3 best practices for faster, safer e-signing

Electronic signatures have transformed how businesses sign contracts, agreements, and official documents. Compared to paper-based processes, e-signing is faster, more secure, and easier to manage. However, even the best e-signature tools can fall short if the signing experience isn’t smooth for users.

Below are three proven best practices to improve your e-signing process and ensure faster, more reliable electronic signatures.

1. Integrate e-signing into the tools you already use

One of the most common causes of friction in e-signing workflows is tool overload. When employees need to leave their email or document platform just to send a contract for signature, it adds unnecessary steps, and increases the risk of errors.
Using e-signature add-ons for platforms like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 allows users to initiate and manage electronic signatures directly from familiar tools such as Gmail, Outlook, and Google Drive.

Benefits of integrated e-signing

• Faster document turnaround without switching platforms
• Fewer mistakes when entering recipient details
• Improved adoption across teams due to familiar workflows

By embedding e-signing into everyday work tools, businesses reduce friction and make digital signing a natural part of their process rather than a separate task.

2. Use SMS to speed up the digital signing process

Email is still the most common delivery method for electronic signature requests, but it isn’t always the fastest. Important signing requests can easily get lost in crowded inboxes. Adding SMS delivery (SMS PIN) to your e-signing process can significantly improve response times. Our customers show that adding SMS reminders alongside email can reduce signing time by up to 40 %, making the e-signing process faster and more reliable.

Why SMS improves e-signing

• Recipients see requests faster on their mobile phones
• SMS PINs add an extra layer of identity verification
• Works well in regions without national eID solutions

For contracts that require quick action or added security, SMS is a simple but powerful enhancement to your electronic signature workflow.

3. Use local date formats and language settings to avoid costly misunderstandings

Small details can have a big impact on the success of an e-signing experience – and date formats are a common source of confusion. For example, 04/03/2026 can mean April 3rd or March 4th, depending on the country. When documents are signed internationally, unclear date formats may cause hesitation, delays, or even legal misunderstandings.

Using localised date formats ensures that recipients instantly understand the document without second-guessing. But effective localisation goes beyond formatting alone.

Scrive’s solution supports 19 different languages, enabling businesses to deliver a signing experience that feels natural and intuitive across Europe and beyond. For organisations operating in multiple European markets, where language, regulation, and cultural expectations vary significantly, localisation is not just a nice-to-have feature. It’s fundamental to building trust and removing friction from cross-border agreements.

Why local formatting and language support matter

• Reduces friction during signing
• Improves clarity and trust in digital contracts
• Creates a more professional, user-friendly experience
• Supports seamless cross-border signing across Europe

In international business, clarity builds confidence. By adapting both language and formatting to local expectations, companies can accelerate signing times, improve compliance, and deliver a smoother digital agreement experience for every recipient.

The importance of a smooth e-signing experience

A well-designed e-signing process doesn’t just save time, it improves conversion rates, customer satisfaction, and compliance. When electronic signatures are easy to complete, documents are signed faster and with fewer errors.
By:

• Integrating e-signing into existing tools
• Using SMS to accelerate signatures
• And adapting documents to local expectations

– you create a digital signing experience that works for everyone involved.

Final thoughts

Electronic signatures are no longer optional, they’re essential to modern business. Optimising your e-signing process ensures that you get the full value of digital signatures: speed, security, and simplicity.

Start with these three best practices, and you’ll see faster turnaround times, happier signatories, and smoother digital workflows.