The company that owns the collaboration server initiates the signing process by sending a partner or supplier an e-mail message containing a link to the server's Web site, which features the documents to be signed. Once at the site, the partner must register to become an official correspondent for the external transaction. Recurring partners need not enroll each time they connect to the server, Laurie says. After enrollment and the creation of a digital signature at the site, the partner will have the necessary tools on their desktop to sign the document that was sent to them by e-mail. Laurie points to user confusion about the language of E-Sign and misunderstanding about the technologies that enable digital certificate and authentication as the main culprits for its lack of acceptance.
Companies are a bit confused.
They look at technology, and they're only getting the infrastructure and not the process that's required, which comes from the applications that ensure the signing processes. ApproveIt Collaboration Server will be available on March 30.