Electronic signatures for verification
Paper-based systems introduce several risks for companies, consultants, and verification agencies involved in B-BBEE verification. Because of the strict protocols, processes, and plethora of documentation that moves between parties mean that accuracy, speed, and verifiability are of greatest importance – and these are requirements that paper-based processes simply cannot support.
Conclude’s electronic signatures solutions enables any organisation to optimise how they create and quickly, share, review, approve, and securely sign important business documents.
Electronic signatures are accepted under South African law and offer the added advantage of being convenient and tamper-proof. For this reason, Conclude’s electronic signatures offer a simple and secure solution for the presentation, circulation, and approval of verification documents – making them an ideal use in the B-BBEE Verification process.
Conclude’s solution is secure, legal, and will save you time, cut your costs and introduce strong controls that eliminate errors.
Electronic signatures are LEGAL
Conclude’s electronic signatures solutions provide cryptographic digital signatures that prove that the signed document is unchanged from the time of signing.
This also helps organisations show that their internal controls are effective and compliant with local legislation and regulations
Electronic signatures are SECURE
For example, Electronic signatures have been in use in the banking sector in South Africa for decades. This is evidence that for documents where traceability, accountability, and auditability are crucial, a digital signature offers clear legal weight, data integrity, and individually signed approval, together with easy-to-access workflow process evidence.
Conclude’s electronic signatures for verification will not only simply how you work, it will optimise your workflow, saving you time and money.
“Wet” signatures vs electronic signatures
Paper process
You must retain a paper copy of the original
Also, pages can be missing, lost, or damaged
Requires ink and handwritten signatures
Needs multi witnessed/notarised copies
Additionally, it requires sealed envelopes and couriers
Time of signature might be unclear
Document whereabouts could be unclear
Difficult to store and scanned backups are unsuitable for proof
Electronic process
Electronic documents are always available online, and more than one original can exist.
Additionally it is impossible to have missing, lost or damaged pages.
Makes use of advanced electronic signatures.
It uses advanced electronic signatures with notary optional
Also uses encrypted SSL/TLS secure sessions.
Online timestamp authority provides a secure and trusted time of signing.
The document status and the next user action are always available
Multiple copies can be kept at different sites in a secure digital archive and copies maintain the legality of proof.