardware certificate<\/strong>s or in software format<\/strong> (a certificate stored in a file, usually with the extensions .p12 or .pfx) and are ready for use in the following scenarios:<\/p>\n

Public administration<\/h3>\n